‘Belief and Action’ Touring Exhibition, 2016-18
The Belief and Action Exhibition from WCIA’s Wales for Peace programme, supported by Cymru’n Cofio / Wales Remembers 1914-18 through (MALD, Welsh Government’s Museums Archives and Libraries Division), explores the reasons why some conscientious objectors chose to take the difficult path of resisting conscription in the First World War. It looks at some of the problems that they faced, when hundreds of thousands of men believed it was their duty, and sacrificed their lives, to fight for their country. What makes an individual take a stand when they feel that their conscience won’t allow them to follow a certain path? It also explores the legacy of these actions. In the hundred years since the First World War, how have people in Wales followed their beliefs with action in the search for peace.
Exhibition Tour and Hosts, 2016-18
The exhibition launch in Pontypridd was held in October 2016 at St. David’s Uniting Church: View full album of launch event on Flickr here. Venues have since included:
- Abergavenny – National Eisteddfod of Wales
- Cardiff Bay – Pierhead Gallery
- Lampeter University Library
- Carmarthen Museum
- Cardiff, Firing Lime Museum
- Aberystwyth – Morlan Centre
- Bridgend – Tabernacl Chapel
- Criccieth – Lloyd George Museum
- Tintern Abbey
- Bala – Cymdeithas y Cymod
- Merthyr Tydfil – Cyfarthfa Castle Museum Trust (see below)
- Cardiff – Temple of Peace & Health (integrated into Temple Tours displays)
If your community would be interested in hosting a future ‘Belief and Action’ display, or researching, sharing and producing short digital stories – please email WalesforPeace@wcia.org.uk. The exhibition is designed to be flexible and portable, so that it can visit as many communities as possible across Wales, and will be supported by a growing store of digital resources. This includes the Pearce Register of Conscientious Objectors: a database with the records of some 860 Welsh men who took their case for exemption from conscription to a military tribunal. The idea is that the exhibition belongs to a community, and that it can be used as a focal point for community activities around the theme of peace – all we ask is that you let us know what you’re up to so that we can help promote your activities!
Exhibition Themes and Learning Links
- Further examples of recruitment posters, and other ww1 resources
- Captain David Jones’s correspondence, and other letters from soldiers (National Library of Wales)
- Quotes from Oliver Powell and Saunders Lewis from the book Wales and the First World War, Robin Barlow (Gomer 2014)
- The story of the Spicer family, mentioned in the article ‘Another son missing’
- A number of websites give further information about the White Feather Union. Search the Imperial War Museum’s digital collection of letters and objects relating to the subject
- Further examples of recruitment posters, and other ww1 resources
- More information about Niclas y Glais
- A short film about his life, made by pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Llangynwyd:
- For more information about Tomos Rees and ‘Y Deyrnas’
- This photo of Kier Hardie and others can be found in the People’s History Museum’s collections
- Find out more about the Quakers and the Friends Ambulance Unit
- The Pearce Register shows details of court proceedings and outcomes for around 880 individuals in Wales who applied for exemption from the Military Service act.
- Transcribed tribunal papers in full, on the website of the National Library of Wales.
- Find out more about the Quakers and the Friends Ambulance Unit
- More information about Emrys Hughes
- Dyfed Archaeological Trust have recently launched a project called ‘WWI Refusing to Fight: Legacy of Dissent on the Black Mountain’, which includes an exploration of the work on the Llyn y Fan Reservoir. Find out more.
- For more information about the life of George M Ll Davies
- Visit the Wales for Peace ‘peace map’ to find more stories of Wales’s peace heritage:
- Visit the websites of the organisations mentioned in this panel, to find out more about their work today: Cymdeithas y Cymod / The Fellowship of reconciliation, The Quakers in Wales, CND Cymru
- To see the digital collection relating to Harry M Riding and Florence Jones, visit People’s Collection Wales
- Look at, or to add to the Wales for Peace peace map
- The Pearce Register shows details of court proceedings and outcomes for around 880 individuals in Wales who applied for exemption from the Military Service act.