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Swansea YMCA newsletters early 20th Century

One of the drawbacks with visiting archives is you find a lot more information than you expected.  It can result in extra research or a new line of enquiry or both.

The YMCA archive has no newsletters from the 1^st WW period but West Glamorgan Archive Service do. There are one hundred names on the YMCA Swansea Roll of Honour (those members who served) and I was hoping I may find some extra bits of information and hopefully identify some of the many Evans, Jones and Thomas etc. Instead I ended up with another seventy individuals to research. Former members that were mentioned but not listed on the Roll of Honour and a whole load of names on the list of junior section members and scouts serving. This no doubt will result in another week or two of research.  Further information in future blogs when I look at the WW1 period in more detail.

The bundle of newsletters in archives also had some which overlap with YMCA archives for 1911/12 period. Looking through them again, I made a note of the name Arnt J Morland, who wrote a few letters back to his friends at YMCA Swansea and who was now back residing in Arundel, Norway.  The letters themselves were of no significant interest, a little update on how he was getting on, at this point undertaking his national service. The fact that he was involved in a much smaller YMCA association in Arundel and words of encouragement to keep up the good Christian work in Swansea. However, a quick google of his name and the town and this resulted in yet another story of interest to record.

Arnt Jacobson Morland was born on the 23^rd June 1888, son of a merchant.

In 1907 he secured some form of Norwegian state sponsored trade placement in Britain and obviously ended up in Swansea. The placement was shipping related but as yet I have been unable to identify with whom exactly.

Judging by the date of the letters he would have been in Swansea for maybe two or three years and being very religious I would guess a member of the Norwegian Church. By 1911 he was definitely back in Norway.  The last mention of him is news of his engagement to Miss Thomsen of Arundel.

In 1916 he started his own shipping company, named Agdesidens Rederi, followed by two more companies, Morland Rederi in 1927 and Morland Tankederi in 1930. 

Morland became a very prominent citizen of Norway, he chaired the Regional Ship Owners Association and for a number of years was a member of the Executive Committee for Arundel City Council. In 1953 he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament but died in 1957 before the end of his term.  Morland was also prominent in the church becoming Vice Chair of the Diocesan Council for Agder.

In 1940 Norway was occupied by the Nazis. A puppet government was installed led by the collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name would become a byword for collaborator or traitor. Following the war Quisling was found guilty of murder and high treason and was executed by firing squad on the 24^th October 1945.

The resistance in Norway like most countries included both passive and aggressive resistance.  One of the passive resistance measures was led by the church. Local church leaders in Norway were employed and paid for by the state.  Church leaders therefore refused to take the salaries in protest at the occupation and the collaboration of the Quisling government.

Morland in partnership with Hans Sande, the General Secretary of the Joint YMCA and YWCA in Norway organised the network for raising money for what was effectively a strike fund.  Money would be raised and collected to support the local church leaders to enable them to continue to work but refuse their salaries from the Norwegian state.

Morland was arrested on the 24^th February 1944 for resistance activities and initially held at the Arkivet building in Kristianstand.  Arkivet is Norwegian for archive.  Built in 1935 for the local archive service, the building was taken over as Gestapo Headquarters for Southern Norway.  It is now a museum to the Norwegian occupation and the names of those killed in concentration camps in Norway are listed on a memorial outside the building.

Moreland was later transferred to Grini Concentration Camp, his prisoner number was 11696. Numbers killed at Grini are unknown but we do know they included British Airborne troops who survived Operation Freshman, the attempt to destroy the Norsk Hydro Heavy Water Plant, vital for any potential development of a hydrogen bomb by the Nazis. The surviving British Airborne troops from the operation were held at Grini before being taken to nearby woods and executed by the Gestapo.

Finally Moreland was transferred to Berg Concentration Camp in February 1945.  Berg was a transit camp where many Jews and political prisoners were kept before transfer to one of the death camps in Germany or Eastern Europe. It is possible that he was due for transit but the war at this point was nearing the end and he survived. 

West Glamorgan Archive Service reference SL WL 5/9/1

The poster is advertising a week long campaign to raise £20,000 to build a new support centre in Swansea for those veterans who served in WW1.  The end of the Great War coincided with the 50^th anniversary of YMCA Swansea. 

On the right of the YMCA Red Triangle logo is a notice which seems rather odd.  It states;

“The balance sheet of the National YMCA is published every six months, properly audited and is a document representing a marvel of enterprising work for God and humanity”.

The reason for the rather odd notice was that the appeal had already been effectively sabotaged and from a most unexpected quarter.

As well as providing YMCA huts at the front line, a considerable amount of work was being undertaken to support troops in Swansea.

50,000 meals had been served at St Andrews Hall (now Swansea Mosque), and where YMCA operated from May 1917 to March 1919. 80,000 sheets of writing paper given out to troops, sleeping accommodation provided to over 250 soldiers and sailors and

7,000 to 8000 free suppers provided. Food and accommodation provided also to 129 survivors of the Rewa, a hospital ship torpedoed in the Channel.

At an Executive Committee of YMCA Swansea on 1st October 1917 Mr. G. P. Cook-Davies stated that the number of Bit Badge Men in the town was about 900 (Bit Badge Men was a term for men who had done their bit but whom now were invalided out through illness or injury).  After discussion it was decided to appoint a delegation to meet with Sir John Llewelyn (YMCA Swansea President) to consider what could be done.  One idea considered was a hostel for soldiers and sailors and the need to investigate potential need.

In early 1919, the Red Cross notified the YMCA was that the building which had been turned into a hospital was expected to be handed back over on the 30^th March

It was agreed to hold an open meeting and in the meantime that the ground floor be used as a club for past and present members of H.M Forces.

A Jubilee planning meeting was held on the 15^th March.  The minutes are difficult to read but discussion involves a possible extension to the hostel as well as a new build erected to the men who have fallen in the war, on the model of the Red Triangle huts.

At a special meeting in March 1919 the appeal was launched with a target of £20,000

Ward lists were produced to target 20,000 houses via 260 canvassers and the Rev. James would target markets and businesses.

Newspaper adverts were also to be placed.  The appeal weeks would be the 28^th April to 10^th May. 300 posters and 500 window bills printed.

The appeal started well with the following promises:

Mr. Napier £200

Mr Cook £200

Richard Lewis £200

J. P Giles £100

S Palmer £52

W J Watkins £50

Total £802

The first indication of the appeal running into trouble comes in a minute dated 1^st April, under a heading the Bishop of Swansea.  The minute states:

“Mr Napier gave a brief report on the meeting of the National Council in London and stated that the Bishop of Swansea would be given an opportunity of substantiating or withdrawing his charge against the YMCA before a Commission appointed by the Council”.

A special meeting of the Executive Committee 16^th April minute states

“The Chairman referred to the Bishop of Swansea attack on the YMCA in the Times Newspaper.  In reference to the Bishops letter, Mr Highman gave exact information with regard to the Association building at Brecon and the success of that enterprise”.

The Cambrian newspaper reported on the allegations and subsequent inquiry by Lord Askwith on the 23^rd May 1919.  The central allegation by the Bishop was that the YMCA national body was competing with existing social organisations and that money subscribed for war purposes was now being used for peace schemes. It would appear that the criticism was triggered by something to do with Brecon YMCA but it is unclear what.  The report by lord Askwith rejected the Bishops criticisms. 

Although the Bishops letter to the Times had nothing to do with YMCA Swansea, the publicity effectively sabotaged the campaign.  The appeal was pretty ambitious anyway, particularly when it was only eight years since a similar appeal had raised the £20,000 for the cost of the building on the Kingsway.

In June the Rev Newton Jones reported that Len Palmer had succeeded in collecting £131, the highest amount secured by a member. The campaign figure now standing at £4548 with another £100 promised from Messrs Baldwin’s.  Another £250 was promised by the Butchers Association.

The minute’s state:

“Mr Napier moved thanks to Rev Newton Jones for his service as the campaign manager.  The campaign had not reached its target.  The attack upon the YMCA by the Bishop of Swansea and prevailing industrial unrest had doubtless influenced events.”

Mr Cook endorsed Mr Napier

“Campaign efforts had been largely controlled by unfortunate circumstances”

The appeal was finally closed with a total figure raised of £5692, well short of the £20,000 target.

Swansea YMCA newsletters early 20^th Century

One of the drawbacks with visiting archives is you find a lot more information than you expected.  It can result in extra research or a new line of enquiry or both.

The YMCA archive has no newsletters from the 1^st WW period but West Glamorgan Archive Service do. There are one hundred names on the YMCA Swansea Roll of Honour (those members who served) and I was hoping I may find some extra bits of information and hopefully identify some of the many Evans, Jones and Thomas etc. Instead I ended up with another seventy individuals to research. Former members that were mentioned but not listed on the Roll of Honour and a whole load of names on the list of junior section members and scouts serving. This no doubt will result in another week or two of research.  Further information in future blogs when I look at the WW1 period in more detail.

The bundle of newsletters in archives also had some which overlap with YMCA archives for 1911/12 period. Looking through them again, I made a note of the name Arnt J Morland, who wrote a few letters back to his friends at YMCA Swansea and who was now back residing in Arundel, Norway.  The letters themselves were of no significant interest, a little update on how he was getting on, at this point undertaking his national service. The fact that he was involved in a much smaller YMCA association in Arundel and words of encouragement to keep up the good Christian work in Swansea. However, a quick google of his name and the town and this resulted in yet another story of interest to record.

Arnt Jacobson Morland was born on the 23^rd June 1888, son of a merchant.

In 1907 he secured some form of Norwegian state sponsored trade placement in Britain and obviously ended up in Swansea. The placement was shipping related but as yet I have been unable to identify with whom exactly.

Judging by the date of the letters he would have been in Swansea for maybe two or three years and being very religious I would guess a member of the Norwegian Church. By 1911 he was definitely back in Norway.  The last mention of him is news of his engagement to Miss Thomsen of Arundel.

In 1916 he started his own shipping company, named Agdesidens Rederi, followed by two more companies, Morland Rederi in 1927 and Morland Tankederi in 1930. 

Morland became a very prominent citizen of Norway, he chaired the Regional Ship Owners Association and for a number of years was a member of the Executive Committee for Arundel City Council. In 1953 he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament but died in 1957 before the end of his term.  Morland was also prominent in the church becoming Vice Chair of the Diocesan Council for Agder.

In 1940 Norway was occupied by the Nazis. A puppet government was installed led by the collaborator Vidkun Quisling, whose name would become a byword for collaborator or traitor. Following the war Quisling was found guilty of murder and high treason and was executed by firing squad on the 24^th October 1945.

The resistance in Norway like most countries included both passive and aggressive resistance.  One of the passive resistance measures was led by the church. Local church leaders in Norway were employed and paid for by the state.  Church leaders therefore refused to take the salaries in protest at the occupation and the collaboration of the Quisling government.

Morland in partnership with Hans Sande, the General Secretary of the Joint YMCA and YWCA in Norway organised the network for raising money for what was effectively a strike fund.  Money would be raised and collected to support the local church leaders to enable them to continue to work but refuse their salaries from the Norwegian state.

Morland was arrested on the 24^th February 1944 for resistance activities and initially held at the Arkivet building in Kristianstand.  Arkivet is Norwegian for archive.  Built in 1935 for the local archive service, the building was taken over as Gestapo Headquarters for Southern Norway.  It is now a museum to the Norwegian occupation and the names of those killed in concentration camps in Norway are listed on a memorial outside the building.

Moreland was later transferred to Grini Concentration Camp, his prisoner number was 11696. Numbers killed at Grini are unknown but we do know they included British Airborne troops who survived Operation Freshman, the attempt to destroy the Norsk Hydro Heavy Water Plant, vital for any potential development of a hydrogen bomb by the Nazis. The surviving British Airborne troops from the operation were held at Grini before being taken to nearby woods and executed by the Gestapo.

Finally Moreland was transferred to Berg Concentration Camp in February 1945.  Berg was a transit camp where many Jews and political prisoners were kept before transfer to one of the death camps in Germany or Eastern Europe. It is possible that he was due for transit but the war at this point was nearing the end and he survived. 

Swansea Museum Collection

Board Game, cardboard, ink, plastic, and wood. ‘I care – do you’?. Board game, produced by Swansea Young Carers as part of an ABMU (Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board) funded project to raise awareness of issues facing young carers.  Used by Swansea Museum Education team as part of ‘Eye of the Storm’ activities in 2017. Game consists of board, 4 counters, dice, two packs of pick-up cards, one blue pack and one white with instruction sheets. The aim of the game is to raise awareness about young people carers; their lives and the issues they face on a day to day basis. The objective of the game is to go through the game on either the path of the young carer or the path of the young person, each step is another aspect of each of their lives. The ‘pick up’ cards are uncontrollable events that either have a positive or negative outcome for each player.

`Eye of the Storm’ is a musical theatre production by Theatre na Nog, a production company based in Neath. The production, aimed at schools, revolved around a female young carer who dreams of becoming a scientist.  Each autumn the performances are held in the Dylan Thomas Theatre along with workshops in Swansea Museum and the National Waterfront. The productions are usually set in a historic period but this production was present day.

In developing the storyline Theatre na Nog consulted with the same group of young carers who later would produce the game.

In a previous life, I was a children’s rights worker, specialising in involving children in decision making processes and consultations. In 1993 to 1995 I was part of the team that co-ordinated the voluntary sector report to the United Nations on the UK Government implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (or to be more accurate how the UK Government was failing to implement it).

Young carers groups were few and far between at that point, but I do recall the main fear of young carers was a worry that if they asked for support from anywhere official, they may end up being taken into care.  As a result it was at the time still a hidden problem and a there was a lack of awareness.

There has been a considerable amount of progress since then but still a long way to go.  Recent data shows that there are approximately 800,000 Young Carers aged 5-17 in the UK and research by the Children’s Society suggests that 1 in 5 secondary school students are providing some care in their home, with a third of these providing high levels of care.

YMCA Swansea Young Carers project is a bespoke provision that increases young carer’s resilience towards their caring role and improves their health and well-being.

Young carers participating in the project are under 18 and care for someone affected by; a long-term illness, physical disability, mental health illness or substance and alcohol use.

Young carers are unlikely to have opportunities that other young people may have. So the project gives young carers opportunities in a safe environment, where they are encouraged to be young people, have fun, make friends, relax and focus on themselves.

Young carers miss out on a lot of experiences and life opportunities due to their caring responsibilities and so the young carers project provides vital support and services that aim to reduce the barriers to young carer’s development.

The difference that is witnessed and is evident in young people from participating in this project is truly inspirational and the transformational changes in young people has an overall impact for the entire family.

Commissioned to deliver the Young Carers Service in Swansea on behalf of City and county of Swansea, YMCA Swansea is providing tailored support to young carers between the ages of 8-18. This includes face to face, online, one to one, and group sessions, as well as trips, activities, advocacy, and signposting.

YMCA Swansea recently launched 4 new programmes on National Young Carers Action Day:

• National Young Carers I.D Card Scheme

 • Online PSE Sessions

 • ‘Understanding Young Carers’ – Agored Cymru Accredited Qualifications

 • Young Carers Awareness Animation Films

The National Young Carers I.D Card scheme is led by Welsh Government, Carers Trust Wales, Local Authorities, and Professional Bodies across Wales.

YMCA Swansea & Swansea Council have been selected by Welsh Government as an early adopter, of the Young Carers Card scheme in Wales.

The Young Carers Service is funded by City and County of Swansea, Children in Need, Waterloo Foundation and Swansea Bay University Health Board Integrated Care Fund.