WWI: A Village Opera
Click on the image to view the 2014 production of WWI: A Village Opera (opens in YouTube)
The History Behind the Opera
Much of the opera is based on facts, uncovered by research by members of the Llangwm Historical Society, and supplied to librettist Peter George. Here we set out some of those true stories, in the order they feature in the opera.
The World at War
Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, born with a withered arm, appears as a child and later as an adult. When Archduke Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated in Serbia in 1914, he encouraged Austria to take a tough line. This started a chain reaction in which Britain entered the war alongside Russia and France, against Germany and Austria. In towns and villages everywhere, young men were under pressure to enlist. In Llangwm, Harry George and his cousin Leslie James were first to sign up. Harry died in 1917, Leslie survived.
The Christmas Truce
There's plenty of evidence - photographs, letters and diaries - to show there really was a Christmas truce on the Western Front in 1914 involving British and German soldiers.
The Angel of Mons
There were many reported sightings of Angels, who supposedly protected British troops during the Battle of Mons in August 1914.
Butter and Chocolate
The hardships on the homefront were made worse by an increase in the price of butter at Haverfordwest market. The Llangwm women organised a boycott - and the price came down. But the cut lasted only a week! There was a rumour that a woman was selling poisoned chocolate. It was passed on to us by a local man whose grandfather heard it while stationed at Hearson Camp at Butterhill.
Deaths at Sea
A Llangwm man, Thomas Henry Skyrme, was one of the first casualties in the fighting. He was a stoker on HMS Amphion when she hit a mine and sank on only the second day of the war. Amphion was built at Pembroke Dock. Another Llangwm man, Stephen Arla Phillips, died seven weeks later when HMS Aboukir was sunk by a single torpedo from the German submarine U-9. He was a career soldier aged 45.
Socks for the Boys
Llangwm women were great knitters. According to a report in a local paper in January 1916, items including two vests and four pairs of socks had been sent to the Red Cross and six muffiers and six pairs of mittens to the Director General of Voluntary Organisations. In March the tally was six hot water bottle covers, three pairs of mittens, three shirts and five mufflers.
"Proud as fusiliers"
Large numbers of men came from outside the area to Hearson Camp, and in January 1916 a local paper reported that they were'greatly tickled' by the sight of Hook women riding home on their donkeys. They asked the women if they were from Llangwm, and one quipped: "No, we belong to the women's section of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers".
Brothers in Arms
Research uncovered no fewer than five sets of brothers from the Llangwm area who served their country. The John family from Llangwm had emigrated to Canada ten years before, and in 1914 two of the three sons enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. In one of the saddest stories to emerge, the older brother Edwin was killed by a sniper at Lens in Northern France in 1917. The younger, James, went to his aid but was killed holding his brother's body.
Click on an image to enlarge.
Llangwm: A Village at War Exhibition Poster - November 2014
WWI: A Village Opera Poster - November 2014
Your Village Needs You
Llangwm: A Village at War Exhibition Opening
WWI: A Village Opera Programme
'Men sought for soldier roles' - Western Telegraph
'War battle is remembered' - Western Telegraph
'Nation's eyes fall on local opera show'
Little Village, Big Result - Llangwm Village News, Issue 41
War Opera Helps Heroes - Western Telegraph Website , July 2015
Soldiers Benefit form Sell-out Opera - Western Telegraph, July 2015
How Village is Using Opera to Remember the Fallen - Western Mail
How a Village Found it's Voice - Pembrokeshire Life, January 2017
WWI: A Village Opera DVD Cover
WWI: A Village at War - St David's Cathedral, Thursday June 2nd 2016
Celebrating Soldiers Who Lost Their Lives
St David's Festival Programme 2016
Llangwm Village News - Issue 44, Autumn / Winter 2016
Llangwm Invades London - Llangwm Village News, Issue 44, Autumn / Winter 2016
Remembering WWI Award Judges Citations for
Llangwm Local History Society's WWI: A Village at War
The Remembering WWI Awards - Sunday Telegraph
Village's Wartime Opera Wins Award - Western Telegraph
Award-winning Opera Earns Praise for Impact - Western Telegraph, 21st December 2016
Llangwm 'put Pembrokeshire on the operatic map' - The Herald, 16th December 2016
Llangwm Opera's new filmic look - Western Telegraph, 17th October 2018
From playing to cows to a starring opera role - Western Telegraph, 24th October 2018
Llangwm: A Village at War Exhibition 2018
WWI: A Village at War - Follies Theatre, Folly Farm, Saturday November 10th 2018
Special visit for history project - Western Telegraph, 29th October 2018
Jane Mills' Introduction - Llangwm: A Village at War Exhibition
Thank you note from Sara Edwards, Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed
Hand-made poppies for opera cast - The Herald, 9th October 2018
Great War opera was a musical revelation - Western Mail, 22nd November 2018
Opera praise - Western Telegraph, 28th November 2018
Commemorating Llangwm's First World War Dead
Remembering Pte James at special service - Western Telegraph, 28th November 2018
Remembering Private James - Milford Mercury, November 29th 2018
Act of Remembrance for the First World War - Tuesday 4th November 2018 (1)
Act of Remembrance for the First World War - Tuesday 4th November 2018 (2)
Presentation to SSAFA - 4th December 2018
SSAFA Certificate - 4th December 2018
Letter from Jane Mills to Nick Groves - 5th December 2018
Village opera's donation to veterans - Western Telegraph, 12th December 2018
WW1: A Village At War Follies Theatre Programme, 10th November 2018