Archive of the month

The Archive of the Month feature raises awareness amongst students and staff about the variety of material that we hold. In particular, the old Bangor photographs appear to spark a lot of interest and debate on the University’s Facebook pages.

Every month, an item is selected to be showcased. The item is scanned and a short piece of text written about its history.

November 2018

The Diaries of Dr. Gwilym Pari Huws, 1916-1919

Three small pocket diaries belonging to Dr Gwilym Pari Huws, written whilst on active service with Section B, Welsh Company, of the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) during the First World War. They briefly record his daily duties, movements and significant events, providing a snapshot of the everyday life of a Private serving in the RAMC during the conflict. Many of his entries relate to his time working on the Hospital Ships HMAT Valdivia and the HMAT Warilda. He was on board the latter when it was torpedoed by the German submarine UC-49 on the 3rd August 1918. This was despite being marked clearly with the Red Cross.

Gwilym Pari Huws was born in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Merioneth in 1894, the son of Rev. William Pari Huws, Congregational minister, originally of Dolwyddelan and grandson of William Hughes, also known as Gwilym Prysor.

Gwilym attended the University College of North Wales, Bangor, to follow an art degree course, but his course was disrupted by the outbreak of the First World War. After serving in the Middle East he returned to education and studied at Liverpool to become a Doctor. He worked as a General Practitioner at Blaenau Ffestiniog and Old Colwyn.

He was a poet, but he also enjoyed collecting poems and verses (englynion) composed by others. He was a deacon at Salem Church, Colwyn Bay and died on 21 June 1979.

A collection of his poetry was published in 1983 entitled Awen y Meddyg.

This "Archive of the Month" was created by Lynette Hunter, Archivist

Click on the links below to view all our showcased documents.