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<p>The 1911 Census records that Florence Anstey was born in Bath, Somerset and was 44 at the time the Census was taken and that she was not a Welsh speaker. There were seven Assistant Mistresses, aged between 27 and 33, resident at the school at the time. Five spoke only English the other two spoke English and Welsh.
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<p>79 pupils are recorded; most were born in Wales or England. Three pupils were born in Bombay, Madras and Shanghai respectively.
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<p>One of the pupils (Dorothy May Davies) aged 16 and from Liverpool, was to go on to become something of a legend at DWS. She retired in 1961 after 42 years teaching.
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<p>The DWS Homefront 1914 gallery pages on this site reveal how the school 'did its bit', affording glimpses of the impact of the war in rural Wales and on one school community. Miss Anstey must have been a source of inspiration for all their efforts.
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Miss Florence Anstey, Headmistress 1906-1924

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<p>The first page of the School Magazine published in February 1915 records how the girls immediately set about making garments for soldiers, sailors, Belgian refugees 'or others in distress and want caused by the war'. Two hundred garments were completed and despatched during the term.
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The outbreak of War and how DWS responded, Article 1915

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World War 1 Refugees sewing

<p>This auxiliary military hospital opened for two years during the First World War, closing on the 22 March 1919. There are stories in the school magazine about the entertainments, eggs and newspapers provided by the girls and staff of DWS for the wounded soldiers while they were convalescing at Caernynwch.
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See the Related Story links on this page.
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Caerynwch Auxiliary Military Hospital, patients and nurse

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Military hospital World War 1 Caerynwch

<p>Miss Owen left at Christmas to prepare for her marriage.
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More pupils were being accommodated.
<br>Form 11 increased to such 'an alarming extent that it was found necessary to make a separate First Form'. Three little Belgian girls who are refugees in Dolgelley are placed in this form.
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<p>Great excitement was caused by a visit of part of the Welsh Army Corps on January 20th on a route march through Merionethshire.
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A page of snippets from the July 1915 school magazine

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magazine 1915 refugees Welsh Army Corps World War 1

<p>A page from the 1915 School magazine includes an item about a lecture by a Miss Tungate, an American lady, who 'kept her audience enraptured for more than an hour' talking about her experiences in Belgium at the outbreak of war.
A collection was made for destitute Belgians left in their own country.
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<p>Another item notes the celebrations for the school's 37th birthday on February 7th.
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<p>The snippet at the top of the page completes an item about a route march by the Welsh Army Corps as it goes past the school during dinner. It afforded 'An excellent view of the splendid looking men who are doing their best for King and Country'.
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Miss Tungate's 'Delightful lecture' on being in Belgium 1914

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Magazine World War 1 Belgium School Birthday

<p>A page from July 1915 school magazine lists the various societies pupils supported by making clothes. The garments were sent weekly to the Red Cross,the Sailors' Institute, Queen Mary's Needlework Guild,the Zenana Mission (for Indian soldiers wounded or at the Front),local territorials and refugees in Aberystwyth, Barmouth and Dolgelley and also to destitute Belgians left in their own devastated country.
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<p>Socks seem to have been in demand, judging by this page.
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Sewing for the Red Cross, Refugees, destitute Belgians 1915

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magazine World War 1 Refugees Red Cross sewing

<p>Gifts to the museum recorded in the July 1915 School magazine included:
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<p>A piece of the Bell of Nieuport Cathedral in Belgium, shattered by bombardment
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A Belgian Railway ticket
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<p>Biscuit, as supplied to our Soldiers, presented by Majel Fennell
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Swallows Egg and Staghorn Moss from Cader
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<p>and an item identified thus: 'The Roman Matrons giving up their jewels to carry on the war against Hannibal (cf. German Women in 1915)
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A bell shattered by bombardment in Belgium, Museum gift 1915

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magazine museum 1915 World War 1

<p>Items in the School Notes from the School Magazine July 1915 describe the fundraising and practical projects undertaken by pupils to support the war effort.
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<p>'Sandbags Stop Bullets'( Headline- British Journal of Nursing 1915)
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<p>How to make Miss Tyler's sandbags (Instructions found in the Journal of Nursing):
MATERIAL: hessian or jute, SIZE: 33in by 14in when made up.
SEAMS: Put edges together, turn them up once, together; Sew over strongly with string or stout linen thread (or machine twice with thread, NOT chain stitch). Take deep stitches, one end to be left open (lightly caught or raw edged) Turn bags inside out and tie on a piece of stout string to close sack when filled.
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<p>NB:- Wide turnings, strong seams. The bags are tossed about and must stand strain. Empty bags sent to Miss Tyler will be sent to the Front without delay. Millions of bags are wanted.
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Red Cross, Russian Flag Day, sewing, making sandbags -1915

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World War 1 Red Cross sandbags fundraising sewing

<p>Gifts to the school museum, noted in the school magazine February 1916, included cartridges taken from a Turkish soldier in Gallipoli, a glass float from a net to catch submarines found on the Carnovonshire coast, 'curiosities' from Bolivia, a shell case from Northern France (donated by Captain Cecil Gwynne Thomas) and birds' eggs.
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Gifts to the Museum included cartridges from Gallipoli, 1916

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Gallipoli World War 1 museum France submarine

<p>Gifts to the school museum in 1916 (and noted here in the school magazine) ranged from a case of butterflies and moths, to a picture of a Shakespeare medal, to 'a postcard which had travelled to many prisoners' camps in Germany, in search of an English prisoner who could not be traced'.
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<p>There was a 'cluster of whelk's egg cases from Friog' and Dr Daniel Williams' book of sermons entitled 'The Vanity of Childhood and Youth'. This was placed in a museum case, which was probably the best place for it.
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All in all, quite a cabinet of curiosities.
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Sermons and a high explosive shell cap to the museum 1916

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World War 1 1916 Museum

<p>This article, published in the July 1917 school magazine, describes the Bazaar as 'The great event of the year'. One,for which, the girls had worked since July 1916. As a result of their efforts £50 was sent to the Red Cross, £50 to the Dolgelley Sick and Wounded Fund,and £12 to a Fund for Disabled Soldiers.
There was a sale of garments and decorative handwork and an exhibition. The school dining room was transformed into a 'first class restaurant'. The entertainment on offer included a play, Welsh duets and an action song called 'Red Cross Nurses'. Interestingly there was also an 'amusing costume song on Women's Rights'
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The Red Cross Bazaar - fundraising event, December 1916

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Fundraising bazaar 1916 women's rights Red Cross World War 1

<p>The school magazine July 1917 records a list of items donated to the museum. Objects range from a hand grenade, to pressed flowers, to shells from Harlech beach,to part of a bomb dropped by a Zeppelin in Norfolk, an emu's egg from Australia and a replica of Lusitania medal. The 'anna' was then a unit of currency in India.
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Pressed flowers and a hand grenade to the school museum 1917

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museum World War 1 1917

Dr Williams’ School
Dolgellau
1878 - 1975

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Miss Florence Anstey, Headmistress 1906-1924

The outbreak of War and how DWS responded, Article 1915

Caerynwch Auxiliary Military Hospital, patients and nurse

A page of snippets from the July 1915 school magazine

Miss Tungate's 'Delightful lecture' on being in Belgium 1914

Sewing for the Red Cross, Refugees, destitute Belgians 1915

A bell shattered by bombardment in Belgium, Museum gift 1915

Red Cross, Russian Flag Day, sewing, making sandbags -1915

Gifts to the Museum included cartridges from Gallipoli, 1916

Sermons and a high explosive shell cap to the museum 1916

The Red Cross Bazaar - fundraising event, December 1916

Pressed flowers and a hand grenade to the school museum 1917