 A REMARKABLE STORY OF SAFEGUARDING A COMMUNITY FROM MILITARY PRESENCE
‘Battle of the Preselau – the campaign to safeguard the ‘sacred’ hills of Pembrokeshire 1946-48’ by Hefin Wyn. Published by Clychau Clochog.
Price £6 95
Publication date: 28/11/08
“It’s a truly remarkable story.” That is the opinion of Hefin Wyn after researching the background of the battle to keep the Preselau mountains from being taken over by the War Office in the late 1940s.
“The intention was to turn over 200 farmers from their homes and establish the Preselau as a permanent military training ground. If that had happened the effect on life in rural north Pembrokeshire would have been devastating and heartbreaking,” he said.
However, within a few weeks of the announcement in November 1947 a Precelly Preservation Committee was formed under the guidance of Nonconformist ministers, village schoolmasters and the odd shrewd public figure.
The Rev Mathias Davies, who was also an influential county councillor, was chosen as chairman and Titus Lewis BSc, the Maenclochog headmaster, was appointed secretary. Among the other ministers who were prominent members of the Committee were the Revs Moelwyn Daniel, Llewelyn Lloyd Jones, Joseph James, Tom Rees and O. Morley Lewis.
The first decision was to employ a barrister to argue the case for safeguarding the Preselau with government departments and if necessary in a public inquiry. Dr E. Roland Williams, a local GP, made the proposal and the suggestion made by Caleb Rees, the former schools inspector, was the need to adopt the cunning of a fox, the appetite of a sow and the enthusiasm of a spaniel in order to succeed.
“The battle was set on a strong foundation from the start and radical Nonconformism was an obvious factor as they set about to safeguard the highest values. The choice of the word ‘preserve’ rather than ‘defence’ was significant since something that needs to be preserved is of more value than something that only needs to be defended. It was also a means of avoiding the familiar phraseology of warfare and thus emphasising the campaigners train of thought was different to that of the ‘enemy’ which was the War Office in this context,” according to the author.
The stories about the bravery of the Rev Joseph James and the Rev R. Parri Roberts have long been part of the area’s oral tradition. The former threatened to occupy one of the cottages and refuse to leave until he was jailed. The latter when confronted by army generals said in no uncertain terms that the area nurtured souls when it was suggested the terrain was only suitable to fatten lambs and calves.
Waldo Williams, the poet, also had a role in the campaign, though he lived in exile at Lyneham, Wiltshire, at the time. Within a few weeks of the announcement his poem ‘Preselau’ appeared on the front page of Y Faner, the Welsh language national weekly. The two lines ‘Cadwn y mur rhag y bwystfil, cadwn y ffynnon rhag y baw / Keep the ramparts from the beast, keep the fountain free from grime’ became heavy-laden with significance when it was realised the ‘beast’ in this context was the War Office.
Again, though he was not prominent, the part played by D. J. Williams, the Fishguard nationalist, was also influential as he prodded and wrote innumerable letters in the background.
“Undoubtedly he was the hidden general devising tactics. A letter he had sent to the Rev R. Parri Roberts came to light in which he suggested emphasising the religious argument that could not be denied or deflated compared to the other arguments. That was the explanation for the remarkable meeting held at Brynberian when one minister after another, as well as a number of laymen, rose on their feet to emphasise the ‘sanctity’ of the mountains.
“The meeting was held a day or so after ‘Parri Bach’ received the letter. The religious connections of the mountains were emphasised as far back as pre-history as there were 38 ancient monuments on the slopes. It was noted that the bluestones were taken to Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain to form the cradle of English civilisation. On that basis it was argued that no cultured Englishman would defile an area where he had strong historical connections.
“Indeed, it appears that was the argument that finally won the day or at least it was an easy let out for the War Office and the Labour government to cite such an argument rather than confess that the strength of the opposition gave them no choice but to yield. By the spring of 1948 the battle had been won.
“It was a truly remarkable story and a story of success in safeguarding a community compared to what was lost on Epynt a few years earlier and at Tryweryn in a later period. Most probably since it is a story of success few people are familiar with the details. It is our habit as Welshmen to wallow in our misfortunes and losses ever since Prince Llywelyn was beheaded at Cilmeri in 1282 but it’s about time we gained a little confidence anew and praise our few successes,” according to Hefin Wyn.
It was a campaign fought by the whole of Pembrokeshire since the county council gave its wholehearted support and even played a leading role as the report they produced warned that what the Normans and the Flemish failed to do centuries earlier could happen overnight if the Preselau were to be surrendered. A number of authorities in the south of the county were also supportive because they wanted to preserve the quality of their water supplies from the mountain slopes.
Despite the success 60 years ago it appears there is another battle to be fought along the Preselau slopes today as a way of life and an indigenous culture that have been preserved for centuries are now under threat. There are only two full time ministers in the area and it is increasingly difficult to assimilate the growing number of in-migrants as it is to keep the young people from moving away in pursuit of lucrative jobs and careers.
Back in the 1940s over 90% of the inhabitants of the Maenclochog and Mynachlog-ddu areas spoke Welsh and many were monolingual to all purposes. However the latest census figures tell us that only 46% speak the language fluently while another 18% have some fluency and 35% have no skills in the language whatsoever.
Because of such startling facts it was decided to translate the book into English on the basis that it was important to all and sundry who intend to put down roots in the area to learn about their heritage.
The two separate books ‘Battle of the Preselau – the campaign to safeguard the ‘sacred’ hills of Pembrokeshire 1946-48’ / ‘Brwydr y Preselau – yr ymgyrch i ddiogelu bryniau ‘sancatidd’ Sir Benfro 1946-48’ by Hefin Wyn will be launched on Friday evening, 28 November, at Maenclochog Community Hall in the company of Prof Hywel Teifi Edwards and balladeer Huw George at 7.30 p.m.
Undoubtedly, it is a truly remarkable, remarkable story.
The books are published by Clychau Clochog with the aid of the Heritage Lottery Fund |
