Hedd Wyn and the Black Chair

Birkenhead Park, 1917: On the final day of the Eisteddfod, the crowning of the bard took place. As was custom, poems entered for the title had been submitted under pseudonyms.

A trumpet sounded.

The Archdruid called out for the poet “Fleur de Lis” to make themselves known.

As was custom, the poet did not answer the call.

The trumpet sounded twice more. Still no poet stood.

Archdruid Dyfed stepped forward and, in the dread silence, announced that Fleur de Lis, the pseudonym of Hedd Wyn, had been killed serving his country.

The bardic chair, now draped in a black cloth, was presented to his bereaved family.

Hedd Wyn was the bardic name of Ellis Humphrey Evans. Born in Trawsfynydd, Wales to a family of hill farmers, he started writing poetry when he was 11. He left school at 14 to work as a shepherd on his family’s farm. He took part in many eisteddfodau, winning his first bardic chair aged 20. He was given his bardic name Hedd Wyn, meaning “blessed peace”, by the bard Bryfdir.

At the outbreak of World War I, Ellis did not enlist as he was a pacifist. Although farming was classified as a reserved occupation, families were required to send one son to join up. Ellis enlisted rather than his younger brother, and trained in February 1917 near Liverpool.

In March 1917, the government temporarily released any enlisted farmers to return to their farms to help with ploughing. Ellis was given seven weeks of leave, and returned to the family farm where he worked on his submission for that year’s eisteddfod, Yr Arwr (The Hero).

The spring was exceptionally wet and so, unable to leave the farm, Ellis overstayed his leave by seven days, and was taken by military police to a jail in Blaenau before being returned to the war in Belgium. He left in such a hurry that he left his poem on the kitchen table, so he wrote it again on the journey. The poem was sent to the eisteddfod from Fléchin, some time around the end of June.

On 31 July 1917, Ellis and his battalion marched to what would be the Third Battle of Passchendaele. He fell during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, was carried to a first aid post where, at around 11:00 a.m., he subsequently died.

Ellis H. Evans is buried in Section II, Row F, Grave 11 at Artillery Wood Cemetery, near Boezinge, Belgium.

Our window display remembers him and shows the first part of his winning poem Yr Arwr, as well his well-known poem Rhyfel (War) and a poem about him by Welsh Poet Laureate Gillian Clarke.

Also, on loan from us by the producer, are some props from a new film called “A Packet of Five” about five soldiers who meet on the battlefield and realise their lives have all been touched by Hedd Wyn. Look out for screenings near you, and online. We are truly thrilled to have been lent these by Simon Howlett.

The actual black chair can be seen at Yr Ysgwrn, Trawsfynydd, North Wales (see their website for details on how to visit).