JULIE MCNICHOLLS VALE gets the lowdown on historian William Troughton’s new book on how the First World War impacted on Aberystwyth.

THE effects of the First World War upon a Aberystwyth are told in a new book by local historian, William Troughton.

Aberystwyth and The Great War documents the impact the war had on the town and its people.

“As the years dragged on, nearly every family was affected by the war,” said William.

“Raw recruits were billeted in the town and marched up and down the promenade, signallers practised sending messages by semaphore from the castle to Constitution Hill and the dreaded telegrams dropped onto doormats with ever increasing regularity.

“The town held a somewhat muted National Eisteddfod, the Theological College became a hospital, Belgian refugees appeared in the town and the professor of German left. Parcels were sent to the soldiers and sailors and letters of thanks published in the local paper. Later, a tank appeared on the promenade.”

The book, which took around 18 months to write, is William’s eighth publication.

The historian, whose previous titles include Aberystwyth Through Time and Shipwrecks of Ceredigion, was asked by publisher, Amberley, to put together a book about Aberystwyth from 1914-1918.

“Amberley asked if I’d be interested in doing this book, and I was,” William explained.

“I worked on putting it together for about 18 months, so it was a long-term project. Some of it was easy to put together, but other parts were more difficult.”

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