The Peace Pilgrimage in Bangor
Archives and Special Collections, Bangor University, Bangor
The organisation of the North Wales section of the Peacemakers’ Pilgrimage began in Bangor. In April 1926 a small group of women, including Mrs Charlotte Price White, Gwladys Thoday and Silyn Roberts, started to seek support from individuals and other organisations such as mayors, councillors, clergy, and political parties. Meetings to build support were held in towns and villages on the subjects of arbitration and conciliation. The Pilgrimage itself passed through Bangor where ‘a beautiful prayer of peace was offered … by the Dean.’ The organisers reflected afterwards how it had ‘started in Bangor by a small group with a few shillings and has spread until it has included more than fifty towns and villages.’ (1)
Gwladys Thoday wrote in 1926 ‘We realise that the great success of the pilgrimage is due to the many helpers who in every place had done their part because they believe that it is full time that REASON shall take the place of FORCE and arbitration be tried first in every international dispute before there is resort to WAR.’ (2) Mrs Thoday went on to become the Honorary Secretary of the North Wales Women’s Peace Council and member of the Executive of the Women’s International League, which later became the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
References/Further Reading:
(1) ‘Law, not war – Hedd nid cledd’: Women and the Peace Movement in North Wales, 1926-45. Welsh History Review 18 (1-4). National Library of Wales.
(2) S. Thomas, 2016. North Wales Women’s Peace March 1926. WCIA Voices. Welsh Centre for International Affairs.