As communities and volunteers have been transcribing the 390,296 signatories from the 1923 Welsh Women’s Peace Petition to America, many have been identifying and uncovering the stories behind this generation of women who stood against war. Who were they – and what messages might they have for us 100 years later.

‘Hidden Histories’ project led by the WCIA invited people across Wales to uncover and share ‘peace stories’ behind the 390,296 women who signed the Peace Petition – not just ‘the great and the good’, but the thousands of ordinary women across Wales moved in the aftermath of World War One to petition for peace.

This story and supporting material was contributed by Enid Lewis, that explored the history of her grandmother, Gwen Jones

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Petition Nefyn 13/18 

Here’s my grandmother – Gwen Jones seated in the centre of the front row. Gwen was 25 in 1923 having been brought up on Beiliglas Farm, Gwaun Cae Gurwen one of five children. All the children received further education. Gwen had agricultural education in Glasgow. Gwen’s brother was Headmaster at Madryn College 1922-1948 and Gwen was Matron for a time. On the petition Gwen lived in ‘Madryn Farm School’ and Bronwen Jones, Isaac’s wife at ‘Madryn Castle’. Isaac and Bronwen married summer 1923. Gwen was married in 1925 and moved back south to Brynllefrith Farm, Cwmllynfell. This photo was taken between 1923 and 1925. Gwen is sitting between Isaac and Bronwen.