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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl

@refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social

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All about the Belgian Refugees who came to North Wales during the First World War. Find us at: www.refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Nov 19

The Belgian Refugees in Rhyl project was set up 10 years ago to tell the stories of the people who fled Belgium during the First World War and found themselves in north Wales. Our research is here: refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com and there are several new chapters to be added over the coming months.

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl

Looking into the lives of the Belgian Refugees who came to Rhyl and the surrounding towns in the First World War.

refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · 20d

Flintshire Historical Society has invited me to talk about "The Belgian Refugee Monks at Talacre."
If you'd like to come along, we'll be at
Talacre Community Centre, Gamfa Wen, Talacre, CH8 9RT, on Saturday, September 27th at 2.40pm.
All welcome!
#BelgianRefugees

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Sep 6

From October 2025 until June 2026, the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ieper / Ypres will be hosting the exhibition "Ontheemd" (Displaced) telling the story of First World War Refugees in the museum and around the city. More here: www.inflandersfields.be/nl/programma...

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Aug 30

I’ve written lots about the Belgian woodcarver Emile De Vynck (tinyurl.com/vynck) but not found much about his wife –until today. I found that Maria Regina De Vynck (née Sermeus) signed the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition in 1923. See here: tinyurl.com/WalesPP

The Welsh Women's Peace Petition - Viewing the signature of Maria De Vynck, Tyn y lech Pentrefelin

View the signature of Maria De Vynck, Tyn y lech Pentrefelin, Dolbenmaen, Gwynedd / Gwynedd

tinyurl.com

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Aug 30

This is very interesting! On the search for more about this now... Found this for sale: www.vdw-auctions.com/en/catalog/l...

Lot pagina - Van De Wiele Auctions

www.vdw-auctions.com

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Aug 25

Published today! The largest chapter we've ever written - by far. It has taken so many years to research and write. Much information here about the #BelgianRefugees in #Barmouth and #Tywyn. Take a wander along the Cambrian Coast here: refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com/cambrian-coa...

Along the Cambrian Coast

The coastal area of the former county of Meirionydd hosted many Belgian Refugees, primarily in Barmouth where at one time it was reported that there were over 400 – so many so that the town n…

refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Jun 22

At Aberystwyth Arts Centre for the exhibition "Unsettled Lives: War and Displacement in Wales" yesterday, by
@centrecmop.bsky.social
Featured is the 1923 bardic chair from Cemaes, Ynys Môn (Anglesey) which was carved by Émile De Vynck, a Belgian Refugee. refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com/chairs/

The Cemaes Chair: Awarded to the Reverend W. E. “Penllyn” Jones at the Cemaes Chair Eisteddfod in 1923.
The chair back features a carving of three ladies in traditional Welsh costume taking tea, and a Welsh dragon carved into the seat.

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Jun 12

The exhibition "Unsettled Lives: War and Displacement in Wales" launches on 14 June in Gallery 2 of the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Later in the year it will relocate to The Senedd. More here: aberystwythartscentre.co.uk/lives-war-an...
@centrecmop.bsky.social

aberystwythartscentre.co.uk

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Jun 11

Here's the story of Joseph Pierre De Kock of Antwerp, one of the #BelgianRefugees in Llandudno. He was a driver for the Royal Red Motor Company, but seems to have spent more time in court than on the roads... sway.cloud.microsoft/f2zTymDltTLL...

Joseph De Kock at Llandudno

Joseph Pierre De Kock was a Belgian Refugee who was employed as a charabanc driver in Llandudno, working for the Royal Red Motor Company. He started working for Royal Red on December 11th, 1915.

sway.cloud.microsoft

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Jun 5

Yesterday we received more information about #BelgianRefugees who stayed in Wales (primarily Barmouth.)
Also therein was information of Belgian girls who boarded at St. Mary's Convent in Rhyl during the First World War, which prompted a page update: refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com/sister-victo...

Sister Victoria and the Convent

What do we know about the Sister Superior of St. Mary’s Convent High School – the lady who was the driving force behind bringing the Belgian Refugees to Rhyl, and looking after them when they were …

refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · May 27

Can't wait!

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · May 23

Very happy to see @pplscollection.bsky.social here on BlueSky. Give them a follow! They've loads of great stuff to show you, like this baby's frock made by Belgian Refugee nuns in Newport, Gwent: www.peoplescollection.wales/items/414612...
#BelgianRefugees

Baby's frock | Peoples Collection Wales

Baby's white cotton lawn frock with high waistline, square neckline, full skirt and short sleeves. The bodice, neckline, cuffs and hemline are trimmed with...

www.peoplescollection.wales

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · May 14

A collection of photographs by Prestatyn-based photographer J.T. Burrows was recently acquired by the North East Wales Heritage Forum. Around 80 photos have been published, among them one photo of the photographer's family with #BelgianRefugees
See the collection here: tinyurl.com/BurrowsPrest...

A photo of a group of ten people of various ages enjoying a picnic in a garden, taken in Prestatyn, North Wales. The goup includes the family of the the photographer J. T. Burrows and some of the Belgian Refugees who were staying in Prestatyn. Photograph taken around 1916.

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · May 2

Plaque unveiled at New College, Oxford, to commemorate the #BelgianRefugees: www.new.ox.ac.uk/news/new-col...

New College commemorates Belgian Refugees housed during the First World War | New College

www.new.ox.ac.uk

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Apr 25

Just found this this mirror with a frame carved by Emile De Vynck, one of the #BelgianRefugees in Pentrefelin (He lived there 1914-1924). Mirror sold March '25 in Froncysyllte. Size: 127cm x 70cm. Auction note states 1916 as year of manufacture. More here: refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com/chairs/

A gold-painted, ornate, wooden mirror frame. Carved by Emile De Vynck in 1916. Measures 127cm tall, 70 cm wide.

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Apr 18

Yesterday we had the great honour of welcoming the Family Van Goey to St. Asaph, to visit the grave of their ancestor Constant Van Goey, one of the #BelgianRefugees who stayed in the city. See here: refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com/st-asaph/ for an update.
#StAsaph #VanGoey

St. Asaph

There are two Belgian Refugee graves in the old Mount Road church yard in St. Asaph: The first is that of C. L. Brack. The inscription reads “In loving memory of my dear husband, C. L. Brack,…

refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Apr 15

#Onthisday in 1945, Rhyl’s Marjorie Ashbery worked as a volunteer at the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. She helped care for the surviving internees. Her father, Percy, had also dedicated himself to humanitarian efforts as the treasurer of Rhyl's #BelgianRefugees Committee. tinyurl.com/3sr8hz64

The Committee

As with most towns preparing to accept Belgian Refugees, a committee was formed in Rhyl to raise much-needed funds and ready the house for their arrival. Somewhere in the region of 18,000 ch…

refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Mar 6

Overnight, a huge amount of information arrived from Belgium: It ties together all the north Wales #BelgianRefugees communities and importantly contains the numbers of Belgians in each town.
Much work to disseminate it all. It's an incredible find. I'm beyond excited.

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Mar 5

Two new chapters published today! Both concern the area once known as Maelor Saesneg in north-east Wales. The country estates took in some noble families from Belgium - tinyurl.com/saesneg and one family of #BelgianRefugees who came to Penley stayed and made a life here: tinyurl.com/famdoex

The Country Estates of Maelor Saesneg

Maelor Saesneg, or “Flintshire Detached” was an exclave of Flintshire County that was completely separate from the main body of the county, and surrounded by Denbighshire, Cheshire and Shropshire…

refugeesinrhyl.wordpress.com

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Feb 25

The programme for the annual Heritage Lectures series in Dinbych/Denbigh has been published. If you're interested in hearing about Denbigh's #BelgianRefugees, please join me at 7pm on March 20th 2025 at the Town Hall. All lectures are free to attend. See you there!

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Feb 23

There's a really interesting report on Milford Haven's #BelgianRefugees on the Western Telegraph website. Includes photos. Have a look! www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/2495411...
@westerntelegraph.bsky.social

Remembering a Pembrokeshire town's hidden past with Belgian refugees

This week, Jeff takes a look at when Milford Haven welcomed Belgian refugees during the First World War

www.westerntelegraph.co.uk

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Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Jan 23

Found the stamp! First issued in 1929, in use until 1931.

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Jan 23

There are no photos of Genevieve in that archive (at least none carrying her name.) The group photo my website was sent to me.
I return to all my previous searches often. If I find more I'll let you know.
It is a lovely image and the handwriting on the reverse is beautiful too.

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Jan 23

I mapped Genevieve & Gabrielle's movements - they didn't stay anywhere very long. The family has an archive, see www.facebook.com/groups/15897...
- They were really helpful when I was writing about the sisters.

Redirecting...

www.facebook.com

Belgian Refugees in Rhyl @refugeesinrhyl.bsky.social · Jan 23

How fascinating! Thank you for letting us know. If we can help more, please let us know.