Group at Goodwick Sands / Grŵp ar y Parrog 1897

Since the mooting of these festivities much has been read in the papers of the red whittles worn by the women of Fishguard with such surprising effect on the day of the invasion, but few have seen this characteristic Welsh article of attire to such advantage until to-day, when 89 ladies bloomed out at every turning in a mass of red and plaid.

Following the band came the ladies in Welsh costume. What a sight for a Cymru Fyddite! To be truthful, they inspired the visitors with a feeling the very antithesis of fear. The formidable pitchforks several of them carried did certainly make them appear a dangerous array to tackle. But, really, they were a galaxy of smiling beauty on good terms with the world in general, a very different picture to that made by their prototypes we have read of who struck terror into the hearts of the trained men, and showed determination worthy of the Amazons of old.

But if there is a prophecy which could be safely pronounced, it is that today’s contingent of fair ones, if situated in similar circumstances, would show as brave a spirit as their grandmothers did, and would unhesitatingly enter into the work of defence. The thought that first occurred to me when I saw the young ladies together was that they must have had great difficulty in getting hold of so many Welsh chimney-pot hats, the beaver of most of them being in good condition. Inquiries, however, showed that this was not so. It seems that there are hundreds and hundreds in North Pembrokeshire. Although now quite a novelty as outdoor headgear, the old people jealously preserve “Yr hen hat fawr.” To them nothing would appear so profane as the destruction of a grandmother’s hat.

I joined the procession in the conveyance of Dr. Lawton Swete, the most energetic secretary of the movement, and in this way gained the interesting bit of news that one of the fascinating ‘Deborahs’ wore a whittle (cloak) and hat that had actually been used over 100 years ago on Cerrig-Gwastad rocks. Mrs Mason, Prospect House, Fishguard, had prevailed upon “Nanny Ffynon Carn” to lend them, and that lady showed them off to advantage. Had the generality of the people known of the existence of so interesting a relic amongst the many in the profession the wearer would undoubtedly have had a very tantalising time of it.

Two young gentlemen of hilarious proclivities had also turned out in full Welsh costume, the “Gwn bach” not excepted, but their comparatively clumsy gait and elephantine waists betrayed them. After all, they leavened the apparent harmlessness of the 89, who were marshalled by Mr James.

Yn dilyn y band roedd y merched mewn gwisgoedd hyfryd. Am olygfa i Gymru Fydd! A dweud y gwir, fe wnaethon nhw ysbrydoli’r ymwelwyr gyda theimlad o falchder, nid a theimladau o ofn! Roedd y picweirch arswydus a gariodd sawl un ohonynt yn sicr yn gwneud iddynt ymddangos yn beryglus i daclo. Ond, mewn gwirionedd, roedden nhw’n bictwr o harddwch, yn  gwenu ac ar delerau da â’r byd yn gyffredinol. Roedd hyn yn wahanol iawn i’r argraff a wnaed gan eu mamau  a’u neiniau. Rydym wedi darllen am y modd y bwrwyd braw i galonnau’r dynion Ffrengig. Nhw oedd Amazonau dyddiau gynt.

Petawn yn dewis proffwydo, fe ddywedwn y byddai’r fintai o lodesi teg heddiw, o’u lleoli mewn amgylchiadau tebyg, yn dangos ysbryd mor ddewr ag y gwnaeth eu neiniau, ac yn mynd i mewn i’r gwaith amddiffyn yn ddibetrus. Meddyliais ar y cyntaf pan welais y merched ifanc gyda’i gilydd, rhaid eu bod wedi cael anhawster mawr i gael gafael ar gynifer o hetiau simnai Cymreig, croen afanc, y rhan fwyaf ohonynt mewn cyflwr da. Fodd bynnag, dangosodd ymholiadau nad oedd hyn yn wir. Mae’n debyg bod cannoedd ar gannoedd yng Ngogledd Sir Benfro. Er ei fod bellach yn dipyn yn hen ffasiwn fel penwisg awyr agored, mae’r hen bobl ofalus o gadw “Yr hen het fawr.” Iddynt hwy mi fyddai dinistrio het mam-gu yn bechod. 

Ymunais a’r orymdaith yng ngherbyd Dr. Lawton Swete, ysgrifenydd egniol y mudiad. Dysgais wrtho bod un o’r ‘Deborahs’ cyfareddol yn gwisgo clogyn a het a ddefnyddiwyd dros 100 mlynedd yn ôl ar greigiau Carreg Wastad. Mrs Mason, Prospect House, Abergwaun, oedd hi, ac roedd wedi pwyso ar “Nani Ffynnon Carn” i’w benthyca. Pe bai gweddill y dorf yn gwybod am fodolaeth y creiriau diddorol hyn, byddai’r gwisgwr wedi cael amser prysur ohoni.

Yr oedd dau foneddwr ieuanc hynod o ddoniol hefyd wedi troi allan mewn gwisg Gymreig gyflawn, gan gynnwys y “Gwn bach”. Roedd eu cerddediad lled drwsgl a’u cyrff eliffantaidd yn eu bradychu fel dynion. Ymhlith yr 89 arall, daeth Mr James i’r blaen fel trefnydd.