Caption: Detail from the famous frieze at the Scottish National War Memorial, by Alice and Morris Meredith Williams
About this talk: Born in Glamorgan, Morris Meredith Williams was trained in London at the Slade School of Art but working in Edinburgh, as an illustrator and teacher at Fettes College, when he joined up in April 1915. Commissioned into 17th (Service) Battalion (1st Glamorgan), the Welsh Regiment's first Bantam battalion, he later transferred to the Royal Engineers. In France from June 1916, he filled pocket-sized sketchbooks with vivid images of army life, in and behind the Front Line. These, combined with his correspondence with his wife, create a rare insight into a junior officer's days. This talk concludes with a brief look at the memorials on which they worked together, after the war, including the famous frieze in the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle
About the speaker: Phyllida Shaw is Morris Meredith William's great niece. She inherited her great uncle's wartime sketchbooks and the letters he wrote to his first wife, Alice, a sculptor. Phyllida has published two books about them - see below - on which the talks are broadly based. Phyllida has worked, for 30 years, as a researcher and facilitator, mostly in the cultural sector. She has a degree in European Studies (History and French) from Lancaster University and is a member of the National Union of Journalists and the Society of Authors.
Both books are available from (link): https://aliceandmorris.com/two-books/
This online talk: opens at 19:20 for a 19:30 start, ending at about 20:30. Participating is quick and easy. The only equipment you need is a computer, or a tablet, or a smart phone. Simply email wfa.nwkent@gmail.com for your link and the passcode. These will be sent out on late morning/early afternoon of Tuesday, 21st November, the day the talk takes place. You'll also automatically be added to the mailing list to keep you updated with future events.