Wales’ Greatest Conjuror! Mr Charles Oswald

I’ve just finished cataloguing the family papers of David Tilley of Cowbridge (ref.: DX666) where I came across some interesting correspondence relating to a concert given to wounded soldiers on 24 February 1917. The concert, as well as featuring music recitals, also included a performance by ‘Wales’s Greatest Conjuror’ (South Wales Graphic, 12 October 1906), Mr Charles Oswald.

A copy of his repertoire lists such feats of magic as ‘The Fairy Thimbles’, ‘The Haunted Parasol’ and ‘The Invisible Hen and Eggs’, among many others! He was also an accomplished ventriloquist, working alongside ‘Sammy-The Famous Automatic Figure, whose sayings and doings create roars of laughter.’ Intrigued, I decided to find out more!

Charles Oswald, full name Charles Oswald Williams, was born in Llanelli in 1864, but by 1891 was living in Cardiff. He was a member of the Inner Magic Circle in London and in 1904 he appeared on the cover of ‘The Sphinx’ magazine as ‘Magician of the Month’. He was also a dealer in watches and musical instruments in Cardiff.

The concert was reported in the Glamorgan Gazette at the time, which also mentions an address and presentation given to a Lieut. F. J. Evans.  It seems this refers to the awarding of the Military Cross for gallantry to 2^nd Lieutenant John Frederick Gwyn Evans (1893-1960) of the South Staffordshire Regiment.  Lieut. Evans was born in St Mary Church, Cowbridge to Lieut. Frederick and Mrs Catherine Evans. The newspaper reports:

“The despatch said of him: When the attack was held up, he found a block, and by his great courage and fine example to the men under him, although very short of bombs, he checked an enemy counter attack. Bravo, Lieut. Evans; we wish we had a dozen sons like you. That’s the stuff to give ‘em”.

During the First World War, David Tilley was the Food Control Officer for Cowbridge. Consequently, the Borough of Cowbridge Food Control Committee Records can be found among his papers.

Corinne Evans, Glamorgan Archives Volunteer

The Autograph Book of Sister Emily Connell

Emily Evelina R. Connell was born in West Derby, Liverpool in 1871. She had three sisters and two brothers. Her father, Rowland William Connell, was a corn merchant from Cork. Emily trained as a nurse and the census tells us that in 1911 she was working in Bideford, Devon. In 1910 she had    enrolled in the Embodied Territorial Force Nursing Service (TFNS).

The TFNS was established in 1908 as a reserve force to provide, if required, up to 23 hospitals to care for service men from the Territorial or Reserve army. In the event of war it was planned that each hospital would cater for 520 patients to be housed in a school or other public buildings vacated by their residents at the time of mobilisation, and each hospital would be staffed by 91 trained nurses.

Howard Gardens School in Cardiff was one of the 23 hospitals established by the end of September 1914; it was known as the 3^rd Western Hospital. By November 1915 it was reported that there were  1100 hospital beds  in the sectional hospitals of the 3^rd Western General Hospital (Western Mail 16 November 1915).  The expansion from the original planned number was achieved by appropriating further schools in Cardiff for use as hospitals.  The scale of the operation was exemplified in a report in the South Wales Echo for 4 July 1916:

“Wounded soldiers to the number of 320 from the Front arrived in Cardiff at 4 o clock this afternoon. All the cases were sitting injuries being mostly gunshot wounds and the majority are able to walk unaided to the motors which were waiting. Some of the Tommies, who appear in capital spirits, were wounded as recently as yesterday morning. The soldiers were distributed  to Howardian (40), King Edward VII Hospital (10), Albany Road (70), Splott (50), Lansdowne (75), Ninian Park (75).”

Emily Connell was appointed as a Staff Nurse in September 1914 and worked at the Howard Gardens hospital throughout the war.  Her wartime records can be accessed at the National Archives (W0/399/10514). To qualify as a Staff Nurse in the TFNS, civilian nurses were required to be over 23 years of age with at least three years training in a hospital or infirmary. The only surviving record with Emily’s age stated that she was 41 in 1919. In fact she would have been 47 (possibly 48) when demobilised in November 1919. From her annual reports she was clearly a very competent nurse. A testimonial from Dame Sidney Brown, Matron in Chief, in 1920 stated:

“Miss Connell has good professional ability. She is a capable surgical and medical nurse and has had charge of the Shell Shock patients in a Section of one of the Base Hospitals. She has shown ability in dealing with these cases on night duty. She is reliable and tactful and had done Charge Sister’s duties with success. Miss Connell has rendered very good service for over five years and was awarded the Royal Red Cross 2^nd Class in June 1916 for good work and valuable service.”  

Emily Connell’s autograph book was signed by around 100 wounded soldiers and sailors from 1915 to 1918. The 3^rd Western Hospital catered primarily for the wounded from France and Belgium but also received many men wounded in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915. The majority were soldiers from Britain, Australia, Canada and New Zealand.  Most contributed a short verse, a cartoon or a sketch.  However, the common factor was the thanks registered to Staff Nurse Connell and her colleagues for the care that they had received.

By 1919 Emily Connell was on sick leave with her progress being monitored by regular medical boards. In response to the proposal that she leave the TFNS she replied on 3 July 1919:

“My father died in Feb of this year. I have no home, no means and unable to work. When I was mobilised in Sept 1914 I left my post and went to Cardiff. I was quite fit then. Now I have had to resign the post which they kept open for me until April 30 1919 when I told them I was going to have an operation and it would be some months before I could return. It is not right to cast me adrift after serving form 4 ½ years and being rendered unfit by that service”.  

Although this appeal was successful Emily Connell was demobilised on 25 November 1919. In March 1920 Dame Sydney wrote

“I wish you all happiness in your future life. Her Majesty, Queen Alexandria, has graciously given permission for you to retain your TFNS Badge permanently, as you have completed four years’ good service during the war.”

Emily Connell died in Wallasey in 1944 aged 72 years.

Tony Peters, Volunteer at Glamorgan Archives