Dawel Nos


Dawel Nos

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Transcript


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-Subtitles

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-# Silent night

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-# Holy night!

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-# All is calm

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-# All is bright #

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-The history of the well-known carol,

-Dawel Nos or Silent Night...

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-..has been of interest to

-Bethan Jones Parry for many years.

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-After the death of her father

-three years ago...

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-..Bethan discovered her family had a

-personal connection with the carol.

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-# Sleep in heavenly peace #

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-Meirion Parry's diaries

-told the story...

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-..of a special performance

-of the carol...

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-..by a choir of Welsh soldiers

-on 24 December, 1944.

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-It was thirty years to the day

-since the carol was heard...

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-..in similar circumstances

-during World War I.

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-# Holy night #

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-Bethan and her daughter,

-Catrin Siriol...

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-..are going to Austria and Belgium

-to learn more about the story...

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-..the origins of the carol

-and its universal message.

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-# Holy Infant so tender and mild #

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-Before travelling to Europe...

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-..Bethan and Catrin collect

-some information closer to home.

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-They visit Edith Parry, Bethan's

-mother and Catrin's grandmother...

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-..and Meirion Parry's widow.

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-Here you are.

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-Thank you.

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-You've got so many photographs here.

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-Oddly enough...

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-..even though I have tens

-or even hundreds of photographs...

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-..I only have two photographs

-of your father in France.

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-Look how young he is.

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-Dad spoke about the war quite a lot

-when I was growing up.

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-It had left its mark on him,

-naturally.

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-But it's only after he died...

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-..that I've found out about

-the story behind Silent Night.

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-We were married for over 50 years.

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-He didn't tell me about it

-for at least 25 of those years!

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-As he got older, he told us more.

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-Especially after he retired.

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-During the early years

-of our marriage...

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-..he wouldn't talk about it much.

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-He probably didn't want to.

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-I never took much notice of this

-until recently.

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-This diary.

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-During World War II,

-Meirion Parry kept a secret diary.

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-He later used it

-to write his personal memoirs.

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-"The Germans had broken through the

-Americans' front in the Ardennes...

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-"..and their campaign

-was successful.

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-"This was the beginning

-of the Battle of the Bulge.

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-"This was the enemy's last chance

-to regain ground.

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-"The aim was to split the front...

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-"..by aiming for the North Sea

-around Antwerp, Belgium's main port.

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-"They wanted to separate the second

-British army and the American front.

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-"The situation was very uncertain

-for a time."

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-What do you know about that time...

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-..when they had moved from Normandy

-to the Ardennes?

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-About two or three weeks

-after the landings...

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-..things calmed down a little.

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-What I mean

-is that there were no major battles.

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-During that time,

-they were supposed to relax.

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-Some of the Welsh speakers

-got together to form a choir.

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-On the evening of the 20th, they had

-to pack their things quickly.

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-They travelled all night and

-had no idea where they were going.

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-The reason for that was because...

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-..the Germans had launched an

-unexpected attack in the Ardennes.

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-The Americans needed support.

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-That's how the boys

-had come to this area.

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-That's why they were on the

-village square on Christmas Eve...

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-..singing carols.

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-The Padre of the 53rd Welsh

-Division, Rev D L Jones, Hereford...

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-..had formed a choir

-made up of soldiers...

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-..serving in units

-within the 53rd Division.

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-One thing made this choir

-different from any other choir...

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-..in the British Army.

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-It was a Welsh choir.

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-There was a mixture

-of Northwalians and Southwalians.

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-Some of them spoke Welsh

-while others didn't.

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-Every one of them

-was proud of their heritage.

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-The next day, some of them fought

-in the battle in the Ardennes...

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-..in the snow and ice.

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-They faced all sorts of problems.

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-The carol...

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-..makes me think of the silence

-before a battle.

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-It must be the most intense

-type of silence there is.

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-Yes.

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-As your father says in the book,

-they all awaited their fate.

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-To find out more about

-the origins of the carol...

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-..and its links

-with war and peace...

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-..Bethan and Catrin have travelled

-to Oberndorf in Austria...

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-..where the carol

-was first performed.

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-Catrin inherited her grandfather's

-interest in singing.

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-She hopes to be able

-to sing the carol...

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-..in the village where her

-grandfather sang it 67 years ago.

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-Before that, they will discover more

-about the history of the carol...

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-..from the curator

-of the Silent Night museum.

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-I will show you

-the Silent Night room.

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-That's a lovely title.

-The Silent Night room.

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-Yes, of course.

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-Yes, of course.

-

-Ah! I recognize...

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-This is Mohr.

-

-Mohr yn gywir

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-And this is Gruber.

-

-cywir

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-The carol was composed

-by Josef Mohr and Franz Gruber.

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-Mohr had written the lyrics

-in 1816...

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-..in response to the suffering

-in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.

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-By 1818, Mohr was a priest

-at St Nikolaus church in Oberndorf.

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-He asked his friend, a music teacher

-called Franz Gruber...

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-..if he could compose a melody

-to go with the lyrics.

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-It was originally composed

-for the guitar...

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-..as it is understood

-the church organ wasn't working.

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-The carol was first performed

-in the church in Oberndorf...

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-..on Christmas Eve 1818.

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-It was a present for the world.

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-No-one of them earned money with it.

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-It was just a present for the people

-of the world. This song of peace.

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-Two billion people sing it now.

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-More than 316

-languages and dialects.

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-All over the world.

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-They all took the idea of peace.

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-It wasn't only a song

-for the Catholics.

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-It was a song

-for the people of the world.

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-The carol's link with war and peace

-has continued.

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-One of the most famous stories...

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-..is that of the unofficial

-Christmas armistice in 1914.

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-The carol was sung by soldiers

-from both sides on Christmas Eve.

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-They had a temporary pause from

-the horrors of the First World War.

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-The original church

-was damaged by floods...

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-..at the end of the 19th century.

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-A memorial chapel has been built

-on the site of the church.

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-This is where the carol

-was first performed.

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-What I really like

-about this chapel...

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-..is the way they've put Mohr on one

-side with the lyrics underneath...

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-..and then put the notes

-under the image of Gruber.

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-I like the way they've used stained

-glass windows to tell the story.

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-I'm so glad

-I've had the chance to come here.

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-It obviously means a lot to

-the people of Oberndorf today too.

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-Not only them,

-it's a carol that's sung...

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-..in over 300 languages

-in countless countries.

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-I think it's because

-it's a carol of peace.

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-It's a very powerful carol

-with regard to the words.

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-It has been translated

-so many times.

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-It's a very powerful carol

-because of the music.

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-It's a carol that is chosen

-when things look bleak.

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-There must be

-something special about it.

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-That's why I'm so pleased

-to have come here.

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-Why don't we put money in the box

-to buy a candle to remember Taid?

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-Yes.

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-From Austria, Bethan and Catrin

-will travel to Belgium...

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-..to see exactly where

-Meirion Parry and the soldiers...

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-..of the 53rd Welsh Division

-were on Christmas Eve, 1944.

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-But will they discover

-what they are expecting?

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

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-Bethan Jones Parry

-and her daughter Catrin Siriol...

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-..are travelling across Europe...

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-..learning about the carol

-Silent Night...

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-..and its connection

-to their relative Meirion Parry.

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-During his time with the 53rd Welsh

-Division in the Second World War...

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-..Meirion was part

-of a Welsh choir...

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-..that sang the carol in a Belgian

-village on Christmas Eve, 1944.

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-Catrin has inherited her

-grandfather's love of singing.

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-Following in his footsteps

-is an emotional journey...

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-..a journey that takes her

-and her mother...

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-..to a museum which remembers

-one of WWII's most bloody battles...

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-..the Battle of the Bulge.

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-"Dawn the next day, and we'd reached

-the town of Leuven in Belgium...

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-"..near the capital, Brussels.

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-"We continued on to Sterrebeek...

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-"..a small village

-five miles from Leuven."

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-This is similar

-to your grandfather's uniform.

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-I remember the strip of medals

-on his jacket.

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-Do you remember this -

-it's called a black flash.

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-That was on the back

-of the Royal Welsh uniform.

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-I've got it at home. You can

-have a look when we get back.

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-It will mean more to you now.

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-Did other regiments

-have different colours?

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-Every regiment

-had a different uniform.

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-I'm only familiar

-with the Royal Welsh.

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-Do you remember your grandfather

-wearing that tie?

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-A purple and blue tie.

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-That was the Royal Welsh tie.

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-I always thought

-that was his best tie!

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-We've still got that tie.

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-He was a very brave man.

-He was promoted to Captain.

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-That was quite an unusual thing

-to happen.

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-These are called pips.

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-The metal things on the shoulder

-of the uniform are called pips.

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-I've got his pips at home.

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-Really?

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-What do you think of the museum?

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-I'm really proud.

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-I'm proud to be his descendant.

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-One of his descendants.

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-I'm glad that I'm here.

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-However, I must say

-that he would be angered...

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-..that only one corner has been

-assigned to the Royal Welsh.

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-The museum

-is full of American relics.

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-There's nothing wrong with that,

-but I now feel that we have to go...

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-..to the cemetery where

-the Royal Welsh lads are buried.

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-I don't really mind.

-I'm really chuffed.

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-You're glad that you're here.

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-So am I, but I want to pay my

-respects to the lads in Hotton.

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-The Germans were defeated

-in the Battle of the Bulge.

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-However, a high price was paid

-by both sides.

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-40,000 soldiers were killed

-during fighting in the Ardennes.

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-In the Hotton Commonwealth

-Military Cemetery...

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-..666 of them have been buried...

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-..including members of

-Meirion Parry's 53rd Welsh Division.

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-I'm always angry

-when I come to a military cemetery.

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-I'm a mother to three children.

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-All those buried here are eighteen,

-nineteen, twenty or twenty-one...

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-..up to some

-in their early thirties.

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-We talk these days...

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-..about a lost generation

-due to economic depression.

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-An entire generation was lost here

-for different reasons.

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-My father was also part

-of a lost generation.

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-Together with all the other lads

-fighting in World War II...

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-..he lost his youth.

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-As I look at the graves,

-the men's ages really hits home.

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-They span the ages

-of my brother and I.

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-It's very clear

-that parents and families...

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-..have thought long and hard about

-the words on these gravestones.

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-It's very difficult

-to read words such as 'daddy'.

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-I must admit...

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-..that I feel

-a maelstrom of very mixed emotions.

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-I'm angry because of the museum.

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-I was disappointed with the museum.

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-I know that there

-has been recognition...

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-..of the Welsh contribution

-to the battle that happened here...

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-..a contribution

-my father was a part of.

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-However, in the museum...

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-..almost everything

-was from an American perspective...

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-..with only a small glass case to

-commemorate the Welsh contribution.

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-My father would have been

-very, very angry.

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-I now truly understand...

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-..why the carol, Silent Night,

-was so popular during times of war.

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-There is a quietness here.

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-There is an intense silence here.

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-I think

-that when you're surrounded...

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-..by the trials, tribulations

-and dangers of war...

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-..having a bit of peace and quiet

-must have been so important.

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-I now understand

-why Silent Night is so important.

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-Bethan and Catrin are nearing

-the end of their journey.

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-Before locating the place

-where the choir sang...

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-..which is now

-a suburb of Brussels...

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-..they meet historian Dr Von Oppen

-and a translator...

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-..in order to learn about

-the welcome Welsh soldiers received.

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-There were a lot

-of Welsh soldiers here.

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-Montgomery's tactical headquarters

-was in Merode castle.

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-They were all here

-the night before...

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-..they had to go and fight in

-the Ardennes offensive and Arnhem.

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-The Flemish families wanted

-to welcome them into their homes...

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-..to celebrate Christmas with them.

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-They were competing

-to have someone in their house.

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-There is some proof here.

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-Taffy.

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-David 'Taffy' Lewis.

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-Taffy is a man from Wales.

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-"The time of year we arrived

-in Sterrebeek enticed us to sing.

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-"The birthday

-of the Prince of Peace.

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-"What would be more appropriate...

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-"..than for the choir to assemble

-in Sterrebeek on Christmas Eve...

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-"..to sing our final song

-as a choir?

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-"A farewell to the old year -

-an early New Year matins.

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-"It was cold, bitterly cold.

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-"As silent as a grave.

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-"The choir sang the first notes

-of that well-known carol.

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-"Silent night, holy night."

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-# Silent night

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-# Holy night #

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-"The atmosphere

-was completely transformed...

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-..by the tuneful sound

-of the melodic basses.

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-"Jack Pritchard, Manod,

-Blaenau Ffestiniog...

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-"..Arthur from Criccieth,

-Ifan from Llanbabo and I...

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-"..were among forty choir members...

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-"..giving due attention

-to that old popular German carol.

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-"Everything

-blended together beautifully...

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-"..with the melodic tenors

-from South Wales.

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-"The windows of the houses

-opened up one by one...

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-"..until the village square

-was like a huge stage...

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-"..lit up for a performance

-in a theatre.

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-"The actors arrived from backstage

-as the doors of the houses opened."

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-# Sleep in heavenly peace #

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-We've finally arrived

-in Sterrebeek...

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-..after travelling to Austria...

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-..through areas which were important

-in my father's life...

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-..when he was in his early twenties,

-67 years ago.

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-Sterrebeek means

-'star in the river'.

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-There are many night stars

-and Christmas stars here.

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-What do you feel,

-having arrived here at last?

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-I'm glad to have followed

-in his footsteps.

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-I've heard his story and visited

-Oberndorf to hear about the carol.

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-I've learnt about why they

-cherished the carol in dark times.

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-There's something magical

-about the whole journey.

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-I'm happy to have reached

-the end of the journey.

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-Sterrebeek is just a normal place.

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-I'm very happy that

-it isn't a picture postcard village.

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-The lads who were singing

-were just a normal group of lads.

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-Although it's difficult

-to say here and now...

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-..I think that on Christmas Eve...

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-..they would have sung

-in the shadow of the church...

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-..in this small square

-in front of the church...

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-..on the eve of Christianity's

-most important festival.

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-I'm happy.

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-I feel, that after following

-the story of Silent Night...

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-..following in my father's footsteps

-and arriving here...

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-..the story is at an end.

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-# Silent night

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-# Holy night

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-# All is calm, all is bright

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-# Round yon Virgin Mother and Child

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-# Holy Infant so tender and mild

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-# Sleep in heavenly peace

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-# Sleep in heavenly peace #

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-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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