Robert Basil Gwydir OSB was the eldest and only surviving child of Dr Robert Clark Gwydir and Sarah Ann Jackson. He was born in Longford on 20 January 1867. He was baptised in Templemichael Catholic parish on 29 January 1867.
After his father died in 1876, he migrated with his mother to England. Robert was first educated at Breewood School, Staffordshire, England. He then attended the Douai Abbey school in France. In 1884, on completing his schooling Robert entered the Benedictine monastery. He completed his formation at Douai Abbey and was ordained priest in 1891. In 1899, Dom Robert was appointed to St Augustine Church, Liverpool, England. He returned briefly to Douai Abbey before the monastery relocated from France to Woolhampton, England in 1904. Soon after returning to England, he was appointed to St David's Priory, Swansea, Wales. Dom Robert was very involved in school education as a teacher, but also in education as a political issue, particularly regarding the Education Act (1902) and the funding of voluntary schools. Early in 1914, he was appointed a canon of the Newport Catholic Diocese in Wales.
At the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, Canon Gwydir enlisted as a military chaplain and was appointed to the Royal Navy and to Rosyth, Scotland. On 29 October, 1914, he joined the crew of the hospital ship "Rohilla" that was to sail from South Queensferry bound for Dunkirk to pick up wounded soldiers. In the early hours of the morning of 30 October 1914, the ship sailed into a severe storm and struck a reef off the English coast near Whitby. Over three days, rescues continued as the ship broke up. Canon Gwydir was found drowned, one of 85 who died as a result of the accident. At the request of his mother, Canon Robert Gwydir OSB was buried in the graveyard of Belmont Abbey alongside other deceased monks of the Abbey. A brief account of his death is inscribed around the gravestone. He is also remembered on a memorial at Whitby.
In 1915, the community of Swansea contributed to the installation of a stained glass window in the priory church of St David, Swansea, as a memorial in honour of Canon Gwydir. A glass panel in the lower part of the window depicts Canon Gwydir. An inscription in the window reads: 'In token of gratitude and esteem as a memorial of his devoted life in the service of God, and his heroic death in the cause of his King and Country.' There is also a memorial plaque located on the wall near the Blessed Sacrament chapel in the church.
Some References:
Brittain, C. "Into the Maelstrom: The Wreck of HMHS Rohilla, (2014).
Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA) - 1914-12-24.Publication: Dec 24 1914 - Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Page: 2
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-29807414 (viewed 20210404)
http://www.longfordatwar.ie/soldiers/183 (viewed 20210404)
http://www.theygavetheirtoday.com/rn-chaplains---rev-david-youngson.html (viewed 20210404)
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 20th Jan 1867 | |
| Date of Death | 30th Oct 1914 | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | Robert Clark Gwydir | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Sarah Ann Jackson | |
| Place & Date of Baptism | Templemichael, Longford, Co. Longford 29 January 1867 | VIEW SOURCE |
| Names of Siblings | Alicia Margaret Gwydir (1868-1868) Georgina Elizabeth Gwydir (1871-1873) | |
| Occupation | Benedictine Monk and Catholic Priest. | |
| Place of Death | Whitby, England. | |
| New Type | ||
