Ellis Humphrey Evans, or Hedd Wyn was born on January 13 1887 in Penlan Street, Trawsfynydd. The family then moved to Yr Ysgwrn, a farm two miles outside the village.
In December 1908 Hedd Wyn moved to Abercynon to work in the coal mines. But he missed his home so badly that after only three months he turned his back on Abercynon and returned to Cwm Prysor.
In 1916, The Military Service Act came into force. All men between 18-41 were now expected to enlist. Hedd Wyn faced numerous tribunals hoping that the importance of his work on the farm would be recognised. But his brother Bob was nearing 18 and the farm wasn't large enough to warrant keeping both at home.
In June 1917, Hedd Wyn was in France marching towards Flanders. One of the rivers he crossed was the Lys, and he signed his name Fleur de Lys before sending his famous poem to the National Eisteddfod at Birkenhead.
He was killed on July 31 near Ypres in one of the worst battles of Ascendable.
The National Eisteddfod was held in September that year. The adjudicators were unanimous that Fleur de Lys was a worthy winner of the Chair. The archdruid then draped a black cloth over the chair as a mark of respect for the loss of the young poet. That Eisteddfod became known as the Eisteddfod of the Black Chair.
© 2012 S4C
O Gymru / Made in Wales