Aneurin Rees 1895-1927 From Maesteg To Philadelphia to Australia to Wales

[mlrsuperstar]

Aneurin sailed from Liverpool to Philadelphia in November 1919.
On his obituary in 1927 in Wales said that he travelled to Australia because he suffered from ill health for a long time, whilst in Australia his health greatly improved but on his return to the old country it rapidly declined and he died.
So far I have with help traced him on the first part of the journey to Bethlehem ,Pennsylvania arriving there on the 9th of November 1919.
Any help in finding out what happend next would be gratefully recieved.

[Neil Todd]

  Well I found nothing (as yet) on your man, except..... A Book seemingly based and using his name "Aneurin REES". This book was published in 1938 by a Doctor A J Cronin. It is Called
"THE CITADEL"
See.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._J._Cronin
And
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/83519097?searchTerm=%22Aneurin%20REES%22&searchLimits=

It was run in the The Perth daily and The Australian Womans Weekly.

Interesting that THAT NAME should be used.

Neil

[Neil Todd]

It took a bit of head banging, but I do remember the movie, late one night on Classic Movies.
The Citadel. "From WIKI"
The novel was made into a 1938 film with Robert Donat, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Richardson and Rex Harrison.

I can only assume that your man came across the good doctor during his illness and the work was loosely based upon this illness and the problems with coal dust and the miners in South Wales.

Fascinating Now I need to get a copy of the book.

Unfortunately I have found no other reference to your man. Could there have been relatives in Australia as well as Philadelphia?

Neil

[mlrsuperstar]

Thanks Neil,
I am familiar with the Citadel . The book has been adapted a number of times as a play,for television and film. I recall reading the book in school , I think it could well have been English course work but that was over 45 years ago. It will probably be made in some form again soon as it is not familiar to the younger people and it is a good story, and like all good stories it can be retold.
Aneurin is in a grave with two very young siblings but no headstone. This is my way of remembering him. He was my grandfathers brother. Aneurin died when my father was three. My grandfather died  9 years before I was born so I have no one who remembers him.
Regards
Mike