This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. To mark the occasion, the Argus has teamed up with an initiative commemorating the contribution of people from Gwent in the Great War. This column is written by organisers of the project called ‘Journey’s End’, and its title reflects how many people from the region died in service. A major commemorative event will be held at St Woolos Cathedral on November 10.

IN OCTOBER 1918 a major row erupted in Newport, leading to decisions which led the Argus to comment that ‘our reputation as a town and a community has been besmirched by our stupid folly and ignorant hate.’

The row involved the treatment of a local schoolteacher, Max Grabner.

Max had taught modern languages at Newport Intermediate School, Queen’s Hill, since 1897.

In 1916, however, he was dismissed from his post by Newport Education Committee, purely on the grounds that he had been born a German citizen.

This was in spite of the fact that he had become a naturalised British citizen in 1913, with a British wife plus a son serving in the British army.

Max faced a very difficult time in the face of the hatreds that arise in wartime.

The Argus pointed out that although he had previously been ‘respected and esteemed by all who knew him’ he had been ‘deserted’ by some of his friends and given the ‘cold shoulder’ by many others.

‘The majority of the public make no attempt to hide, and many are proud to display, their bitter hostility. A section, more malignant than the rest, have sought by every means in their power to bring him to ruin and degradation.’

In order to make a living Max tried to become a taxi driver.

Once, again, however, he was at the mercy of the council since he would require a license to operate a taxi in Newport.

The council’s Watch Committee, responsible for issuing such licences, accepted his application by a large majority after hearing that there was no suggestion that he was anything other than a totally loyal citizen and that the Chief Constable had no objections.

When the matter went to the full council for ratification, however, the response was very different.

Twenty taxi drivers had signed a petition opposing the granting of the license, claiming that driving passengers around would allow him to learn ‘news of vital importance’ and, by implication, might pass that on to the enemy.

Once councillor declared ‘Once a German, always a German’ and Max’s application was rejected.

The Argus was disgusted by the treatment meted out to ‘a loyal subject of the British Crown’ and denounced the ‘ugly spite’ of the ‘backwoodsmen’ responsible for the decision.

What happened to Max after this is not known.

Did he stay in Newport? Did he move elsewhere? Did he go abroad? Did he change his name?

Perhaps somewhere there is an Argus reader who knows the answers.