Post by BereniceUK on May 1, 2017 18:27:52 GMT
THE WAR. - Mr. Ezecill Oliver, Gilfachreda, who is now serving Queen and country in South Africa, received like all the other Tommies the Queen's gift of a box of chocolate. He posted it home to his mother as a memento of the war, and it arrived safely the other day. In one of the illustrated weekly periodicals there is a sketch of our soldiers receiving their pay and a legend underneath adds that Tommy always receives his pay, even on the day of the battle. Private John Davies, 75th Field Battery, writing home from Orange River, says, "I have not received a penny since I left Aldershot." Which is correct?
(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 15th March 1900)
__________________________________________________
We gather this from a contemporary: -
Col. Baden-Powell : Look here, I'm getting fairly sick of sending wires to say "All's well," while the whole show is falling to bits as fast as it can. And these sorties are getting expensive - we can't afford many more of them.
Major Veteran : But we captured 26 Boers and 12 head of cattle - or was it 12 Boers and 26 cattle? - or did the cattle capture the Boers? - or - or 12 head - yes - also tails of cattle - or -
Col. B. P. (with dignity) : Major Veteran, you're muddled, sir. Go and take a basin of horse-tea, and report to me when you've recovered from it.
(Exit Major Veteran, muttering something about "Little-Bo-Peep.")
Col. B. P. (dejectedly) : He's done for, and did not the fiery blood of Cambria surge within my veins, were I not a son of gallant little Wales, did not the same invincible spirit uphold me which upheld my great ancestor, Owain Glyndwr. I should be damn near tailing out. I'm first-chop, my officers are first-chop, the men - poor beggars - are choppier still, yet I fear, I fear -
(Starts up); Ha! Whom do I hear swearing in my own dear native tongue!
Enter Private (salutes) : If -
Col. B. P. (sharply) : Your name?
Private : David Evan Rees Jones, sir.
Col. B. P. : Welsh?
Private J. : Yes, indeed, sir.
Col. B. P. : From where?
Private J. : Aberayron, sir.
Col. B. P. (slowly) : Ab-er-at-ron : An Aberayron man! Good Lord! Hurrah - hurrah! Now we'll hold Mafeking till the crack of doom.
(Exit), striving frantically to embrace Private Jones.
(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, 5th April 1900)
__________________________________________________
When the morning papers reached the town on Monday containing the joyful tidings that the peace treaty had been signed in South Africa the place was all astir at once. Flags were immediately stretched from the mayor's (Councillor J. R. Evans) house to Mr. J. Jones' establishment, while several other houses displayed gay colours. From 3, Belle Vue-terrace, gay bunting was stretched across to the lamppost on the green opposite. On the Town Hall flag staff waved the Union Jack, while the church bells rang merry peals. The veteran, Evan Davies, had a warm three hours of it, as the huge bell did not cease ringing until after two o'clock. The County School closed in honour of the event. In the evening a huge bonfire was lit on Bank bach, and there was a brilliant display of fireworks and coloured lights.
--------------------------------------------------
FROM THE FRONT. - Corporal Ridge, of the 2nd Devons, returned home from South Africa on Monday evening. The anxious crowd that waited his arrival at the Post Office were keenly disappointed when they found that the gallant corporal had gone to Ffosyffin via Rhiwgoch. Corporal Ridge has been through eight or nine engagements, and has escaped unscathed. He is married to a daughter of Mrs. Martha Davies, Ffosyffin, and is now home on furlough recruiting his health, which suffered from the fever he contracted in Africa.
(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 5th June 1902)
(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 15th March 1900)
__________________________________________________
We gather this from a contemporary: -
SCENE - MAFEKING.
COLONEL BADEN-POWELL AND MAJOR VETERAN.
Col. Baden-Powell : Look here, I'm getting fairly sick of sending wires to say "All's well," while the whole show is falling to bits as fast as it can. And these sorties are getting expensive - we can't afford many more of them.
Major Veteran : But we captured 26 Boers and 12 head of cattle - or was it 12 Boers and 26 cattle? - or did the cattle capture the Boers? - or - or 12 head - yes - also tails of cattle - or -
Col. B. P. (with dignity) : Major Veteran, you're muddled, sir. Go and take a basin of horse-tea, and report to me when you've recovered from it.
(Exit Major Veteran, muttering something about "Little-Bo-Peep.")
Col. B. P. (dejectedly) : He's done for, and did not the fiery blood of Cambria surge within my veins, were I not a son of gallant little Wales, did not the same invincible spirit uphold me which upheld my great ancestor, Owain Glyndwr. I should be damn near tailing out. I'm first-chop, my officers are first-chop, the men - poor beggars - are choppier still, yet I fear, I fear -
(Starts up); Ha! Whom do I hear swearing in my own dear native tongue!
Enter Private (salutes) : If -
Col. B. P. (sharply) : Your name?
Private : David Evan Rees Jones, sir.
Col. B. P. : Welsh?
Private J. : Yes, indeed, sir.
Col. B. P. : From where?
Private J. : Aberayron, sir.
Col. B. P. (slowly) : Ab-er-at-ron : An Aberayron man! Good Lord! Hurrah - hurrah! Now we'll hold Mafeking till the crack of doom.
(Exit), striving frantically to embrace Private Jones.
(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, 5th April 1900)
__________________________________________________
PEACE.
Reception of the News.
MANIFESTATIONS OF JOY.
When the morning papers reached the town on Monday containing the joyful tidings that the peace treaty had been signed in South Africa the place was all astir at once. Flags were immediately stretched from the mayor's (Councillor J. R. Evans) house to Mr. J. Jones' establishment, while several other houses displayed gay colours. From 3, Belle Vue-terrace, gay bunting was stretched across to the lamppost on the green opposite. On the Town Hall flag staff waved the Union Jack, while the church bells rang merry peals. The veteran, Evan Davies, had a warm three hours of it, as the huge bell did not cease ringing until after two o'clock. The County School closed in honour of the event. In the evening a huge bonfire was lit on Bank bach, and there was a brilliant display of fireworks and coloured lights.
--------------------------------------------------
FROM THE FRONT. - Corporal Ridge, of the 2nd Devons, returned home from South Africa on Monday evening. The anxious crowd that waited his arrival at the Post Office were keenly disappointed when they found that the gallant corporal had gone to Ffosyffin via Rhiwgoch. Corporal Ridge has been through eight or nine engagements, and has escaped unscathed. He is married to a daughter of Mrs. Martha Davies, Ffosyffin, and is now home on furlough recruiting his health, which suffered from the fever he contracted in Africa.
(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 5th June 1902)