Tregaron, South Africa War

Jones. - 6th June, at Naauwpoort, South Africa, 9714 Pte. T. N. Jones, formerly of Tregaron, aged 29 years.

(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 14th June 1900)
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DEATH OF CORPORAL NATHANIEL JONES. - On Monday morning, Mrs. Mary Jones, late of Aberdwr, received a telegram from her daughter-in-law containing the sad news of the death of Corporal Nathaniel Jones from enteric fever at the Hospital in Bloemfontein. the distressing news had been communicated to his wife from the War Office and was forwarded by her to his mother. Corporal Jones was a great favourite with all who knew him, and was a most affectionate son, husband, and father. He was a young man in his twentieth-fifth year and leaves a widow and three little ones to mourn his loss. The youngest child is only three weeks old. He had the misfortune of losuing his father through the terrible explosion at Penygraig Colliery, Rhondda Valley, some nineteen years ago. Deep sympathy is expressed by all towards his mother and two sisters, the young widow and three little children, who reside at Newport, Isle of Wight.
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WAR FUND. - The ladies who undertook to canvass the town and surrounding district for contributions in aid of a local fund for providing the four young soldiers from the district who are out fighting for their country in South Africa, with warm clothing, &c., have very successfully completed their task and the fund has been duly closed. We understand that the total sum collected amounted to £8 10s. The result is very creditable when consideration is given to the fact that another collection towards the war funds was made a short time ago and that several other demands have been quite recently made of the residents. At a meeting of the Committee having the matter in hand, which was presided over by the Rev. D. M. Davies, B.A., vicar of Tregaron, it was unanimously resolved to send a parcel to each of the town's representatives at the front, containing the following goods: - Two shirts, one vest, two pairs socks, one Cardigan jacket, one pair boots, 1¼ pound tobacco, four (6d.) tins cigarettes, one tobacco pouch, one silver-mounted pipe, and a cap. The names of the recipients of these very serviceable parcels are Corporal Nathaniel Jones, R.A. Medical Corps, son of Mrs. Mary Jones, late Aberdwr, Pentre; Private Dan Driscoll, F Company Welsh Regiment, son of Mrs. Bridget Driscoll, Mill-street; Private Tom Jones, 2nd Grenadier Guards, son of the late Mr. John Gladstone Jones, Laura Cottage, Doldre, and Private Ed. J. Williams, son of Mr. Wm. Williams, builder, Llettemddu, near this town. Mrs. Powell, Sunny Hill, and Mrs. Dr. Lloyd, Llys Einion, were delighted to purchase the goods and forward the parcels.
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WAR CORRESPONDENCE. - The following letter was received on Saturday from Private Tom Jones, 2nd Grenadier Guards, by his friend, Mr. John Jones, stonecutter: - "Tnaba 'Nchu, 15th May, 1900. Dear friend, - After a prolonged delay on my part I now take the pleasure of fulfilling my promise. I should have written before, only time has been scarce. We have been on the move ever since I have been in the country after old Olivier's commando who captured the five companies of the Royal Irish Fusiliers. We have been on his heels for over 150 miles and now have got him surrounded at a place called Brian's Drift. He must surrender now or die; obligation gives the brute no choice. Of the two, he is worse in his barbarity than Cronje; but it will not last long. We brought in last night ninety-two Boer prisoners, who will be sent to Bloemfontein one of the next few days, and the sooner the better. Then we won't have the trouble of finding a guard to look after them. They are of every age and nationality, but I have not seen any Welshmen coming in as prisoners. All the prisoners are under the impression that Russia has taken London, and that France has got an army on the way here to assist them, and that there being no more soldiers in England, they have only to finish this lot off and the war will be over. This is a good country if it was only cultivated. You can grow any kind of fruit, but we rarely see a piece that has been well cultivated. It is a pity to see such good soil uncultivated. At all the towns I have come across since I have been here I cannot buy anything, neither tobacco, beer, or food. They are properly desolate. Only women and a very few children are to be seen. All the men are out fighting us. Most of these prisoners that are here are natives of this town as far as I can see. Food is brought to them by their wives or relations as the case may be. They seem to be glad that their fighting is over, but they dread the thought of St. Helena. I cannot write much more now as we are going back to the front in about an hour's time. We only came down as escort to these Boers. I must draw to a close as I must get myself ready to tramp about thirty miles before we sleep again. It is a trying job out here, the same as we are, on a flying column, but it will come better after the surrender of Olivier. I hope you are all right, the same as I am - as happy as a pig in the mud."

(The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard, 15th June 1900)
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SICK OF THE WAR. - The following letter from Sergeant E. W. Williams, now serving with the 8th Corps Mounted Infantry in South Africa, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Williams, Llettemddu, has just been received by his brother-in-law, Mr. Evan Rees, of Aldersgate E.C. - Ellinsfontein, Transvaal, 6/9/01. My dear brother, - Just a line to inform you that I am still in the land of the living and doing well. I think I have finished my share of this campaign and have been sent here for the few weeks which I have still to complete in the country to get fat before being sent home, for which I can honestly say that I am truly thankful, as trekking for two years, and sleeping in the open in all weathers is apt to pall and get monotonous. Anyhow, when you receive this I shall only have about three weeks to serve in this God-forsaken country, and I shall not be anyways sorry to turn my back once and for all on "Golden South Africa." I am not going to give you any news in this short scribble, as there is pretty strict order about soldiers writing home accounts of battles, etc., and I cannot say that this is going through the censor's hands or not. If it does, may the news he gets out of it do him good. Hoping to see you all soon. - Ted.

(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 3rd October 1901)
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PEACE.

News of peace reached here on Monday morning, and immediately the streets of the town were made gay with bunting. A flag was also placed upon the statue of Henry Richards, the famous apostle of peace.
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HOME FROM THE FRONT. - A considerable number of the inhabitants gathered at the Railway station on Tuesday evening to await the arrival of Mr. Thomas Jones, of the Grenadier Guards, who has been out at the Front for nearly two years. He was accorded an enthusiastic reception, and was carried shoulder high to a waggonette which was awaiting outside the station. A procession was then formed, and headed by the Tregaron brass band playing National airs. The vehicle containing Jones was drawn through the main streets. The town was bedecked with flags and bunting, and everywhere the returned warrior was met with hearty greetings from the townspeople. He was afterwards escorted to his home at Doldref, where further cheers were given before the crowd dispersed.

(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 5th June 1902)