Post by BereniceUK on May 1, 2017 19:15:52 GMT
The War
AND THE
Lampeter Great Horse Fair.
Sir, - I do not know what will be the effect of the war on the horse fair to be held at Lampeter next month, but I think the occasion affords an exceptional opportunity for making the fair still more widely known than it is in England. With this object in view I beg to suggest that the Mayor or Town Clerk should specially call the attention of the War Office and of the leading bus and cab companies in London, Manchester, and Glasgow to it. By the way, it is estimated that the wastage of horses in the British Forces in South Africa is not less than five thousand per month, and, in the South of England, farmers are at their wits end where to find teams for next harvest season. The rearing of good horses is a question deserving of the best attention of our farmers just now.
DALIS.
(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 19th April 1900)
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FROM THE WAR. - Some Lampeter friends of John Davies, 7,301, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, having sent him a parcel of warm clothing, tobacco, &c., Mr. Walter Davies, London House, received the following reply: - Soldiers Christian Association South African Tents, Bloemfontein, May 13th, 1900. My dear friends, - I now take the pleasure of answering your kind letter which I received about a month ago. This is the first chance I have had to write as we have had some long marches to do and also we engaged the enemy five times and drove them northwards; they are retiring before us everywhere; they have not forgotten the lesson we taught Cronje at Paardeberg when we surrounded them. I am glad to know that I have some friends at Lampeter who think of me while I am fighting for my Queen and country, and which I believe to be a just cause. I have not received the parcel you mention but I expect it's gone on to my regiment up at the front. I am left here behind with the stores, to pack up our baggage to put it in the Free State Fort here, at Bloemfontein, but I hope to be up with my Battalion in the course of a few days. We have gone through great hardships out here and the enteric fever is so great that hundreds of our brave soldier lads are carried to their last resting place. I hope, through the providence of God, that this war will end speedily and I hope the Lord will spare me to come back to Lampeter to live there, as my heart is in the home of my boyhood days. Tell Aunt Mary and Uncle John that I am sorry that I have been so long in writing to them, but that I will write to them next week. I must now conclude with kind regards to all and remain, your most sincere friend. - J. DAVIES.
(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 14th June 1900)
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PEACE.
Reception of the News.
MANIFESTATIONS OF JOY.
The news was first made known here through the Cardiff papers, and it was received with unfeigned joy. Although two telegrams had been handed in at Cardiff about six o'clock on Sunday evening, yet they were not delivered here until the following day, as no business is transacted at this Post Office on Sundays. Flags and various sorts of bunting were displayed from windows and across the streets. All the schools and shops were closed, and the day being fine the holiday was greatly appreciated. The Brass Band under the conductorship of Mr. E. Davies-Jones, played "National Anthem" and "Rule Brittania" on the Square. In the evening a carnival was held, and the event was witnessed by almost all the inhabitants. Among those who took part in the procession were the Brass Band, Imperial Yeomanry (under Quarter-master Sergeant Fox), Fire Brigade (under R. W. Jones, captain), and others.
(Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser, Thursday 5th June 1902)