Gilfach Goch, South Africa War

The following letter was received by Mr. Dd. Rees, Station Row, Gilfach Goch, from Private D. Thomas, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, stationed at Kaffir River: -
"I felt greatly indebted to you for the great kindness you have shown towards me by sending those smokes or cigarettes. They came like a gift from heaven. I received them on Easter Sunday, and you could not have sent them on a better time than now, for we can get now half an hour, and I shall be able to pass it away quite happily in smoking and in thinking that I have friends so far away who would be glad to see me home once again. I see by the papers that there has been great rejoicing in England and Wales over the reliuef of Ladysmith and the surrender of Cronje and the capture of Bloemfontein. It's a march I shall never forget. We were 22 hours out of 24 in dead sand. I could say a lot about Tommy Atkins and how he's got to fight and die for his country's sake, but if it's my luck to return, I shall have a quiet evening around the fire and tell you what I have been through and seen. I am sorry to say that I have not had the opportunity of seeing young Jack Harris; I should like to see someone from Gilfach to have a chat with. We have left the Free Stater's capital and have come to a place called Kaffir River. The Boers have been threatening to blow up the bridge, but let 'em come and then we'll give them a warm time of it. I just feel like it at present as we know this campaign has been a trying one throughout, but thank God, I am quite well throughout it and hope to be so to the end. My Christmas and Easter holidays were spent on the battlefield, but I didn't mind a bit because I was fighting for my country's cause. Little I thought when I left Gilgach that I was coming out here to fight the Boers, but when I come home, as I soon shall now, I hope to keep you smiling."

(The Rhondda Leader, Saturday 26th May 1900)
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