Llandaff, South Africa War

Llandaff Bargemen as "Yeomen." - Two canal bargemen named Thomas Thomas and John Thomas, in consequence of a little display of patriotism last week, appeared at the Llandaff Police Court on Monday charged with driving furiously and thereby endangering the safety of passengers in Cowbridge-road, Ely. The two defendants, it appears, were found galloping up Cowbridge-road at a terrific pace in true yeomanry fashion, shouting boisterously and aiming desperate threats now and again at some invisible enemy. In spite of what was said by P.C. Lane, himself a member of the Glamorganshire Mounted Constabulary, there can be no doubt that the two bargemen were actuated by the loftiest motives, and that they intended after a few more such preliminary practices to offer themselves and their "mounts" to Major Wyndham-Quin for active service in South Africa. The Bench, which was composed of Sir John Gunn and Col. Woods, failed to appreciate the patriotism of the thing, and gave prisoners a round lecture upon their foolhardy enterprise, and imposed a small fine.

(South Wales Daily News, 9th January 1900)