The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser

WAR JOTTINGS [We cordially invite our readers and correspondents to send us news of their sons and brothers who are serving under the ooloufrs.] More Belgian refugees arrived in Lampeter on "Monday, and were accommodated at the Star Stores. They had some relatives already there. Gunner Tom Vaughan, who is attached to a regi- ment of heavy artillery, was hpme for a few days' leave this week. He expects to be drafted away soon. The Welsh Regiment, 15th Battalion (Carmarthen- shire).-George Okell to be temporary second- lieutenant. Several postcards from local members of the 4th Welsh were received on Jriday last Th«y ap peared to have been posted at Alexandria. We are afraid that a lot has happened since then. Captain Ultyd B- G. Jones, 1st Battalion 4th Welsh, has reoeived his captaincy at the age of He is a native of Cardigan, and is a nephew of Mr. John Evans, Upper School, Boncafch, R.S.O. The sohool chillren at Llanarthney are contri- buting Their quota of eggs towards the miUwjM required for our wounded soldiers and s o > ft to bo hoped that all in the vicinity will assist in this respect. Mr. G. A. JOIMO, formerly in the •^ the Mechanical Transport Department of the A SX' and i's now stationed at Marlborough. Mr. Robert EmlyB £ £ S ^ond lieutenant in^e 20th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. Sub-Lieutenant Gwyndraeth Davies, R.N., Rose Villa New Quay; Privates Willie Richards (R W.F.). J. Walter Evans (R.F.A.), and Johnny Join s' (R.W.F) are home on furlough at New Quay this week. Mr. Silas Smith, the second son of Mr. Thomas Smith, formerly hend constable of .Ca™en'DJ»° is the representative of the Birming'lia Post at Worcester, hae enlisted m the Jt.A.M.C. now in training at Salisbury Plain. 7 News hae been received by Mrs. B rnett, Cam- brian-place, Carmarthen, that her husband. Pte. DavM HeAry Earnett. 8th Welch IVg.ment been wounded in action at the Dardar.vls. He is the son of Mrs. Davies, Jolly Tar-iane, Carmarthen. Caotain T C. Thomas, 2/4th Welsh, and of the firm X" Charks Thimas and Co.. builders and contractors, Llandilo, »as home for a few week. His friends were pleased to see him looku.g so well. Lieutenant H. W. D. Williams, 4th Welsh Regi- ment, is reported wounded in the fighting in the Dardanelles. He was a solicitor at Haverfordwest, and is the eldest eon of Mr. R. T. P Williams, solicitor (of the firm of Messrs. Eaton Evans and Williams). Mr. Morley Evans, of the London City and Mid- land Bank, Carmarthen, has Joined the Royal Naval Division and left for headquarters on Monday. He ha= been in Carmarthen for about three years or so. He is a son of a well-known Welsh Wesleyan minister. At the Llandovery Police Court on Wednesday in last week, a tramp named George Movell, was sentenced to 21 days' hard labour fer ref,nS to perform his task. The defendant was only 22 years of age, and was advised by the Bench to join the colours on his release. Two trained certificated teachers, who served their apprenticeship under the present headmaster of the Llanarthney National School, are with the ™lo?r: .-i1.. Mr. John Griffiths. Wernfraith. Porthyrhyd f (late Llethyrfran. Llanarthney), nephew of Police- Sergeant Davies, Carmarthen, and Mr. Edward Jones. Drvslvryn Station. Drvslwyn. Golden Grove. We are glad to notice that Chief Petty Officer W. Francis, of Burry Port, who was wounded sometime ago whilst in action in the Dardanells, has recovered. Having stayed with his mother, Mrs. Davies. Cliff Cottages, for a few days, he re- turned to his ship on Friday morning. We wish him God-speed. The first man of the 4th Welsh to return wounded it appears is Pte. T. J. Bowen, who has just written to his home, 57, Water-street, Carmarthen, from Southampton Clearing Hospital, stating that he has been hit in the left side of his breast. According to his letter he was hit on the night of the liui mst. and came back on one of the fastest boats. He expects to be in Wales soon. The death à1 action in Gallipoli is officialv an- nounced of Captain Gordon Reed, 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, second son of the late Rev. 0. Reed, rector of Llangyniw. and brother of the Rev. Ben- nett Reed, vicar of Chirbury, and nephew of Mr. Andrew Peate, chairman of the Oswestry Rural District Council. He was educated at Llandovery College. He was a member of the firm of Howell, ? Yearsley, and Reed, solicitora, Welshpool. Congratulations are extended to Mr. M. W. Jen- kins. of the Pharmacy, St. Clears, on the safety of his nephew. Midshipman Jenkins, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, chemist, of Haverfordwest, who escaped with his life on the armed cruiser H.M.S. India, which was torpedoed 'off the Coast of Nor- way. Midshipman Jenkins was among the number of the saved, and. according to the latest reports, is now among the interned company in Norway. Mr. G. Perkins, Mason's Arms, Clynderwcn. ha- received news of the death of his son. David George Perkins, aged 33, a leading seaman on H.M.S. Swiftsure. Deceased had served fifteen years in toe Navy, and had been awarded a ffold medal for gallant service in the Persian GuH and Chinl. He died from the effects of gas poisoning in the Darda- nelles. Mr. Perkins (sen.) has four other sons on k active service in France. Captain Huntingdon. Army champion 1914-1915, was unexpectedly beaten in the officers' heavy- weight class final, his opponent being Lieut. D. Gordon Davies, 10th Welsh Regiment, who won a hard-fought contest on points. Lieut. D. Gordon Davies. an old Cambridge Blue. is the son of the Rev. D. M. Davies, vicar of Nantcwnlle. He was trained by Jim Driscoll, who is in his regiment. Sapper Billy Davies, of Church-street, Llan- stephan, writes from somewhere in France that he is in the pink, and having splendid weather, rather hot you know; its a beautiful country, all wheat and oats. I have met a few Welsh lads out here. they are as fit as fiddles, and always happv. I should he pleased if you could send me my old friend, the JOURNAL. I have not seen a paper since I am here. I have a little spare time. and I should be glad to read the news of dear old Wales The chairman of a Narberth recruiting meeting last week (Mr. Walter James) gave several instances ¡f1f the excellent response made by local families to the call for recruits. He read out a list of seven families, each of whom had given three sons or more to the British Army. They were:—Mrs. Bibby, three: Mrs. Bowen, Robeston. three: Mr. Carr. on- himself and three sons; Mr. Richard Phillips, Mnlle- ston. four; Mrs. Davies, Plough, three: Mr. Stephens. Ashfield. three Sergeant Thomas, three. Sapper Albert Lloyd. Llanelly. writes home in praise of the Prince of Wales and Sergt. O'Leary. Y.C. The Prince of Wales. he says. ''goes in and out of the trenches just like one of U. He is a great hero with the boys. and I wish the slackers at home could see him. Sergt. O'Leary. V.C.. is back with vis again. I was speaking to him yesterday. He said it was very trying in England because everyone was after him. and he would prefer being at the front fighting." Sapper Lloyd is an ex- Tilanelly footballer, having played for the SenrT"ts on many occasions. t Sappers Sidney Lewis, Bethel-terrace; Win. Lewis, Ffordd, from Bedford; Pte. Wm. Williams, Cambrian House, from Salisbury Plain, and Trum- peter Joseph Hoare from Plymouth, are at home at Llanstephan on furlough, and have been lucky to get off at the most pleasant time of the year. All look exceedingly fit and active. Official intimation has been received by his mother, who resides in Margaret-street, Ammanford, of the death of Sergeant W. B. Williams, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, killed in action at the Dardanelles on August 7. He was formerly a member of the Metropolitan Police, and some time before the war broke out he was employed at Ammanford Colliery. He was one of the first to be enlisted at the Drill- hall. News has also been received by his parents, residing in Quay-street, Ammanford, of the wound- ing in the Dardanelles on August 7 of Private Joe Carruthers, also of the Royal Welsh Fusilier*?. Our Henllan Correspondent lias just received a letter from Lance-Corpl. J. C. Havard, of the 9th Battalion Welch Regiment. who writes from 'somewhere" to tender his thanks for the JOURNAL which is being sent him. He says:—"I am sorrv I have been so long in acknowledging the receipt of the JOURNAL. We were all so pleased to have a look at the favourite old paper. There are a good many from Carmarthen and district in the Welch, so it is going round them all." Good luck, old boys. Sergt. E. Idris Evans, 13534, D. Coy., 9th Bat- talion Welsh Regiment, writing from somewhere in France' under date August 15th to Mr. D .0. Jones, Castle School. Kidwelly. says that the weather has been glorious since he left the old country. He regrets his inability to give any par- ticulars concerning his whereabouts, but is "pleased to say that all the Kidwelly boys are quite well, and seem to be enjoying their rough life all right, and all wish to be remembered to you, not forget- ting Mrs. Jones." A public meeting to extend the V.T.C. move- ment was held in the Town Hall. Kidwelly, on Wednesday in last week. the Mayor presiding over a fairly large audience. Addresses strongly advo- cating the claims of the Corps to the support of all men not eligible for military service were de- livered by the Chairman; Mr. John Thomas, Yelindre; Mr. H. E. Smart. Councillor E. Cole, Mr. D. Thomas (secretary), and Mr. F. Sheppard (instructor). At the close nine recruits were secured, brining up the number -on roll to 42. Captain A. H. Howard. of the 4th Welsh Regiment (Territorial). is reported missing after being in action at the Dardanelles. He was manager of the London Citv and Midland Bank at Haverfordwest, and com- manded the Haverfordwest company of the 4th Welsh. He is a son of Mr. Joseph Howard, J.P., Penarth.—Lieutenant H. W. D. Williams, of the 4th Welsh, who has been wounded, is a solicitor in Haverfordwest, and the eldest son of Mr. R. T. P. Williams (of Messrs. Eaton Evans and Williams, solicitors), town-clerk of Haverfordwest. Intimation has been received from the War Office that Captain Hugh Mortimer Green, l/4t.h Welsh Regiment, who was in action at the Dar- danelles on August 10. is now missing. Captain Green, who gave up the post of secretary of the Diocesan Training College, Carmarthen, in order to join the Army, is a son of the late Rev. T. Morti- mer Green, formerly registrar of the University College of Wales. Aberystwyth. He is a brother Mrs. Parry, wife of the Rev. Principal Parry. the Training College, Carmarthen. Tliq Rev. W. LI. Footman, headmaster of St. David's College School, Lampeter, received news on Wednesday of the death of Captain W. J. Howells, a member of his staff, foom wounds sus- tained in the Dardanelles between the 8th and 10th inst. A native of Brook, Laugharne, Captain Howells. who was 26 years of age, graduated at Aberystwyth College with secondilass honours, and came to Lampeter nearly three years ago as assis- tant master. He was an all-round athlete. His abilities as a soldier are indicated by his early pro- motions which he received since August last. Pte. Luther Jenkins, 1st Welsh Regiment, who was severely wounded and gassed at Hill 60, and who was home at Kidwelly for a week's furlough, returned to the depot at Cardiff on Monday last. Prior to leaving Kidwelly he paid a visit to the Castle School where the headmaster. on behalf of himself and the scholars, presented him with a safety razor and a pair of hair brushes in leather case. The recipient, who was evidently deeply touched, returned thanks in a few words, and left the school amidst the ringing cheers of the boys. Lieutenant Harry E. Osborne. 3rd Welsh, has been wounded at the Dardanelles. I lent. Osborne is a Nelson boy, being the eld st irvv»-.ng sen f the late Mr. George Osborne and Mrs. Cabotne Fairfield, and is married to a niece of Major T. H. Dowdeswell. Llanstephan, and Captain N. Dcnv.Vs- well. Treharris. He takes a keen interest in all kinds of sport, and is one of the finest miniature rifle shots in Wales. For some time he held an appointment in the Land Valuation Department at Cardiff. His brother, Mr. C. A. -Osboryie, 'of the Board of Trade Office, Cardiff, recently enlisted. On Saturday last. Lieut. Brian Harries, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Harries, The Croft, Ct. Clears, returned home for short leave after strenuous duties at the front. Lieut. Harries, who belonged to the 3rd Dragoon Guards, was. 1 within three days' of leavmg England, in the trenches at Hooge. near Ypres. where severe fighting took place. As the young man entered St. Clears with his father, mother and sister from Carmarthen on Saturday evening by motor-car, he was received by cheers from all who had an inkling, of his home-coming. In spite of the undoubtedly hard times, the young officer looked well. A recruiting party returning from a tour met with a serious motor mishap near Fishguard on Sunday. The occupants of the car were Captain Cuffe. recruiting officer for the 41st area; Lieut. T. S. Bowen, of the Welsh Regiment (recently re- turned from Ypres wounded by a bullet through the head): Sergt. Fuller. V.C.. and Sergt. Longden, D.C.M. Whilst proceeding down a hill the chau- ffeur lost "ontrol of the car and all the party were thrown. Lieut. Bowen, who had a miraculous escape, was thrown over a bridge, falling 20ft. He sustained cut-! on the head and leg. Sergt. Ful- ler's back was badly injured, and although in much pain he assisted Sergt. Longden, who was unhurt, to help Lieut. Bowen. Captain Cuffe also escaped injury. Mr. James Griffiths, St. Clears, has received word that his son Edwin, of the 1st Welsh Guards, has arrived safely in France. As all are aware, this battalion of the Guards has only recently been formed in. recognition of the good work done in Wales, but evidently their progress has been so good, that they have been drafted out to the front to bear out the encouraging words of the King, who reviewed them so recently as June last when presenting them with colours at Buckingham Palice. Pte. Edwin Griffiths, before joining the 1st Welsh Guards, was a constable in the Swansea Police. At the present time his brother, Corpl. Henry Griffiths, of the 2nd Welsh, is a prisoner of war in North Germany since October last after the first great fight at Ypres where the 2nd Welsh, among other regiments, were badly mauled. We all wish a better fate to the Welsh Guards than the 2nd Welsh had. Letters of thanks from wounded soldiers for eggs received arrive at Llanfynydd from all parts. A Sergeant in the Gordon Highlanders writes from Rouen:—"Thanks awfully Miss Roderick for lovely egg. I happened to see your name on it, so thought of dropping you a card to thank you. I am sure all the boys here appreciate all that you young ladies are doing for their comfort. This is rather a nice hospital, all under canvas, and it's lovely just now with the sun shining so bright and warm. Kind regards, J. F. Mackintosh." Miss Agnes Evans. of Penybont, Llanfynydd, ha< re- ceived the following letter:—"I received one of your nice eggs f-or breakfast this morning and en- joyed it immensely. I hope you will be rewarded for your good work to your country by serving its wounded soldiers in such a. good way. Wishing you good luck, happiness and prosperity in your future career.—J. L. McAnelly." The following commisisons were gazetted during the Week:—15th Battalion (Carmarthenshire) Welsh Regiment.—To be temporary second-lieu- tenants: Ernest Harold Heath, Richard Harry Sampson, William Seth Owen, Harold Wilcoon, John Owen Jones, and Roger Michell Sampson. Considerable interest has been aroused lately over the question as to who can claim to be the youngest recruit in the British Army. Last week a London contemporary called attention to a son of Dr. T. Duncan Newbigging, of Abington, Lancashire, who, when he reached his 14th birthday, the Lancashire Yeomanry obtained permission to enlist him. His tlaim to the title, however, is challenged by Mr. W. J. Lewis, of Union-street. Carmarthen, who has a son serving with the 3/4th Welsh, and who joined when he was only 13 years and nine months, and so far Mr. Lewis's claim does not seem to have been beaten. It is a matter which both he and the town can well be proud of. During the pa.st month the visitors have shown, both publicly and privately, very great kindness and practical sympathy towards the I" fugees, wlii-n the latter deeply appreciate. Mr. Achille Mathys is now at work at Llanelly; his two sons, Chri. tophe and AlexAdre work at Kidwell"; Messrs. Verbiest and Gilnard are also at Pon\yberem as surfacement at the colliery, to where Mr. Li opioid Maas also follows next Monday. the only re- maining male, Oscar Vandevoorqc. is in prospects of obtaining a situation as botmaker at Llanelly, whenever the local "tapping" begins to get slack On Sunday, August 15th, at 2.30 p.m.. a very successful "Egg Service" was held at St. Anne's Church, Cwmffrwd. A service, suitable for chil- dren was conducted by the Rev. Idris Roberts, B.A., who subsequently addressed the little ones, basing his remarks on tlje 23rd Psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." The lesson was read by Mr. E. J. Yates, Spilman-street, Car- marthen; while Miss Mia Bowen ably presided at the harmonium. During the singing of the last hymn the hildren marched up to the chancel, being marshalled by Mrs. Idris Roberts and Miss Hetty Morgan. Nantyglasdwr, and presented the! gifte of eggs for the wounded to the I.'isses Marjorie and Eira Barker, the former handing them on to be presented at the altar. Altogether it was a very pretty and inspiring service, the number of little ones present being the highest on record. The total number of eggs collected was 260. which were dispatched to London the following day. Thanks are due to the large number of Nonconformist friends who sent their children to the service. -One of the first of the St. Clears' boys to lose his life in this war is the son of the late Mr. Geo. Perkins, of the White Lion, Pwlltrap, and now of the Masons' Arms, Clynderwen. He is D. G. Per- kins, leading seaman of H.M.S. Swiftsure, who lost his life in the Dardanelles. The Swiftsure, an armoured cruiser, was in the Dardanelles from the start of the war against Turkey in February last. Seaman Perkins had served in the Navy for the last 18 years, in China and the Eastern waters, and had been awarded a medal for distinguished ser- vice. Frequent messages had been received in St. Clears -of the doings of the Swiftsure in the Dar- danelles from the deceased, and now the melancholy news was received of his death not from bullets but gas poisoning. Deceased had four brothers serving in the Artillery in Flanders, and the latest account received was that one. a sergeant in the R.F.A. had received a commissioned Tank. Gre-t sym- pathy is accorded to Mr. G. Perkins. the father, late of the London Police Force, in his loss. Recruiting at Lampeter has been slow during the past week, only three offering their service? for the defence of their country and homes, viz.: G. Bright, Sidney Fear, and A. Powell. The first two were young men, but the latter, who was manager of the looal ga's-works, and is a grandfather, aban- doned a lucrative position, and boldly went to the ranks of the Royal Engineers, in which he had served many years ago. After twelve months of war we find ourselves divided into pessimists and optimists. The former include those dismal crea- tures who are afraid we shall never come out on the top. and that in a very few years the gay young fellows who now decline to fight for Britain will be wearing the German grey uniform as conscripts. On the other hand, the optimists are too hopeful in the face of hard facts, and these cheery people are needed to give the entire weight of their assistance to prove as quickly as possible that the croakers are entirely in the wrong. But in either case. it should now be possible for all to take their share in beating back the enemy, and to bring about that triumphant day, when peace shall be signed in Berlin. Apropos the paragraph which appeaerd in this column last week re the death of Rifleman Gomer Davies, of the 1st Mons., who died a wounded prisoner of war in Germany, the following lines were written by his uncle, Mr. D. J. Davies, M.A.:— We hoped in vain. cold lie thy mangled limbs. Wrapped in the folds of a foeman's earth; Thou wert not laid to the sound of the hymns. Sung to the dead in the land of thy birth. And was there a tear dropped into thy grave? Did one tender sigh choke a breath? Did the enemy mourn for a heart that was brave, For a face that was handsome in death. Thou wishedst us not to grieve o'er thy loss. For thy life thou didst willingly give; For thy country thou gladly didst carry thy cross, And suffered—that others might live. Yet long shall we miss they voice and thy smile, For death cannot break mem'ry's chain; And though thou hast left us, 'tis but for a while, We'll all meet in God's peace again. Stuart Thresh, who is attached to the Brecknock Battalion of the South Wales Borderers, writes from Aden to his aunt, Miss Wade, Elephant and Castle. Carmarthen, as follows:—" I daresay you saw the account of the scrap with the Turks. I was there. and had a rough time of it. We left here on a Saturday at 3 p.m., marched to a town on the outskirts of the desert, camped there the night, left there at 3 a.m.. and started across the desert. It was hard going, and we had not gone far before our deadly enemy the sun—came up. I had a slight tap in the afternoon, but the native ambulance happened to get me in time, and there was a hut and a well near. They poured water over me and pulled me round. One poor chap died there, but we were unable to bury him. I went on later with the guns, and helped to push them through the sand. As soon as we got to the Turks opened the ball with shrapnel, and a few of our fellows were hit. I marched back over the desert during the heat of the day. How I did it I don't know. It was only perseverance that got me back. It was a hard fight for life. Thank Gcd. I got through and I feel quite happy again. I have only just come out of hospital; have been down with fever again for a fortnight. I feei rather shaky and weak, but in the best of spirits. You must feel proud to have two nephews in the colours. We are in the right place at such times as these. I have had my baptism of fir2. and don't mind some more, but not in this heat. The sun is our worst enemy OlJt here." The following officers of the 4th Welsh were gazetted on Saturday and Sunday as having been wounded at the Dardanelles:—Major A. L. Bowen (Llanelly). Capt. and Adjutant F. H. Linton (who lived at Penllwvn Park. Carmarthen). Lieut. N. Coate*?. Lieut. H. W. G. Jones. The 4th Welsh is a Territorial battalion which was raised in the neigh- bouring counties of Carmarthen, Pembroke, and Cardigan. In pre-Territorial days it was known as the 1st Volunteer Battalion Welsh Regiment, and earned a great reputation as a shooting battalion, having produced such a notable marksman as Cap- tain W. T. Davies. a double winner at the Bislev blue riband. The battalion only left Bedford with the Welsh Territorial Division a few weeks ago, and the casualties amongst officers within the last couple of days seem to lend colour to the assumption that it was called upon for service immediately upon land- ing. The headquarters of the battalion are at Car- marthen. According to reports, the local men took part in the landing at Surva Bav, north of Auzac. and twenty miles north of the mouth of the Darda- nelles. The whole force, with artillery, ammunition and baggace. was got ashore with little opposition <'nd verv slight casualties. The troops immediatelv advanced, seized and strongly entrenched the Ore- meditated positions and threw out their right wing so as to join hands with the Australian force on