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.--LLANDILO.

---_u"-.------Civic Welcome…

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_u Civic Welcome to Carmarthen Troops. I PRINCESS JOINS IN THE CEREMONY I AND PRESENTS MEDALS. Carmarthen was gaily decorated with flags on Thursday in last week, when trie townspeople turned out in large crowds to join in a oivic welcome accorded to the local detachments of the 1st Welsh Field Co., Royal Engineers, and the 4th Welsh Regiment (under the command of Major J. F. do Rees). These two Territorial units draw their strength principally from the three counties 'of West Wales, and in them Carmarthen takes a special interest by reason of the fact .that- most of its soldier sons belong to them. Additional interest was invested in the occasion by the presence of Her Highness Princess Marie Louise—a guest of Sir Owen Philipps, G.C.M.G., M.P., and Lady Philipps at Coomb—who presented Military Medals to a number of local men. The men marched from the Barracks to Guildhall Square, headed by the band of the 2nd Welsh Remanent, and formed up iii front of a platform specially erected be- fore the Guildhall. Princess Marie Louise, who was accompanied by Sir Owen and Lady Philipps, was given a hearty recep- tion, and was received at the Council Cham- ber by the Mayor and Mayoress (Aid. and Mrs. Wm. Evans), Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire (Mr. John Hinds, M.P.), Town Clerk (Mr. H. B. White), members of the corporation, and justices of the peace. Hear Highness was then escorted to the platform by the Mayor, and was again accorded an ovation by the large crowd in Guildhall Square. The Mayor said he had very great plea- sure in welcoming to the town Her High- ness Princess Louise, a member of the Royal Family, and he was sura that he was voicing the opinion of every citizen in the borough when he said that they were ex- ceedingly pleased to have the Princess among them that day (applause). In welcomiiig-the detachments, the Mayor spoke of the pride with which Carmarthen had followed the dongs of the two units in the East during the great war. Carmarthen boys, most of whom volunteered -,i ihe early stages of the war, had fought on all the theatres of the great struggle, and nobly upheld the glorious traditions of the town. The 4th Welsh and the Welsh Field Co., R.E., had a worthy record which v as second to none, and he was glad to see that the old town had risen to the occasion to give them a royal welcome. Mr. John Hinds, M.P., also welcomed the men, and referred to the stupendous efforts made by Great Britain to w:n the war. They in Wales, he said, were not backward. Of all the nations of the Allies, there were no people less prepared for war than the Welsh people. They were the children of the Sunday school, of our churh- es and chapels, and far was it for them to unsheath the sword once more, but when the call came to defend all that they loved best, the sons of Wales volunteered at once to fight for liberty, justice, and freedom (applause). Thousands had laid down their lives for a glorious cause, and in order that thoso at home should have liberty. Some of the men who had come back from the war were naturally becoming irritable, and he urged the people to be patient with the ex-service men, who, he said, would settle down some day. They had seen hell in the last four or five years, and that behoved all to help them. Despite the ravages of the war, Great Britain, said Mr. Kinds, was going to be great. He believed that we had a mission in the world, but that mision would again be accomplished if we were worthy of our great traditions and did our part (applauseV Major J. F. de Rees, responding, gave a record of the 4th Welsh in the war. The Battalion was mobilised on 4th August, 1914, and proceeded to their war stat'on on the Pembrokeshire ooaft. Having done duty in Pembrokeshire they went to Bedford in April, 1915, to join the 53rd Division. After further hard training the Battalion sailed for Egypt in July, 1015, to join the Medi- terranean, Expeditionary Force. Following a brief stay in Egypt they were ordered to th, Gallipoli Peninsula and took part :n the landing at Sulva Bay. On the first two days of the landing-the Battalion lost, in lclled, wounded and missing, no fewer than 449 officers and men. This number did not include the sick cases. The total stiengm on landing in Egypt was 750; 250 being left behind it Alexandria as first line re-inforce. nitmts. The Battalion took part in all the subsequent operations at Sulva Bay until tho evacuation on 12th December, 1915, After sustaining such heavy losses the strength was reduced to only 150, and as no senior officers were left owing to equalities, the Battalion was attached to the rem- nants of the 2nd S.W.B. for a period under the command if Lt-CoI. Going, D.S.O. What remained of "The Fourth" then re- turned to Egypt where they were on well- earned rest and re-fitted with clothing, &c. Next they took part in 'engagements against tho Senuss: Tribe, and afterwards proceeded for duty on the Suez. Canal, eventually taking part in the tight on the Sinai Pen- insula. Afterwards took place the first j, battle of Gaza, the second battle 01 Gaza, and a stubborn fight up to Beersheba, Khuweilfah, on to Hebron, Bethlehem, Jerusalem. The Welsh troops formed the first guard at the Jaffa gate in the historic city of Jerusalem. The Battal- ic,n afterwards participated in a battle on the Mount of Olives when they succeeded in driving off two fierce counter attacks by the Turks, whom they followed up and routed. An advance through Palestine ensued and there were many skirmishes in the Jordan valley. The Battalion took part in all the actions up to the period of the Armistice. They returned to Alexandria and assisted in the suppression of riots. Just before the Armistice the Battalion was under orders for Salon:ca to join in a bg attack against the Germans, but the cassation of hostilities ob\ iated this mission. The total overseas ser- vice of the Battalion ranged from July, 1915, until the return of the cadre on 10th Aug., 1919. In addition to taking part in various ■operations, further, Offkvsrs,'Warrant Officers, N.C.O.'s and men of the "Fourth" partici- pated in the fighting in France, Mesopo- tamia, and Salonica, and :n garrison duty at India and Gibraltar. The honours won by the Batttlion were: Three D.S.O.'s; twelve M.C.'s (including Capt. Howard White, Carmarthen, and Capt. A. J. G. Owen, The Palace, Aber- 5;wili): three Territorial Decorations; six XC.M.'s (including the late Segt. Orman, Carmarthen); three M.S.M.'s; numerous Territorial Efficiency Medals, and numerous "Mentioned in Despatches" (including Capt. Frank de Rolante Davies, Carmar- then). The different Gamanding Officers during the period of war were:-IA.-Col. W. Bramwell Jones. T.D., Llanelly; Lt.-Col. H. J. Kinsman; Lt.-Col. Hulton, D.S.O.; Lt.-Col. Hclher, D.S.O.; and Lt.-Col. J. W. Downes. D.S.O. M.C. The Batalion, concluded Major J. F. de Rees was now boil)}? reconstructed under the new Terri- torial scheme, with headquarters at Carmar. then. It was confidently anticipated that" a good many of the old members would re- enlist in the regiment. The Mayor then called upon Princess Marie Lousie, who amidst leud cheering, invested the .following with the Military Medal;— Corpl. W. Phillips, 6th Welsh Regt., of Railway-terr., Tumble (a Mons Star man and a native of Mydrim); Driver B. Davies, Royal Field Artillery; Corpl. T. Davies, Royal Engineers; Corpl. J. W. Kettley, Labour Corps, son of ex-Serg't- Major and Mrs. Kettley, Ferndale, Parcmain st., Car- marthen. Mr. and Mrs. Yeo, St. Catherine-st., Car marthen attended to receive the Military Medal won by their son, Corpl. Jack Yeo, 4th Welsr Regiment, who made the supreme sacrifice. Each were presented to tne s Princess who presented the medal to Mrs. Yoo, who was largely cheered. Ex-Sergt. Kettley, who accompanied his son, was also present. The Princess shook hands with each of the recipients, and congratulated thorn on their distinction. An impressive memorial service followed at St. Peter's Church, the procession from Guildhall-square to the church being joined by the Princess, who walked between the Mayor and Lady Owen Philipps. The pro- cession formed up in the following order:- Band of the 2nd Welsh, detachment of the R.E.'s and 4th Welsh, Magistrates, Mayor, and guests of the Lord Lieutenant, Town Clerk, members of the Corporation and officials, ec AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE. At the entrance to the church, the pro- cession was met by the Bishop of St David's, the Vicar (Rev. B. Parry Griffiths, M.A.),' ,and other clergy, and the choir, who then walked in the front into the church, where there was a large congregation. The open- ing hymn, "Fight the Good Fight" was sung, while the Vicar intoned the openkig sentences of the Burial Service, and an appropriate lesson taken from the 3rd Chapeter of the Book of Wisdom of Solo- mon was read by the Bishop's Chaplain (Rev. Benjamin Davies, M.A., Vicar of St. David's). Prayers followed, and after sing- ing "For all the Saints," the Rev. Principal Welsh Regiment, delivered an address. He said that they were gathered in Church that day for a two-fold purpose-one in re- lation to themselves and the other in rela- tion to those who had laid down their lives in the supreme hour of their country's need. With regard to themselves, they were present to thank God for the success that had attended their arms, and for the victory which He had granted to their cause, and also for the safe return of the:lr gallant men to their homes. They Could not but feel that the uppermost thought in their minds was of those whom they had known, and who were not present that day. There were two themes in this connection which he de- sired to bring before his hearers. The first was to remind them of the great Christian doctrine ef the immortality of the human soul. They believed in the immortality of the soul and would look forward to the times when they would all gather together again. They believed it because it was part of the intuition which belonged to them. The second thema was that in that service they were doing honour to the mepiory of those who had fallen. There was a general tenciemcy in human nature to forget It seemed part of their nature that as the days went by things receded in the background, and they thought of them no more. But with regard to those men whom they had known in fellowship, they would never be forgotten. '■'You may search their names in vain on the pages of your country's his- tory," said the rev, gentleman "Honours perchance have not fallen to their lot, but we who knew them and Who, alas, can see them no more with the naked eye, can realise that their memory is something un. perishable." And finally there is the solemn assurance that the spirit which animated those men is the spirit we are sharing to-day. We are Britons, and because we are Britons we are proud of our allegiance to the King, of our love for our country and for our finer eentiment of honour, liberty and justice. We are ready to do whatever duty falls to our lot when the time comes. I cannot think of a finer motto than tha't of the Welsh Regiment, "Better death than dis- honour." We stand as a l<egiment for the principle of honour, ready to do what falls to our lot whenever honour is at stake. Tho "Last Post" was sounded by four buglers of the 2nd Welsh Band. The hymn, "0 God our help :,n ages past" having been sung, the congregation rendered the National Anthem to the accompaniment of the band. A deeply impressive service A,-as brought to a close with the Benediction, pro- nounced by the Bishop. The detachments, numbering about '50 strong, were afterwards entertained to 11 sumptuous tea, at the Church House, at which Princess Marie Louise and Sir Owen and Lady Philips were present.

\-LAMPETER.

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