TOPIC:

In St. Gwladys's Church, Bargoed, Glamorgan.

5615 Private David Thomas, 3rd (Gloucestershire) Company 1st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. Died of disease at Elandsfontein on 7th May 1901.

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At Bargoed on Sunday afternoon the rector of Gelligaer (the Rev. T. J. Jones) conducted a special service for the unveiling of four windows at Gladwys Church. Three of the windows on the eastern end of the church had been dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Rose Ellen Jones, the wife of County Councillor D. S. Jones, by the sorrowing husband and children. The other was that to Private D. Thomas, Tyferchgronw, Bargoed, of the Glamorgan Yeomanry, who died of enteric fever in South Africa in May last. The Blackwood Corps, under the command of Sergeant-instructor Ruce, accompanied by the band, in charge of Mr. J. Rees, attended; as also did a number of men who have recently returned from the front.
Evening Express, Monday 21st October 1901















An interesting send-off was given at Bargoed on Tuesday to Mr D. Thomas, Trefach Farm, near Bargoed, who has been shepherd to Lord Bute for many years, and Mr Edmonds, a young farmer, of Croesfaen. They are joining the Monmouthshire section of the Yeomanry for active service, and took with them their own horses.
South Wales Daily News, 10th January 1900


. "One Who Knew Him" writes as follows : - As one intimately acquainted with the late David Thomas, I feel that his life is deserving of more than the few lines allotted in the ordinary way to those who have died at the front. David Thomas was a son of William Thomas, who for a great number of years held the position of Hayward of the commons under the Marquess of Bute, and upon his death his son succeeded him in the appointment, and well did he perform the duties appertaining to the office. He resided at Tir-y-ferch-gryno, in the parish of Gelligaer, and his duties were chiefly to perambulate the commons over which Lord Bute had manorial rights, and to see that there were no encroachments. In this capacity he became well known to all the farmers in the Gelligaer, Merthyr, Llanfabon, and Eglwysilan parishes, and he was as anxious to preserve the rights of the commoners as he was to protect the interests of his employer. Thomas had but one object, and that was to do his duty, and when he decided to enlist in the Gloucester Yeomanry for service in South Africa, it was purely out of patriotic zeal for his Sovereign and his country. In his case, he had permanent employment such as suited his temperament and good health, yet he most willingly volunteered his services. It is also worth mentioning that he took with him his own horse, which had on many occasions carried him over the Glamorgan hills. The letters he wrote home were full of interest, more particularly his last letter from Elandsfontein, wherein he graphically described the various places he had visited, including Ladysmith, the strategic points on the Tugela, the mines at Johannesburg, &c. He also took particular note of the physical conditions of the country and the nature of the soil, and had he lived to return no doubt his reminiscences would have been most interesting. Sir William Thomas Lewis took a deep interest in Thomas, and had undertaken to keep his berth open for him, and only a week ago a letter was received from him in which he looked forward with joy to resuming the thread of his old duties. Unfortunately, however, that was not to be, and now that he has found a resting-place on the South African veldt it is a pleasure, though tinged with sadness, to bear testimony to his patriotism and high sense of duty, and to express sorrow at the loss of a true and honourable citizen.
Evening Express, Thursday 16th May 1901

Thanks Berenice.

I wonder if the window was paid for by the Marquess of Bute.

Great pictures. Many thanks, Berenice.

SWB wrote: Thanks Berenice.

I wonder if the window was paid for by the Marquess of Bute.

The relative quickness (five and a half months) in which the window was made and installed after Thomas' death, with no mention of a public subscription to pay for it, would suggest so.

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His name appears on the British Memorial - Germiston, Primrose Cemetery South Africa