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In St Mary's Church, Whitchurch, Cardiff. I'm indebted to the Revd. John Davis, vicar of St Mary's, for taking the photo and sending it to me.




Willie Thomas, better known as "Dutchy," son of Mr. John Thomas, Church-road, Whitchurch, who yesterday proceeded to the front as a member of the Glamorgan Yeomanry, was on Tuesday evening presented by his friends with a silver cigarette case and a writing-case as a token of esteem.

The proceedings were held at the Fox and Hounds Inn, Whitchurch, and were of a pleasant character.

Evening Express, Thursday 7th March 1901

It was the only whole paragraph, but it reminded those Whitchurch lads out there on the veldt of their dear old home.

Trooper Willie Lewis, son of Mr. T. J. Lewis, of Oakfield House, Whitchurch, who is at Harrismith with the 1st Company of the Imperial Yeomanry, tells the story in a letter to his parents.

"Tom Williams," he says, "picked up a piece of an old "Evening Express," and on one side was the report of the presentation to Willie Thomas by his friends.

"We couldn't help laughing when we saw the heading on it, "To Fight for England." It was very funny as it was the only whole paragraph in the paper."

Trooper Lewis' friends will be interested to know that he has been appointed to a position on the staff as a clerk in the orderly room.

Evening Express, Tuesday 21st May 1901
Mr. John Thomas, Church-road, Whitchurch, has received a telegram from the War Office stating that his son, J. W. Thomas, of the Imperial Yeomanry, is lying dangerously ill at Bethlehem with enteric fever. The news was despatched from Bethlehem on February 23. Thomas went to South Africa about twelve months ago with a squadron of the Imperial Yeomanry, but appears to have been drafted into a cavalry regiment.

Evening Express, Friday 7th March 1902
Private J. W. Thomas (No. 28, 753), of the 1st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, died at Bethlehem on February 28, of enteric fever. An announcement of his illness appeared in our Friday's issue, in which it was stated that his relatives had been hoping to hear of his recovery. Private Thomas was the son of Mr. John Thomas, Old Church-road, Whitchurch, with whom much sympathy is felt. The deceased, who was a Whitchurch boy, possessed an open, genial, and breezy disposition, and his demise will be regretted. At one time he carried on a flourishing coal business. He went out to South Africa about twelve months ago, and intended coming home in June next for a three months' holiday, after which he hoped to return to fill a position which he had secured in Baden-Powell's Police.

Evening Express, Saturday 8th March 1902
At St. Mary's Church, Whitchurch, on Sunday evening, feeling reference was made by the Rev. Gwilym Roberts (curate) to the death of Trooper J. W. Thomas, who recently died from enteric fever at Bethlehem.

Evening Express, Monday 24th March 1902
Mr. John Thomas, of Whitchurch, has received a letter from Captain H. T. Edwards, of the 3rd Squadron 1st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, confirming the death of his son, Trooper J. W. Thomas, at Bethlehem, on February 28, from enteric fever. Captain Edwards says: - "The loss of Trooper Thomas is mourned by all the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the squadron." Young Thomas was buried with military honours at Bethlehem.

Evening Express, Wednesday 2nd April 1902
The Whitchurch Soldiers and Sailors' Fund Committee and that formed in conjunction therewith to give the homecoming troopers from South Africa a reception have just finished their labours by the erection of two brass tablets, supplied by Mr. Newby, Castle-street, Cardiff, to the memory of Troopers Thomas and Jones, who succumbed to enteric fever on the veldt. One tablet has been placed in the Parish Church and the other at Beulah Congregational Church. It will be remembered that each of the troopers who arrived home safely were, besides being entertained at a banquet, presented with a gold pendant suitably inscribed. The movement to raise funds to help the families of the Reservists who were called to the front and that to deal with those who returned proved a great success, and a large amount of money was distributed. Thanks are due to Mr. J. H. Cory, J.P. (treasurer), Mr. A. H. Bullock (secretary), and to the other gentlemen for the activity and interest they displayed. The following is a re-production of the tablets, the wording on each being the same, with the exception of the name: -


Evening Express, Saturday 22nd November 1902

British Cemetery, Bethlehem