Medals and awards

Gold medallions & alberts, to:

 

Presentation made by Sir James Hills-Johnes, at the Ivy Bush Royal Hotel, Carmarthen.

 

Supplied by Messrs Davies & Son, Guildhall Square.

 

 

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South Wales Daily News, 10th May 1901

 

OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS.

BANQUET AT CARMARTHEN.

On Thursday evening a banquet was held at the Ivy Bush Hotel, Carmarthen, to welcome home from the front Sergeant LANGMAN, Corporal Meredith WILLIAMS, Private Theo. ROGERS, and Private J. PHILLIPS, four of the nine Carmarthen men who volunteered for active service in South Africa, and who returned with the Service Company of the 1st V.B. Welsh Regiment last week. Sir James Hills-Johnes, G.C.B., V.C., presided over a large gathering, which included several county gentlemen. Colonel Roberts wrote expressing regret at being unable to be present, adding that he felt it to be a great honour to have the command of a battalion which sent 60 men to the front. He referred to the sad case of the late Sapper Harry Baskerville, and forwarded a cheque for a guinea towards the local fund to secure adequate provision for his widow and six little children.

Mr Thomas Parkinson, Castle Pigyn, proposed “The Bishops and Clergy”, and the Rev. Owen Evans, vicar, responded.

Mr Benjamin Evans, ex-high sheriff of Carmarthenshire, proposed the toast of “The Navy, Army, and Reserve Forces”. Speaking of the latter, he said that the present war had proved our Volunteers to be made of the right stuff. They had acquitted themselves so well that they had won the confidence of the Army and of the British nation. He was sure the four lads could have no greater honour paid them than to be welcomed home by so distinguished a soldier as their chairman. For his own part he was deeply grateful for that splendid hospitality which they had extended to those four gallant young fellows. (Applause). He felt this all the more because one of them was a relative of his own. (Hear, hear). In a sense they had reached the end of one movement, but he should like to see another begun, and witness the formation of Yeomanry in the three counties, as in Glamorgan. (Applause). In the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry they had the nucleus of a West Wales Regiment. (Applause). The race which produced Picton and Nott had lost neither in patriotism nor valour, and he was vain enough to believe that if that movement were encouraged by Sir James Drummond, there would be no lack of applicants. (Hear, hear).

Colonel Lewes, Lysnewydd, Captain Picton Evans, and Captain James John responded. Captain Picton Evans, who received a splendid ovation, said he had seen what no other officer present had. He had seen the Volunteer on active service, enduring the toil, hardship and danger of the soldier of the Regular Army, and he did not think they need be ashamed of the way they did it. (Applause).

The gallant Chairman, in proposing the toast of the evening, “Our Guests”, said the four men were well-tried soldiers, tested by the only reliable test of the soldier – hard, active service, facing shot, shell, and bullets. (Applause). Sir James then presented the men with the town’s gifts amidst the greatest enthusiasm. Sergeant LANGMAN was presented with a gold albert chain and medallion, and the other men with gold watches.

Sergeant LANGMAN, in responding, amidst prolonged applause, said he and his comrades esteemed it a great honour that a British General, who had won much renown on the field of battle should preside at that gathering. (Loud cheers). If they were called upon at any future time they would again be willing and ready to uphold the honour of the old country and the old town as St Peter’s boys. (Loud applause).

Presentation to Carmarthen Volunteers.

WAR MEMORIALS AND LONG SERVICE MEDALS.

On Thursday evening, the 5th inst., a smoking concert was held at the Boar's Head Hotel, for the purpose of making a public presentation to the four Carmarthen men who went out to the front as volunteers. The volunteers in question are Sergt.-Inst. POOLE and Privates Llewellyn JONES and Hodge LEWIS, who served with the Second Service Co. of the 1st Welsh Regiment, and Sapper A. SMITH, who served with the telegraph staff of the Royal Engineers. There was a large muster of volunteers, and also a goodly gathering of the Carmarthen townspeople.

Captain John said that he moved that Mr Colby Evans should take the chair. No one could more fittingly occupy the chair than Mr Evans, who was mayor of the town during the year in which the money collected for the presentations.

Mr E. Colby Evans said it was true that during his mayoralty that the money was collected for these presentations. He need not tell them that it was with great pleasure that he took the chair at that meeting.

During an interval in the proceedings, Mr Colby Evans said that it was with great pleasure that he made the presentation. He felt it a great honour to be called on to do so. He made the presentation with mixed feelings, with fear and trembling, lest he should not be able to do justice to the subject. He would rather address them as "comrades," because he was an honorary member of the Company. He was proud that these members of the Company should have volunteered to go to the front to fight the battle of their King and country. When the call to arms came three years ago, at a momentous crisis in the history of the Empire, the world had seen that volunteers were not carpet-soldiers (applause). It had seen that this nation had still men willing and ready to go to the front, and to sacrifice their lives if need be for their country's cause. As they would observe by the medal on his breast, he had served for over twenty years in the Volunteer force. As a matter of fact he had served 23 years, and when he resigned the Colonel gave him permission to retain his uniform, and stripes, and begged him to remain an honorary member, a position which he believed he still retained. We heard of the terrible news of Colenso, Magersfontein, and Stormberg with feelings of sorrow; but with full confidence that our men if called upon to make another attack would still go forward with the same spirit as of old. History had now told us that they had done so. Then again we saw that the attacks on the beleaguered garrison of Ladysmith had been repulsed on each occasion. He hoped that the four volunteers would long he spared to wear these presents; and that the presents would continue to remind them of the affection and regard in which the townspeople held them, who had so nobly responded to the call of arms. He was glad to say that nine out of the ten men who had volunteered from Carmarthen had returned safely. They regretted very much the death of Sapper Harry Baskerville, who was a favourite with them all, and who had died at his post in South Africa.

The four volunteers were then presented by Mr Colby Evans with the articles subscribed for by the Carmarthen townspeople. Sergt. Instructor POOLE received a gold Albert, and medallion, and the other three with handsome silver watches, all suitably inscribed with their names and company, and stating that these were presented by the Carmarthen townspeople on their return from active service in South Africa. Mr E. Colby Evans said that he hoped that these presents would be handed down by the recipients to their children and children's children, "and remind those of your noble conduct, and that they will be an inducement to them to follow your example".

Sergt. Instructor POOLE in responding on behalf of the recipients said that he would lather face a bayonet fighting contest than make a speech. He could assure them that his comrades and he appreciated these presents; it showed that the people of Carmarthen did not forget those who went out to the front. He really had not as much right to speak as the three others; he was not out very long, but the others had gone through the campaign. Although they were in the second crowd, they had a look in; and they were glad to see they were not forgotten.

Lieut. Francis handed the service men the presents subscribed for by the officers and men of the Company. Three of the men had beautiful clocks, and Pte. Hodge LEWIS had a ring. …….

……. Mr A. E. O. Norton proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Colby Evans for presiding, and to the various gentlemen who had contributed to the programme.