10/12/1914

The Ammanford boys at Kildare are evidently looking on the bright side of things, if one may judge from the letters they send home. We publish below extracts from a long letter sent by Ike Evans, a footballer of no mean order, and who last season captained the Ammanford cricket eleven, to his father, Mr. D. C. Evans, of Wind Street. It contains much that is interesting, and signalling falls within Ike’s duties. The Morse code is explained and utilised. He states :- “I am pleased to say we are all feeling quite well. I have just blown the ‘Fall in’ for the battery – 9 o’clock – and they were marched down to the hospital to have the second dose of inoculation. There will be some groaning tonight again. I may say I have not had my first done yet, but think I shall have it tomorrow. We are generally given forty-eight hours off duty after being inoculated, but those who feel fit have to go on parade. “I was in church this morning. All the trumpeters marched in front, playing martial music on the bugles. I have had the bugle now, and, after a little practice, I can blow it alright. It is used in field work, but I think they do the drill now by blowing the whistle and making motions with the hand. So, I have only to blow “March at ease” and “Attention” as we are on routine march. “I have had another enjoyable week, and come to like it more every day. On Friday the major took the whole battery for an outing. We were in full service dress with bandolier and overcoat rolled up and flung over the shoulder. He took us right through the Curragh, and them we went up to see some trenches constructed by the Engineers. It was a treat to see them. One half of the battery were allowed to inspect them at a time; the other half holding the horses. I had the major’s horse to hold, but managed to have a good look at the trenches. There were kitchens and



HOW GERMAN DASH TO THE SEA WAS FOILED STIRRING BATTLE PICTURES BY EYE-WITNESS CALL FROM THE TRENCHER FOR MORE MEN.
06/08/14 13/08/14 20/08/14 27/08/14 03/09/14 10/09/14 17/09/14 24/09/14 01/10/14 08/10/14 15/10/14 22/10/14 29/10/14	“SPIRIT OF THE BOYS ALRIGHT.” LLANDEBIE TERRITORIALS LETTER FORM THE FRONT. His Vow to Lay Out Several of the Enemy. P4 Private J. R. D. Thomas, of Llandebie serving in France with the 6th Welsh Regiment, writes home to Mr. Willie Rees, tailor, thanking him for a gift of “cigs” which he appreciates very much. He goes on to say : — “Since I wrote you last I have been ill, but I am feeling alright now. Yes, I had the letter that was in the Amman Valley Chronicle sent to me. I am glad to hear that you think so much of the boys that are out here, and I can tell you this much: That we will try our best to be worthy of the thoughts you have for us and place we come from. I do not believe there is one of us which would forget it. We came out here to do our duty, and if our reward is death, you may bet your last penny we would gladly lay down our lives. “The winter weather has set in, and at the time of writing we are up to our knees in mud. But I suppose there are better times ahead. “Since I wrote last we have been shifted, and I think we shall be on the move very often now. The spirit of the boys is alright. And God help the Germans when we get at them. It was bad enough to read about them at home, but it is ten times worse to see what they have done out here. The only thing I wish is if I shall ‘go under’ I shall want to go out for ‘keeps,’ and a few more Germans if I can do it. I am glad to hear that Tom Double is recovering, and I hope that he will come out here, that I shall not miss him. “Dear chum, I am glad to hear that someone sometimes thinks of us. A letter from friends at home cheers the whole company around the camp fire. I have nearly cried many a time when perhaps I have received a letter, but the chap next to me has no one to write to him, and he eagerly waits until we have finished reading, and asks, ‘What news chums’ he asks, you may see we who have homes and friends have one thing to be thankful for.” He concludes with the wish for a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to his friend.	AMMANFORD LETTER FROM KILDARE. LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF THINGS. The Morse Code Explained and Utilised. P1 The Ammanford boys at Kildare are evidently looking on the bright side of things, if one may judge from the letters they send home. We publish below extracts from a long letter sent by Ike Evans, a footballer of no mean order, and who last season captained the Ammanford cricket eleven, to his father, Mr. D. C. Evans, of Wind Street. It contains much that is interesting, and signalling falls within Ike’s duties. The Morse code is explained and utilised. He states :- “I am pleased to say we are all feeling quite well. I have just blown the ‘Fall in’ for the battery – 9 o’clock – and they were marched down to the hospital to have the second dose of inoculation. There will be some groaning tonight again. I may say I have not had my first done yet, but think I shall have it tomorrow. We are generally given forty-eight hours off duty after being inoculated, but those who feel fit have to go on parade. “I was in church this morning. All the trumpeters marched in front, playing martial music on the bugles. I have had the bugle now, and, after a little practice, I can blow it alright. It is used in field work, but I think they do the drill now by blowing the whistle and making motions with the hand. So, I have only to blow “March at ease” and “Attention” as we are on routine march. “I have had another enjoyable week, and come to like it more every day. On Friday the major took the whole battery for an outing. We were in full service dress with bandolier and overcoat rolled up and flung over the shoulder. He took us right through the Curragh, and them we went up to see some trenches constructed by the Engineers. It was a treat to see them. One half of the battery were allowed to inspect them at a time; the other half holding the horses. I had the major’s horse to hold, but managed to have a good look at the trenches. There were kitchens and	05/11/14 12/11/14 19/11/14 26/11/14 03/12/14 10/12/14 17/12/14 24/12/14 31/12/14