8/10/1914

LANCE-CORPORAL JIMMY JAMES. WITH THE DUKE OF CORNWALL 'S LIGHT INFANTRY. INCIDENTS OF CAMP LIFE. P8

Lance Corporal J. W. James, of Ammanford, who threw up his important duties, public as well as private, in order to join the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, sends us a highly interesting letter relating to his experiences, from Sherrington Camp, Codford, Wilts. He states : - I see by your paper – which I get weekly – that Ammanford boys are writing you their experiences. I hardly would have credited when I left Ammanford, what things were going to be, if I had been told. I joined the Royal Warwickshire Regt., and was amongst thousands of recruits arriving at Warwick barracks from Birmingham. I slept the first two nights out in the open without any clothes but what I wore, the accommodation for recruits being far from sufficient. I was luck in billeted out in Warwick after the first week and then had a splendid time. Last Tuesday we were recalled to Warwick barracks from a route march, and we were given half an hour to get our things together. We (350 of the Warwicks) were put in a train without being told our destination, but eventually found ourselves in this place, and transferred to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Yesterday (Saturday) I went out to the little village near by and was surprised to hear a shout in Welsh. I replied to it and found two Ammanford boys. They told me that there were a couple of hundred of them camped near by. I was please to know this, as I had not heard a word of Welsh since leaving home. Life under canvas is interesting, but one has to be careful this cold weather. I have three small blankets to keep me warm and off the damp grass. The hard work we do nullifies all the minor incidents of camp life such as skimming the dust and grass off the tea in the “dickey.” Today I found there were 20 or 30 South Walians in the Devons camp near by. There are, in all, about 35,000 troops here, all for Kitchener’s Army, and of various regiments. I am in charge of a tent of twelve men of the D. C. L. I., but most of them are Cockneys. What they wouldn’t like to do the Kaiser isn’t worth doing.

AMMANFORD FOOTBALLERS VICTORIOUS AT KILDARE. IKE EVANS AND THE AMENITIES OF CAMP LIFE . P4
Ike Evans, the Ammanford footballer has sent a very informing and interesting letter on the amenities of camp life to Mr. W. H. Jones, the late secretary of the Ammanford football club, and incidentally he gives a brief but lively account of the maiden venture this season of the Ammanford boys on the football field. He states : — “Just a few lines to let you know that we are all quite well, hoping you are the same. Glad to know that all is well at Ammanford. Well, I suppose you have heard by now that I have had a trumpet, and I am nearly blowing my brains out with it. It is a hard thing to blow, and It gives gee-up to the lips. They tell me it is a fine job once you master it. All I have been doing last week is to go out on to the hills and learn some of the calls. I have to pick up everything myself so far but there is to be a trumpet major over tomorrow, so we will have to do something. He will take us for riding practice in turns, and before long we will have a horse each, and all our work will be to look after it and blow the calls. There will be two trumpeters to each battery, and the other one in the 180th is Danny Walters of Llandebie Road. “Well, dear Will, you should have been here yesterday to see the great football match between the 180th and 179th. We were challenged to play early in the war and we picked a team, and the lieutenant consented to referee, but it seemed that the game would not come off, as there was a parade fixed for four, Saturday afternoon, and that would mean five o’clock at least; but the officer went and got off all the players from parade, and we played the game after all. We fairly set upon them; nearly every time we had the ball we scored; the total score was 39 points to nil, and the officer gave us a good word. He promised to find us another game with the Irish Fusiliers in a few weeks. Abbot was in his element, and caused a lot of laughter with his antics. Well, what ever are you doing down home by putting such things in the Amman Valley Chronicle? We did have a laugh when we saw it was out, as nobody knew that you had come to know about it. Another little joke occurred this morning. We were formed out to go to chapel, and we were all asked to what denomination we belonged. Some said they were Congregationalists, others said Catholics, others said Presbyterians, and when they came to Benji, he shouted out “vegetarian,” and of course Trevor wasn’t far behind with his ha-ha-ha. It is a fine life really and I would not have missed it for the world . The only draw back is that we have been drafted to such a hole. We have heard from Trevor Evans, and how different it is with them. They are in a fine old seaside place, and only two miles from Folkestone; but it’s no use grumbling now; we must make the best of it. “Well, no more this time. Should hope to have another letter from you soon. Remember us to all the boys, and everybody at home. I shall no conclude with the best wishes of all the boys.”



THE SWAYING BATTLE VIOLENT FIGHTING IN NORTHERN FRANCE RUSSIAN VICTORY OVER GERMANS.
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	ABBOT GRIFFITHS IN SYMPATHETIC VEIN. Nicely Written Letter to Fred Jenkins. P4 Soldiering has not affected the warm hearted nature of “Abbot” in the least. From Kildare he writes to his old football colleague, Fred Jenkins, who met with a severe accident a little time ago, but who, we are glad to say, is now convalescent, a most sympathetic letter. He addresses Jenkins as “Dear old pal Fred,” and states :- “I have many times thought of writing to you, but did not in fact know how and what to write. I read with much sorrow of your rather serious accident, but am very glad to learn that you are recovering. I assure you that you have the sincerest good wishes of all your little soldier friends at Kildare. I can’t very well tell you how I felt when I learnt of your misfortune. I pictured you in many places, most of all though the football field, with its thousand and one happy recollections. The happy times we had during the last two football seasons will remain in my memory for many a long day. The grousing and the grumbling I think made me love it even more. I pray that we may all live to play on the same side again, and that in a blue black jersey. Ammanford, with all that has occurred during the last few weeks, must be more than a little barren and sad, but what of our neighbours across the Channel? I know it’s bad on you, but you can console yourself in the knowledge that there are greater sufferers. All beings with common sense wish this cursed and barbarous war ended, but I would indeed like to go to the front and do the little I could. I feel I am doing but little service now, although we are worked like niggers. It seems like a -------(word). I daresay you get to hear the doings of your friends here, so I have very little to write different. I am writing this in barracks by the light of a candle that is fast ebbing away. We are quite comfortable and happy. Feather beds, of course, we no longer see, but it makes little difference to my sleep. The grub is comprised mostly of bully, spuds, cheese and sometimes jam. It’s good food, and sticks to one’s ribs. We are all so fat as hogs, and brown as berries, for the weather here is ideal. Soldiering, of course, you know much about, so I need not go to any details. I must wind this rather disorganised scribble up now, for I am almost in the dark. Wishing you a very speedy recovery. Be of good cheer, for I think it’s the best medicine – I remain, with kind regards to both yourself and family.” AMMANFORD RELIEF FUND. ALLOCATION BY THE GENERAL COMMITTEE. P4 Mr. B. R. Evans presided over the monthly meeting of the Ammanford Relief Committee held last week at the Council Schools, when there was a good attendance of members. The reports of the various sub-committees were read and adopted. The report of the Relief sub-committee showed that the total receipts came to £166 3s 6d., and out of that amount £10 had been given to the local Red Cross committee for providing material towards making garments for the wounded soldiers and sailors and another £10 for the making of clothes for the poor of the locality and relief in kind had been given to the extent of £5 14s.; and minor expenses came to £1, leaving £132 9s 6d. in hand. A few of the collecting books had not been received so far. Eight cases were being relieved. In the absence of the treasurer, the secretary (Mr. Mod. Thomas) submitted the bank pass-book to the meeting. Respecting the allocation of the fund Mr. E. Hewlett proposed that 35 per cent. Of the amount be given to the Prince of Wales Fund, 30 per cent. Kept locally, 25 per cent, given to the Sailors and Soldiers’ Families’ Association, and 10 per cent. To the Red Cross Committee, the figures being respectively, £63, £54, £45, and £18. The Secretary thought it was not advisable to move in the matter until they had had something definite from that organisation as to the administration of the fund locally through the county committee, and he pointed out that in some parts general dissatisfaction prevailed. Mr. T. Gibbon Davies gave instances of this. Other members said they were honour bound to make a contribution towards the Prince of Wales Fund or else the collection would have been carried on under false pretences. On the other hand, it was emphasised that the suggested amendment did not mean that the contribution would be made, but that a satisfactory understanding would have to be arrived at first. In the end it was carried that the fund be allocated as indicated.	LANCE-CORPORAL JIMMY JAMES. WITH THE DUKE OF CORNWALL 'S LIGHT INFANTRY. INCIDENTS OF CAMP LIFE. P8 Lance Corporal J. W. James, of Ammanford, who threw up his important duties, public as well as private, in order to join the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, sends us a highly interesting letter relating to his experiences, from Sherrington Camp, Codford, Wilts. He states : - I see by your paper – which I get weekly – that Ammanford boys are writing you their experiences. I hardly would have credited when I left Ammanford, what things were going to be, if I had been told. I joined the Royal Warwickshire Regt., and was amongst thousands of recruits arriving at Warwick barracks from Birmingham. I slept the first two nights out in the open without any clothes but what I wore, the accommodation for recruits being far from sufficient. I was luck in billeted out in Warwick after the first week and then had a splendid time. Last Tuesday we were recalled to Warwick barracks from a route march, and we were given half an hour to get our things together. We (350 of the Warwicks) were put in a train without being told our destination, but eventually found ourselves in this place, and transferred to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Yesterday (Saturday) I went out to the little village near by and was surprised to hear a shout in Welsh. I replied to it and found two Ammanford boys. They told me that there were a couple of hundred of them camped near by. I was please to know this, as I had not heard a word of Welsh since leaving home. Life under canvas is interesting, but one has to be careful this cold weather. I have three small blankets to keep me warm and off the damp grass. The hard work we do nullifies all the minor incidents of camp life such as skimming the dust and grass off the tea in the “dickey.” Today I found there were 20 or 30 South Walians in the Devons camp near by. There are, in all, about 35,000 troops here, all for Kitchener’s Army, and of various regiments. I am in charge of a tent of twelve men of the D. C. L. I., but most of them are Cockneys. What they wouldn’t like to do the Kaiser isn’t worth doing. AMMANFORD FOOTBALLERS VICTORIOUS AT KILDARE. IKE EVANS AND THE AMENITIES OF CAMP LIFE . P4 Ike Evans, the Ammanford footballer has sent a very informing and interesting letter on the amenities of camp life to Mr. W. H. Jones, the late secretary of the Ammanford football club, and incidentally he gives a brief but lively account of the maiden venture this season of the Ammanford boys on the football field. He states : — “Just a few lines to let you know that we are all quite well, hoping you are the same. Glad to know that all is well at Ammanford. Well, I suppose you have heard by now that I have had a trumpet, and I am nearly blowing my brains out with it. It is a hard thing to blow, and It gives gee-up to the lips. They tell me it is a fine job once you master it. All I have been doing last week is to go out on to the hills and learn some of the calls. I have to pick up everything myself so far but there is to be a trumpet major over tomorrow, so we will have to do something. He will take us for riding practice in turns, and before long we will have a horse each, and all our work will be to look after it and blow the calls. There will be two trumpeters to each battery, and the other one in the 180th is Danny Walters of Llandebie Road. “Well, dear Will, you should have been here yesterday to see the great football match between the 180th and 179th. We were challenged to play early in the war and we picked a team, and the lieutenant consented to referee, but it seemed that the game would not come off, as there was a parade fixed for four, Saturday afternoon, and that would mean five o’clock at least; but the officer went and got off all the players from parade, and we played the game after all. We fairly set upon them; nearly every time we had the ball we scored; the total score was 39 points to nil, and the officer gave us a good word. He promised to find us another game with the Irish Fusiliers in a few weeks. Abbot was in his element, and caused a lot of laughter with his antics. Well, what ever are you doing down home by putting such things in the Amman Valley Chronicle? We did have a laugh when we saw it was out, as nobody knew that you had come to know about it. Another little joke occurred this morning. We were formed out to go to chapel, and we were all asked to what denomination we belonged. Some said they were Congregationalists, others said Catholics, others said Presbyterians, and when they came to Benji, he shouted out “vegetarian,” and of course Trevor wasn’t far behind with his ha-ha-ha. It is a fine life really and I would not have missed it for the world . The only draw back is that we have been drafted to such a hole. We have heard from Trevor Evans, and how different it is with them. They are in a fine old seaside place, and only two miles from Folkestone; but it’s no use grumbling now; we must make the best of it. “Well, no more this time. Should hope to have another letter from you soon. Remember us to all the boys, and everybody at home. I shall no conclude with the best wishes of all the boys.”	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