TOPIC:

The unveiling of the memorial tablet in Llandudno Town Hall, 28th February 1903.


Llandudno Advertiser, 6th March 1903

Memorial to Llandudno Volunteers.

UNVEILING CEREMONY BY LORD MOSTYN.

MEMENTOES PRESENTED BY LADY MOSTYN.

The unveiling of the brass tablet by Lord Mostyn on Saturday at, the Town Hall in commemoration of the services of the local volunteers who volunteered and took part in the South African War, caused a great deal of interest, throughout the town. About 3 30 the members of the Imperial Yeomanry Denbighshire Hussars, with the Llandudno Contingent of the First Carnarvon, and Cheshire Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers; the 3rd V.B. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, E and F Companies, and the Boys' Brigade, assembled at, the Llandudno Railway Station, and after forming into procession marched through Vaughan Street and Mostyn Street to the martial strains of the Welsh Fusilier and the St. Tudno Bands, to the Town Hall, where seats were allotted them. The hall was packed, and many were unable to obtain admission. In front of the tablet, was placed a platform on which assembled Colonel Phillipi, chairman of the Memorial Fund Committee; Lord and Lady Mostyn, the Mayor and Mayoress of Bangor (Mr and Mrs W.P. Matthews), the members of the Urban District Council, and Colonel Dixon, hon. secretary of the Memorial Committee.

Colonel Dixon, in the course of an introductory address, said they were assembled to do honour to the brave lads from the district who left their homes and went out to South Africa at their country's call. — (Cheers). The Memorial Committee was appointed over a year ago at a public meeting, and they put, before themselves three objects – first, to erect a tablet with the names of the men on it; secondly to present to each man a small memento which he could wear and hand down to his children; and, thirdly, to erect a monument in the churchyard of St. Tudno to the memory of those who lost their lives in South Africa. The tablet and the mementoes had been obtained, and they had still to provide the monument. A public subscription had so far been avoided. They had not got sufficient for their purpose, but he was certain they would get it before they had finished their labours. — (Cheers). It was Archdeacon Morgan then Rector of Llandudno, who first gave concrete form to the general desire for a war memorial, and they were glad to have, the Archdeacon present at that ceremony. — (Cheers). Llandudno men were the first in Wales to volunteer for service, and Llandudno was first to initiate a memorial but since then memorials had been erected in almost every big centre in England.

Colonel Phillipi, after a brief address, called upon Lord Mostyn to unveil the tablet. Having done so amid cheers, his Lordship said that Lady Mostyn and himself were glad to take part in that ceremony in honour of their gallant townsmen. Thirty men of the Royal Wesh Fusilier Volunteer Battalion from that town went out, and that bore a very good proportion as compared with other towns in the United Kingdom. Of that number four died in action or from disease. Both the Yeomanry and the volunteer battalion saw much fighting, and the Royal Welsh Fusiliers had kept up the reputation which the regiment gained under Marlborough, in the Seven Years' War, in the Peninsular War, at Waterloo, in the Crimea, in Ashanti, and in Burmah. — (Cheers). This regiment had the proud position of having a battalion fighting at the Cape and another in China at the same time. —(Applause). That was a very interesting anniversary of the relief of Ladysmith. — (Cheer). The Royal Welsh Fusiliers took a lively part in the heavy fighting which brought about that relief. Whatever Government were in power he hoped would always deem it their duty to promote the wellbeing of the volunteer forces of this country as much as possible. The volunteer army was cheap, and could be made thoroughly efficient and he would like to see the Government — who had done much for the volunteers of late years — so fostering the volunteer forces that they would be able at any time of national emergency to take the field at very short notice. A great deal was said in the debate in the House of Commons the other night about the cost of the army, but he thought they were agreed that the army must not be stinted. We did not want to compete with Germany or France as to the size of the army, but it must be efficient and ready for the field at a moment's notice. — (Cheers). He did not believe in conscription, and hoped that it would never be imposed upon this country. — (Cheers). As long as the volunteers were available there was no likelihood of conscription being proposed. He was not behind the scenes and could say nothing authentic about it, but he hoped they would someday see the naval volunteers resuscitated in Llandudno (cheers), — as they must always look to the fleet as the first line of defence. — (Cheers). He desired, on his own and Lady Mostyn's behalf, and on behalf of all present, to thank Colonel Phillipi, Colonel Dixon, and the Committee and officers who had gone to the trouble of preparing that beautiful tablet. (Applause).

THE MEMORIAL TABLET.

The Memorial Tablet, which is fixed about the centre of the right-hand wall as one enters the Assembly Room of the Town Hall, is of brass, suitably designed, and bears the following inscription: –

This tablet was erected by public subscription to commemorate the noble and patriotic services rendered to their country by the undermentioned men of Llandudno and district who volunteered and served in the South African War. 1900- 1901-1902.

DENBIGHSHIRE HUSSARS IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.
Sergeant Major T. DAVIES.
Sergeant R. DUNPHY.
Lance-Sergeant E.R. OWEN.
Corporal S. HUGHES.
Lance-Corporal Owen ROBERTS (killed in action).
Trooper W. ALLMAN.
Trooper G.C. GOODWIN (died of disease).
Trooper W.D. HUGHES.
Trooper E.O. JONES.
Trooper W. KENYON.
Trooper C. LEMPIERE.
Trooper H.T.B. PARRY.
Trooper E.O. WILLIAMS.
Trooper T.P. WILLIAMS.

ROYAL WLSH FUSILIERS, 3rd VOLUNTEER BATTALION.
Sergeant C. JONES (died of disease).
Lance-Sergeant E. MOORS.
Lance-Corporal A. HELSTRIP.
Private L.G. GRIFFITH.
Private F.J. MERCEY.
Private W. PARRY.
Private A. JOSEPH, R.A.M.C.
Private H.C. CODMAN.
Private F. DAVIES.
Private H. DEVERIL (died of disease).
Private G. WILLIAMS.
Private S. ENGLAND.
Bugler E. DOYLE.
Trooper W. HUGHES, 29th Company, I.Y.
Staff-Sergeant G.G.S. TURNER, 24th Company, I.Y.
Trooper B.T. RICHARDSON, 10th Regiment, I.Y.

PRESENTATION OF MEDALS.

Lady Mostyn then presented gold mementoes to the men who have returned from the Front, each recipient being heartily cheered.

After the volunteers had received their medals, Lady Mostyn presented long service medals to Superintendent Owen (12 years' service), Frank Brown (15 years' service), Richard Hersee (15 years' service), and John Jones (13 years' service), of the Llandudno Fire Brigade.

Mr R. Bellis, the Chairman of the Bye-laws Committee, who have charge of the Llandudno Fire Brigade, moved a vote of thanks to Lord and Lady Mostyn for unveiling the Memorial and presenting the medals. They were all pleased to see Lord Mostyn present at that gathering. Llandudno was His Lordship's playground as a boy, and it was his workshop since he had come to man' estate. — (Cheers). The Mostyn family were intimately connected with the town, and its prosperity and welfare, and they were all glad that His Lordship was taking such a deep interest in the town and its affairs. — (Applause). Those whose names were inscribed on the tablet should remember that they had been paid the honest honour it was possible for the town to pay them. — (Applause).

Mr William Bevan having briefly seconded the vote of thanks, it was carried amidst applause.

Archdeacon Morgan offered a short prayer, and the proceeding closed with singing of the National Anthem.




DETAILS OF THE MEN

1st Volunteer Active Service Companies, 1st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers [3rd V.B.R.W.F.] –
7417 Sergeant C. JONES (died, Cape Town, 05/05/1900)
7304 Lance-Corporal [Lance-Sergeant] Ernest George MOORE
7326 Lance-Corporal Alfred HELSTRIP
???? Private F. DAVIES
7302 Private H. DEVERIL [Deverill] (died, Kimberley, 08/05/1900)
7324 Private Samuel ENGLAND
7303 Private Leonard George GRIFFITH
7418 Private Francis Joseph MERCY
7323 Private Frederick William PARRY
7307 Private Griffith WILLIAMS

2nd Volunteer Active Service Companies, 1st Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers [3rd V.B.R.W.F.] –
7513 Bugler Edward DOYLE
7566 Private Herbert C. CODMAN

29th (Denbighshire) Company, 9th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
3668 Squadron Sergeant-Major Tom DAVIES
3607 Sergeant Richard DUNPHY
3713 Lance-Sergeant Edward Reginald OWEN
3652 Lance-Corporal Samuel HUGHES
3625 Lance-Corporal Owen ROBERTS (K.I.A., near Abraham's Kraal, 13/11/1900)
3656 Trooper William Frederick ALLMAN
3614 Trooper George Charles GOODWIN (died, Jagersfontein, 27/07/1900)
22344 Trooper W. HUGHES
22345 Trooper William David HUGHES
3651 Trooper Edward Oliver JONES
3616 Trooper Walter KENYON
3661 Trooper Clement Rozelle LEMPRIERE
3649 Trooper Hugh Thomas Baugh PARRY
3635 Trooper Evan Owen WILLIAMS
3637 Trooper Thomas Parry WILLIAMS

38th (Buckinghamshire) Company, 10th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
24698 Trooper Bert T. RICHARDSON

77th (Manchester) Company, 8th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
27581 Staff-Sergeant George Gilbert Scott TURNER

89th (Montgomeryshire) Company, 9th Bn. Imperial Yeomanry –
34620 Trooper William BROOKES [received a tribute medal, but does not appear on the tablet]

Royal Army Medical Corps –
14491 Private Arthur JOSEPH




With thanks to Frank Kelley


The Llandudno Tribute Medal


SEE: LLANDUDNO TRIBUTE MEDAL

SEE: GREAT ORME'S HEAD



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