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Sergeant Robert H. Jeavons, 30th (Pembrokeshire) Coy. Imperial Yeomanry 6 years 3 weeks ago #58081

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In the late 1890s he was living in Gorseinon, near Swansea, employed as a steel worker; after returning from South Africa, he lived at Cwmavon [Cwmafon], near Port Talbot, working at Duffryn Rhondda Colliery as a fireman/stoker. Intriguingly, he appears to have spent some time in Australia, prior to 1891, working as a cowboy.
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The Gorseinon detachment of the 3rd G.R. was entertained at dinner at the Drill Hall, Gorseinon, on Saturday evening.
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..........Regarding Sergt. Jeavons, he had been rejected on account of being a married man with a large family, but he was not to be outdone, as he had since been accepted as a member of the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry. He was an old Colonial rough-rider, and a good shot, and he [Capt.-Surgeon Mitchell] was sure he would give an excellent account of himself.
...........Sergt.-Instructor Hicks and Sergt. Jeavons having replied, they, in company with their comrades who are going to Africa, were each presented with a silver cigarette case, the gift of the chairman and Dr. Mitchell.
The South Wales Daily Post, Monday 29th January 1900
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THE G. AND H. COMPANIES OF THE THIRD GLAMORGAN VOLUNTEER REGIMENT ANNUAL DINNER.

The annual dinner of the G. and H. Companies (the Gorseinon Detachment) of the 3rd G.R.V., was held at the Drill Hall, Gorseinon, on Saturday last, Captain David Lewis, of the G. Company, presiding..........
Capt. Mitchell then proposed the health of the men who were going to the front, and made a few remarks about each one, remarking that it was gratifying to see good, sterling men volunteering for the front. There was both quantity and quality.........
Sergt. Robert H. Jeavons, H. Company, steel worker, Gorseinon, was refused by Col. Quirk because he was a married man, but he would not be baulked. He had enlisted as a trooper in the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry. He was a fearless rider, and an excellent shot.
......Sergt. Jeavons said that, of course, one man could do but little, still it was the duty of every man to do his best, however small that best might be, and this he and his comrades were determined to do, and what they could do would be done with pleasure.
The Cambrian, Friday 2nd February 1900
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Gorseinon Volunteers were all glad to hear that Sergt. R. H. Jeavons, of the Gorseinon Detachment 3rd G.R.V., who joined the Pembroke Yeomanry as a trooper, has this week been promoted to the rank of sergeant.
The South Wales Daily Post, Saturday 17th February 1900
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The good people of Pembrokeshire are determined not to allow the Yeomanry Corps raised in the county to leave its borders before they experience to the full the spirit of genuine hospitality for which the inhabitants of "Little England beyond Wales" have always been famed. The Corps had hardly had time to recover its digestive equilibrium after the beanfeast at Tenby on Thursday evening when they had to square themselves up in readiness for the fulfilment of their engagement with the mayor and corporation of Pembroke, at the festive board in that historic little town.........
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Countess Cawdor then presented the following with field-glasses, viz.: -.......Sergeant Jeavons, Glamorganshire......
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The troopers immediately left for Pembroke Docks, but before they departed they were presented with packets of cigars and cigarettes.
Later in the day the men proceeded on foot to Pembroke Dock. All along the route the utmost enthusiasm was displayed. On Sunday they attended service at St. Mary's Church, and this (Monday) evening a banquet in their honour will be given at the Masonic-hall.
The Weekly Mail, Saturday 3rd March 1900
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One of the features of the Pembrokeshire Squadron of Imperial Yeomanry is the fact there is a great difference between the social positions of the rank and file. Landowners' sons rub shoulders with artisans and tradespeople with the scions of county magistrates. At the present moment a few details concerning some of the troopers may not be without interest.
Nearly 70 per cent. of the squadron are Welsh or Monmouthshire men, and of these nearly half are Glamorgan natives, the remainder being made up of Pembrokeshire men with a flavouring of Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, Breconshire, and Monmouthshire men thrown in.
......Sergeant R. H. Jeavons is one of the smartest of the non-commissioned officers ; he hails from Gorseinon, and is an old member of the 3rd G.R.V............
South Wales Daily News, Wednesday 14th March 1900
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The following letter has been received by his wife from Lieutenant Richardson, of the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry, then stationed at Maitland Camp, Cape Town : -
April 10th.......Monday was chiefly devoted to settling in camp, and not much work was done. To-day we had orders to take over 91 Australian horses. Most of them were entirely untrained, and several of them buckjumpers. Forty-eight were allotted to 30 Company, and we had considerable excitement in getting them saddled and mounted, but we put on three of our rough riders from Australia, Sergeant Jeavons, and Corporals Millet and Gray, and after a little breaking most of them settled down to their work.
South Wales Daily News, Friday 11th May 1900
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Rouxville, July 1. .........
.......I am afraid I must conclude with bad news. Several of our men are now laid up in hospital with enteric fever, some being seriously ill. At Smithfield, Sergeant Jeavons and Trooper Calloway, both of Gorseinon, are laid up, though I am glad to say that they are not in any danger......
The South Wales Daily Post, Wednesday 8th August 1900
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R. Jeavons was listed among the "Veterans" who attended a civic banquet at the Royal Hotel, Swansea, on Wednesday evening, 1st May 1901.
The Cambrian, Friday 3rd May 1901
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CWMAVON STOKER'S EXPERIENCES.
Robert Jevons, a stoker employed at the Duffryn Rhondda Colliery, Cwmavon, went to work at the engine-house on the surface of the colliery as usual on Friday night. At midnight the engine-driver, finding that his steam was getting low, went to look for the stoker, but failed to find him.

When it was found that Jevons was missing his relatives were informed, and his father and a number of friends went up to the colliery, which is owned by Mr. Jenkins. The police were early summoned, and Police-sergeant Herbert and a number of constables made an exhaustive search, and inquiries were instituted throughout the valley, but without result. The man's overcoat, containing a pocket-book and his week's wages, and his frail with food in it, were found where he had placed them.
The Weekly Mail, Saturday 12th September 1903
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Missing Cwmavon Man Returns to his Home.

Robert Jeavons, the Cwmavon stoker who was missed from his work at the Duffryn Rhondda Colliery on Friday night last, returned to his home at Cwmavon on Tuesday. Asked for an explanation of his disappearance, Jeavons could give none. His mind appears to have been in a state of aberration, for he could not call to mind where he had been, with the exception of once, when he found himself at night at Pentre, Rhondda Valley. His moustache has been cut off, and he has a new suit of clothes. On Monday night he partially regained consciousness when on top of one of the Rhondda mountains, wet through, and made for home. On arriving he found all the family out, so he crept in through the window and went to bed. He appears very emaciated, having suffered severely from exposure and privation. Jeavons served in South Africa as a sergeant, and contracted malaria in a very severe form. He has also been subjected to a severe shock through an explosion.
Evening Express, Wednesday 9th September 1903
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Missing Man Returns.
Ever since Robert Jeavons has been missing his wife and children have left their home and resided with her mother at Tymaen. On returning to their home on Tuesday about midday much to their surprise they found that he had returned. Questioned as to where and how he returned he stated that his memory was a blank as to where he had been and that on Monday night he came to himself on the top of a mountain in the Ferns wet through. He then made his way home and got in through the window. When last seen he was in possession of a very heavy moustache, but it has been shaved off, but how or when, he says, he has not the slightest idea. It appears that Jeavons' health has suffered through his having sustained a severe shock owing to an explosion whilst at work at Gorseinon, and when in South Africa, where he served as a sergeant, he contracted enteric and had it in a very severe form.
The Cardiff Times, Saturday 12th September 1903
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The only further reference to him that I've found is in the Cwmavon notes of the Herald of Wales, 20th March 1915, when his eldest daughter, Essie, married Thomas Franklyn, of Hereford (but born in Aberavon, Port Talbot), in Neath. No mention of whether Robert was present at the wedding, or even if he was living; however the daughter was said to have been associated with the United Methodist Church, Pelly Street, Cwmavon, for most of her life, so perhaps Robert had been also.

MyHeritage has an Edith M. Jeavons, born 1893, to Robert Haspery Jeavons and Elizabeth Mary Jeavons (born Phillips). Robert was born on 24th March 1868, at Barrow-in-Furness. Elizabeth was born on 4th March 1869, at Cwmavon. Robert and Elizabeth married c.1891, his occupation was steelworker/pitman. There was another daughter - Ester Mary Haspery Franklin (born Jeavons), born 1891, died 1973 - and two other siblings.
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