Medals and awards

HONOURING THE BRAVE AT LLANTRISANT.

On Tuesday evening, April 8th, a public meeting was held at the Town Hall, Llantrisant, for the purpose of presenting an address and a medal to each of the men of the district who had done duty at the front for King and country. The hall was filled to over-flowing, and hundreds of people were unable to gain admission into the building.

The chair was occupied by Mr Rhys Williams (barrister-at- law), Miskin Manor, supported by Mr Godfrey Clarke, J.P., Talygarn; Mr Sam Evans, J.P., Croescade.

The chairman, in opening the meeting, explained the reason for the gathering. He pointed out the great hardships that the men had to endure, and the plucky way in which the work had been done. This war, he said, has produced heroes of the highest type, and when the unbiassed history of the war comes to be written, England will find that she has every reason to be proud of the Army that has done so much in Africa.

Mr Godfrey Clarke also addressed the meeting, and in the course of his remarks urged every man to become a member of a shooting club, or of a Volunteer Regiment.

At this point Miss Blodwen Davies, Llantrisant, gave a nice rendering of "Angus MacDonald". This was followed by a duet on the pianoforte by Miss Katie Davies and Mr Dyer, Llantrisant.

Mr Rhys William then distributed the medals and addresses in the following order: Sergt. Major David THOMAS, Prince of Wales Light Horse; Sergt. Major William THOMAS, Imperial Light Horse; Hospital Sergeant Evan THOMAS, Kaffrarian Mounted Rifles; Corporal Henry GILES. 4th Batt. Gloucestershire Regiment; Private Fred G. GILES, 1st Batt. Gloucestershire Rigeiment; Private William NEWMAN, 3rd Batt. Welsh Regiment; Private Richard MANUEL, the Welsh Regiment; Private Thomas JONES, 3rd Batt. South Wales Borderers; Private W.H. MILLER, 2nd Batt. Devonshire Regiment; Private William MORGAN, 1st Vol. Active Service Co., Welsh Regiment; Private Ben BAKER, Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry; Private John WILLIAMS, Hospital Staff Corps; Private Llew. Hawkins, 2nd Batt. Grenadier Guards; Private Howell Hawkins, 4th Batt. Grenadier Guards; Private Ernest Field, 3rd Batt. Welsh Regiment; Private Willie Field, 4th Batt. Rifle Brigade; Private Richard Thomas, E Squadron, Kitchener's Horse; Private Edward THOMAS, ditto; Private John THOMAS, ditto; Private Tom CHEDZEY, 17th Lancers; Trooper Curwen LEWIS, South African Mounted Constabulary.

The addresses were as follows: "The Parliamentary Borough and Town Ward of the Parish of Llantrisant. Presented to Private Tom CHEDZEY by the inhabitants of the district in recognition of the services rendered in South Africa during the war of 1901. Signed on behalf of the Committee. Rhys Williams, chairman; J. S. Hughes, for the subscribers; Taliesyn Morgan, treasurer; W. Venables, secretary".

The medals were made entirely of gold, and consisted of a shield surmounted by a crown. Upon each shield was engraved the recipient's initials.

Mr Davies sang 'The Boer of Bethel Green', and in response to an encore sang, 'The Veteran'.

In seconding the vote of thanks to the chairman, ably proposed by Mr Tal. Morgan, Mr Sam Evans, J.P., fairly brought the house down. In the course of his remarks he referred to the treatment General Buller had received at the hands of the War Office people. These remarks evoked loud cheers for the gallant general, cheers which the Squire of Croescade ably led. After the applause had somewhat subsided, Mr Tal. Morgan returned thanks on behalf of the officials for the ready way in which the people of Llantrisant had responded to the appeal for subscriptions.