www.abergavenny-chronicle-today.co.uk

All the articles appearing on this page have come from the Abergavenny Chronicle Newspaper and are reproduced on this website by kind permission. 

The current conflicts involving the British Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are well covered by the media and information can be accessed via a variety of means. The internet, TV news, radio, downloads to mobile phones and newspapers are all sources of information on anything that happens in the world, It is now getting on for a 100 years since the beginning of the the 1st World War and in these times of instant communications we can often forget that it wasn't always like this. So how were the local population kept informed of what was happening with the war and how was it presented to them.

I was recently talking to a 90+ year old lady who lives in a village near to me and she was telling me about her parents who ran the village post office. She recalled how her mother used to post notices on the village notice board with reports about the war. So much for instant communications then. I thought it would be interesting to to have a page that looked how the war was reported and recorded through one of the local newspapers of the time, The Abergavenny Chronicle.

The headquarters of the 3rd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment was based in Abergavenny so a logical step was to visit the local library and read the old newspapers, stored on film, to find out.

The first article was published on Friday, August 7, 1914 three days after war had been declared and two days after Abergavenny had waved off the 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment. I have transcribed a copy of the article to make it easier to read as some of the copies of the original document are not of a good quality but where the quality is good enough I will post both for you to read.

ABERGAVENNY AND THE WAR

LOCAL INCIDENTS AND SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM

Abergavenny, as was only to be expected of such a patriotic and loyal town, has been stirred to its very depths of feeling by the momentous conflict of fival nations. The shadow of Armageddon has blotted out every subject but "War and rumours of wars." While the sword of Damocles was suspended in mid-air, ready to fall at any moment, there was a feeling of tension everywhere. When it became certain that England was unwillingly drawn into the vortex of war, there was a look of calm determination on the faces of all who discussed the grave issues. Personal and political differences have been swept away in a belief that not only our honour but our very existence as an independant nation is at stake. Even those mose sceptical abou the possibilities of a European war have had the latent fibres of patriotism stirred within them, and now that war has come like a thief in the night, and there seems no way of escape, there is a practically unanimous re-echoing of the memorable words of Mr. Winston Churchill :

"Let us go forward and put these grave matters to the proof."

Abergav enny has responded nobly to its country's call and her sons have gone forth with a fixed and grim determination to do their duty with credit to themselves and honour to their nation. When the order for mobilising the Territorials was put into effect, and the 3rd Monmouthshire Battalion was assembled at Abergavenny from the outlying districts, ready for departure for Pembroke Dock, there were scenes of enthusiasm such as have not been witnessed for many a long day in either the peacful or tumultuous history of the ancient borough.

The "A" (headquarters) Company had assembled early in the morning at the Drill Hall, where the officers were busy throughout the day in making preparations for the impending departure of the Battalion. The outlying companies from Ebbw Cale, Tredegar, Abertillery, Cwm, Blaina and Sirhowy arrived by trains in the afternoon, and were given a cordial welcome by the excited inhabitants as they marched through the streets. As the Abertillery detachment passed gaily along to the strains of a spirited march played by their fine band, hearty cheers were raised by the spectators. The Town Council had placed the Market Hall at the disposal of the Battalion and here the men remained while the final preparations were made.

In the evening the members of the Town Council were called together for an interesting ceremony at the Town Hall. Lieut-Col P. B. Ford, commanding the Battalion, presented to Alderman Z. Wheatley, as representing the Mayour and Corporation, the regimental flag of the Battalion for safe keeping, the practice of taking regimental flags into action having been discontinued. Col Ford expressed the hope that the flag would be returned to the Battalion unsullied at the conlusion of the war. Alderman Wheatley appropriately responded on taking possession of the colours.

It may be here remarked that Abergavenny is in what is probably a unique position in being without a Mayor and Deupty Mayor, for both have been called out for service with the Territorial Force. The Mayor (Lieut-Col J.H.G. Harris) commands the 1st Herefords, and the Deputy Mayor (Major J.G. Bishop is on the field staff of the 3rd Monmouthshire Battalion.

Two advance parties had left early in the morning, but it was nearly 10 o'clock before the main body took their departure for the Great Western Railway Station, where special trains were in readiness and they were entrained in half battalions. The main streets had long before this been packed with a surging mass of humanity, for thousands of people had congregated to witness the final scenes. The men were in cheerful spirits, and as they swung along at a rapid pace, sang and joked and shouted "good-bye" to all and sundry. They might, to judge by their demeanour, have been going on a holiday. The women folk, who looked with glistoning eyes at the retreating forms of their husbands, sons or brothers, were sad. And it was but natural, for men must fight and women must weep. The cheerfulness of the men, however was irrepressable. There came a shout from the ranks, "Are we downhearted?" and in a reverberating roar the response "No". And so the tramp of feet died away and our home defenders passed from the ken of their friends and relatives. It would have been in keeping with the Celtic traditions of Abergavenny had some of the Gorsedd bards assembled for the unsheathing of the sword and the query "A oes heddwch?" One would like to have heard how our strong lunged Welshmen could shout "Rhyfel," but it was no time for ceremonial.

The departing Territorials numbered about 700. Many could not leave their homes on Wednesday, and assembled on Thursday. A number of Territorials, we understand, remain behind for a few days to assist with the recruiting for local civilians, in this hour of national emergency, have with patriotic resolve realised their country's need and have come forward to enrol themselves in the Territorial Force. About 50 National Reservists have also answered the call to arms, and they and the new recruits will be drilled in Bailey Park, the tents and equipment which had been used by the Cadets having been placed at their disposal. Abergavenny is also to provide its quota to the Welsh horse, local horsemen in the district having responded readily to the appeal of Owen Rhoscomyt (Capt Vaughan, of Cardiff). Local amulance men, too, have shown themselves ready to respond to an appeal from the headquarters at Shrewsbury to offer their services with the expeditionary force. eight members of the Home Military Hospital Reserve, including Corps Supt S.T. Beard have volunteered their services and will proceed to Aldershot, there to join the R.A.M.C. for service abroad. Their duries will consist of either "clearing" (on the field of battle) "loading" (from the field to the hospital), or hospital work at one of the depots.

Later information is to the effect that the men will leave for Ireland and if necessary will be drafted from there to the scene of active operations.

The chief concern of those who are left behind and especially of housewives, is that of domestic economy. It is greatly to be regretted that in this moment of public stress traders have pretipitately increased the cost of necessaries, and their demands have reached the limit of extortion. In this connection the "Western Mail" say in a leading article :-"There is no present need for any rise in prices. All the stock now in the retail shops and warehouses has been produced and transported under normal conditions, and nothing has since arisen to warrant the charging of higher prices. The public are justified, therefore, in taking up a strong attitude and resolutely refusing to purchase at those establishements where they think the national crisis is being exploited for private gain. Equally obnoxious is the tendency on the part of householders, manifested in some directions, to hoard up food. Those who do this are prejudicing everybody else, are tempting the dealers to raise prices, and are impding the free and normal processes of trade."

It is also gratifying to know that the Government are taking note of the panic prices which are being imposed, and the Board of Trade has issued a notice to the public on the matter. We learn that there is no scarcity of food in the country, and it is expected that stringent measures will be taken by the Government to put a stop to extortion on the part of merchants and tradespeople. Every halfpenny charged additional for food now is robbery, and a notice has been issued asking every member of the public who discovers that any tradesman is charging increased prices for food to forward his name and address to the Commercial Department of the Board of Trade. This department has been formed for the purpose of seeing that the public are not swindled by avaricious merchants.

ABERGAVENNY & THE WAR

A RUSH TO THE COLOURS

The call to arms is meting with a remarkable response and it is fully evident that the men of Britain are beginning to realise the gravity of the situation. Monmouthshire has distinguished itself by the thousands of men it has raised to uphold the honour and integrity of the Empire, and Abergavenny, as was to be expected, enthusiastically responded to the call to arms.
Local recruiting has been so brisk that the staff in charge at the Drill Hall has been overwhelmed with work during the past few days, and it is impossible at present to obtain a complete analysis of the enrolments from each district. On Tuesday, a batch of 84 recruits was sent off to join the 3rd Monmouthshire Battalion, and in addition to these there were 87 new enrolments. On Wednesday a similar number of recruits were dealt with and the camp in Bailey Park has been kept in constant occupation, there being about 140 recruits quartered there at present. After the mobilisation of the Territorials recruiting took place to make the 3rd Monmouthshire Battalion up to establishment strength. About 130 recruits were enrolled for this purpose. Then the Battalion in common with other Territorial Battalions was invited to volunteer for service abroad. About 90 per cent of the men volunteered, but as a result of the strict medical examination and the limit of age which was imposed it was found that 207 men were required to make the number who had volunteered up to war strength. An appeal was issued only on Friday last, but on Wednesday morning the number required had been obtained. Orders have now been given to recruit reserve battalions. This means that the depleted 3rd Monmouthshire Battalion, comprising the men who are not going on foreign service, will have to be recruited up to full strength again. In other words, a supreme effort is being made to double the previous establishment strength of the Territorial Force, half being required for foreign service and half for service at home. It is a gigantic undertaking, but there is every evidence that it will be accomplished.

The above article appeared inThe Abergavenny Chronicle Dated 14th Sep 1914