Units in Aberystwyth

[David Porter]

Hywyn,

I was only looking at this earlier today. The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard has been digitised for the whole period the troops were in Aberystwyth. The OCR is reasonably good.

Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

11 December 1914

Billeting of Troops. ARRIVAL OF TERRITORIALS.

As announced in last week's "Cambrian News," Aberystwyth has been selected as the training centre of the Welsh Division Details, Territorial Force, and on Friday afternoon Lieut.-Col. H. Jones Roberts, the commanding officer, visited the town and was met at the Town Hall by Alder-man Edwin Morris, the mayor, Mr. D. C. Roberts, ex-mayor, Councillor Llewellin, the Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk, Major Abraham Thomas and Dr. R. W. Rees, medical officers, Borough Surveyor, the Chief Constable, with Superintendent Phillips and Inspector Edwards. It was made known that the Division consists of three infantry brigades, namely, Cheshire, North Wales, and the Welsh Border, each containing three battalions, with units of the Royal Engineers, Army Service Corps, and Army Medical Corps. The aggregate strength of the Division as ascertained at the end of last week was 179 officers and 7,055 men with the head- quarters staff in addition. The number cf men, however, will continue to increase as the recruits come in, but drafts will leave as required. The Cheshire was the first Brigade to arrive on Wednesday, followed by the North Wales Brigade on Thursday, and by the Welsh Border Brigade on Friday, the departmental units arriving on Saturday so that the mobilisation will be completed before the end of the week. The brunt of the work in arranging the billeting and the preliminary inquiries was done by the police with creditable thoroughness under the direction of the Chief Constable and Superintendent Phillips who worked energetically to ensure the success of the arrangements and the comfortable location of the men, The Corporation officials also, as well as members of the Council and the ex-Mavor, left no stone unturned to se- cure the billeting of the troops in the town and deserve every possible credit for lifting the lodging house keepers out of a serious financial difficulty owing to the curtailment of the visiting season. Unexpected obstacles were placed in the way of the authorities by a number of householders who, though it was a matter of life and to the town and though the billeting of troops was intended for the general benefit of the ratepayers, showed disinclination to f.i.k<> the slightest trouble to fall in with the arrangements. In the majority of cares, however, the requirements of the authorities were, honourably complied with: but in the ether cases, where there was not reasonable excuse, the response was disheartening and showed that- there are some women who do not appreciate the efforts of men ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their country and those dear to them and to save British women from the fate of the poor Belgian women. Even women who take in visitors in summer would only take one or two "if forced," and at one time it seemed as if the whole arrangements for billeting at Aberystwyth would fall through. It was only the patience of the Colonel, the assistance of the Chief Constable and the Town Council, with compulsory Powers in reserve, that surmounted the difficulties. .The Executive of the Liberal Club has decided to allow the troops in the town to make use of the Club's premises in St. James's-square. When it became definitely known that the troops were coming the shops had a busy time and large quantities of groceries and necessaries were bought. Owing to the exigencies of the war, there has been an increase in food prices. Circulars giving particulars of the diet are published. As was explained in last week's "Cambrian News," the choice of offering either beer or mineral water rests with the householder and not with the soldier A correspondent, writing with reference to the provision of entertainments and means of recreation for the men, says that in other towns where soldiers are billeted the arrangements are in the hands of soldiers recreation committees. At Llandudno several places of worship have placed their schoolrooms at the disposal of the troops where games, etc., are provided. There are several comfortable halls at Aberystwyth which will be greatly appreciated. It is hoped that the Council will take steps to heat the Skating Rink, stvas to make it as comfortable as possible. It was found in other towns that the cold and cheerless surroundings of the recreation rooms were responsible for the failure which attended the efforts of the recreation committees. The Drill Hall in Saiithfield-road will no doubt also be largely used by the troops, apart from drilling purposes, as the hall possesses several rooms, and the use of the Parish Hall for the holding of concerts, etc., may also be available. The me-i will be able to pass a pleasant hour at Mr. Cheetham's Picture Palace in Market-street and at the Coliseum in Terrace-road. It may be added that the Board of Education have issued special regulations for grants to assist local education auth- orities, with the approval of the military authorities, to provide instruction, other than instruction in military duties, for recruits and other men serving with the colours. On Tuesday evening a meeting of the clergy and ministers of the town, with representatives of the Town Council. was held at the Town Hall to confer as to the best means of providing for the religious r¡ and social welfare of the troops. There was a large attendance. Letters were received from the Revs. M. Jones Powell. J. Young Evans, and Griffith Parry, Llanbadai n, regretting inability to attend and expressing their sympathy with the object of the meeting. The. Mayor, who presided, explained that the Town Council had decided to place the Skating Rink at disposal of the military authorities for the purposes of recreation and entertainment. The meeting pledged itself to support the object in view, and it was agreed to make an appeal to all the churches and chapels to also give their support. The churches and chapels were asked to appoint two members each, to form with the clergy and ministers and representatives of the Town Council a general committee to undertake the necessary work, and also to place their schoolrooms at the Committee's disposal if needed. Councillor W. L. Williams was appointed secretary of the Committee and a sub-committee was appointed to draft a scheme for submission to the General Committee who met again on Thursday night. The news of the removal of the reserve battalion of the 7th R.W.F. to Aberystwyth was received with regret in Newtown, particularly on the ground of recrtiiting. The reserve battalion at Newtown numbered about 370, and it is stated that the withdrawal of the recruiting efforts will make it additionally difficult to enlist the 563 men of which the Battalion is short. Of that number 100 are required from Montgomeryshire and 331 from Merionethshire. The first contingent of the troops arrived in Aberystwyth on Wednesday afternoon, when six special trains conveyed about 2,000 of the Cheshire Brigade. The 7th Battalion arrived first, followed shortly afterward by the 4th Battalion, who marched to their billeting districts headed by their bugle band. The arrival of the men was watched by a .large number of townspeople, and the arrangements were expeditiously carried out under the supervision of Mr. Herbert Williams. The Cheshire battalions are billeted in South-road, Portland-street, Upper Marine-terrace, Little Darkgate-street, and Great Darkgate-street. The men were hospitably received and the householders had prepared substantial ready for them after their long journey. The men quickly made themselves comfortable, and after a wash and brush-up paraded the streets of the town and made the acquaintance of many new friends. They swarmed the Promenade and beach and made the streets of the town as lively as in the height of the season. The weather was fine and there was a brilliant sunset. The North Wales Brigade arrived yesterday (Thursday). The headquarters of the division are at 31, Marine-terrace. What are called "flower beds" on the Promenade have been boarded over and the seats re- moved. The men were out yesterday morning and had put in drill before many of the inhabitants were out, of bed. They are a fine body of men and do their work as if they mean business.

[Hywyn]

Thanks David

As a matter of interest when I copy paste the 'write up' to Word I get it as white print on black background. How do you change that?

Hywyn

[clive_hughes]

Thanks very much David,

As a matter of interest, the numbers of troops at Aberystwyth meant that the local landladies were paid less than their counterparts in Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno. The November 1914 regulations ensured that allowances were paid according to the quantity of troops in any one area. The bulk of the Reserve Welsh Division TF was at Aber., but the 38th Welsh Divn. was distributed across the length of North Wales, so those towns only had a brigade in each.

Area rates payable to hotels and boarding houses for billeting were set then at :

Up to 5,000 men - 3 shillings 4.5 pence. daily

Up to 10,000 men - 3 shillings daily

Up to 15,000 men - 2 shillings 6 pence daily

Over 15,000 men - 2 shillings 3 pence daily

The Aber. landladies received 3 shillings compared to the North Wales coast's extra 4.5 pence, and there were inevitable complaints in the local newspaper.

Clive

[Guest johnrees]

Ref the photograph submitted by Penparcau taken at Aberystwyth station in 1914 - they are members of the Cardiganshire Battery, Royal Field Artillery TF, leaving for war service. My father, now 93, believes that the soldier third from left with his cap on the back of his head, is his father, Andrew Rees.

Best wishes John Rees