War Trophies. Newtown Powys.

[GWF1967]

I purchased a copy of  "The Newtonian-The Journal of Newtown Local History Group"  Vol 11. Winter 2002. An article by David Pugh on page 26 was entitled  " The Tank and Guns; A problematic Gift"

  On 1st May 1919 Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Urban District Council met,  a letter had been received from Col. G.M. Mytton informing them the War Office had allocated two captured German guns as war trophies to acknowledge the Victory Loan effort; the town had raised the most money per head in the whole of Wales, and fifteenth in Britain. £542,000 had been contributed, £42 per head of population.

 The Council didn't want the guns, but deferred a decision untill after an upcoming meeting concerning memorials to the Great War. At a poorly attended meeting, a committe was formed, the view of those present was that they didn't want the guns.

  Five months later another public meeting was held, this time 500 people including the Comrades of the Great War packed the Drill Hall. The strong view was the guns should come to Newtown.

The Concil felt they had to accept, the problem of where to site the trophies increased with the allocation of a 26 ton tank, and still further when in December the Cambrian Railways informed them the tank and guns had arrived and awaited collection. 

 At noon on 6th Jan. 1920 a procession, headed by the SilverBand made for the goods yard. A detachment of Comrades were led by Sgt-Major F. Allcroft (CSM 14869 Frederick Allcroft 5/SWB).

On arrival a Lt Roberts (James Edward?), who had served with the Tank Corps had got the tank running, and soon it was driving towards a local park, now the site of Newtown Cenotaph.

Lt Roberts put it through its paces including climbing over a huge pile of logs, then drove to the final resting place, the current Robert Owen Park. The Chairman of the UDC gave a speech telling those present the guns had been captured by 1/7 R.W.F, whose headquarters were in the town. It had been intended to attach a plaque to the tank, but this was never done.

 For seven years little mention is made in council records, until April 1927, when George Black asked permission to place notices by the trophies, advertising the film "Mons" showing at his Victoria Cinema. His request was refused, and seems to have reminded the council the still didn't want the trophies, the matter was raised twice before the end of 1927.  The Montgomeryshire Express urged the council to " stay the hand that would be raised to scrap the tank and guns". 

 In April 1932 the UDC called anothe public meeting to discuss the removal of the trophies. The Drill Hall was packed with "one of the biggest crowds ever seen a a public meeting" The Royal British Legion had appointed speakers. Only four or five hands went up for removal.

 Three years later events moved much quicker.  On Monday evening on 1st July 1935 the UDC received a report by the parks committe who had a petition signed by about 200 ex-servicemen agreeing to the removal of the tank. They recommended that,

A, the guns should be moved to the recreation ground and offers for the tank should be obtained.

B, the site should be used for a park/gardens with seating.

C, that Newtown RBL be notified of the decision.

 At 5;30 the next morning Fred Lovell and two of his men started cutting up the tank. Within three days it was " two wagon loads of scrap on its way to Brymbo Steelworks"

 Fred Lovell later recalled visiting Newtown and stopping for a cup of tea. On returning to his car he found a note from a local councillor asking to meet, he drove back down from Wrexham the following day. He was introduced to " Dicky George" clerk to the council. Fred was subsequently interviewed as a bidder. 

 The first man bid £25 pounds, so did the second, both proposed to use hammer and chisel; Fred pointed out he was the only one of the three with oxy-acetylene, he bid £8. The next morning his offer was acceped provid he did the job quickly. " Whilst the town council were debating the fate of the tank and guns, Fred Lovell and his two men arrived in their lorry".  Fred told Miss Gladys Pugh, Pugh's Temperence Hotel he wished to make an early start so he and his men would be back for breakfast at about 8:00am. By that time they had removed the tracks and cut a big hole in its side, " they had not been able to find the fuel tank". Fortunately among those nosing around was " George Brown, who at one time had been a ship's engineer" he located the fuel tank which was found to still contain four gallons of benzene. Once empty the fuel tank was filled with earth to make it safe, unfortunately a spark from the cutting equipment caused a loud explosion which attacted a large crowd. " Fred managed to smother the flames with an old coat of his and work continued".  By the end of day two the 20 tons of steel was bound for Brymbo, " the aluminium casing of the two cylinder Daimler engine-and forty gun metal bearings from the track wheels" were on their lorry. Fred cleared between £50-60 on the job. The two guns were eventually scrapped in the Second World War.

  On the second day of the cutting operations three officers of the RBL each received a black edged mourning card which read, " You heroes of the conflict who rose to hight of rank, Lived in the front line trenches, arise and save the tank, The Widows and orphans are your concern and swank,You represent the soldier, arise and save the tank. You wear the poppy bold, on Armistice day a crank, The common warrior you have sold unless you save the tank".

The RBL were not amused. Their Hon secretary, Clement Stott wrote to the Express, " a valuable piece of property was sold for a paltry sum to the first bidder whose men, by some arrangement, were waiting in the town to hear the result of the meeting and to start work on the demolition"

 On 12th July 250 people attended a meeting at the Drill Hall. The RBL chaiman Capt. R.J. Brymer Griffiths explained that they had been told by Mr David Lewis that a petiton signed by 180 ex-servicemen supported the removal of the trophies and the area being converted to a park, the RBL had responed that the tank and guns should remain. When " Mr A.C.R. David, chairman of the county branch had asked to see the petition he had been told an assistant " had gone on holiday and taken the key to the cupboard with him". A number of men at the meeting admitted to signing a petition, they were told it was for moving the trophies to another site, "Lt R. Leonard said he was told the tank and gunswere to be painted gold and placed on a pedestal by the river"

 The rat was smelt!

A motion was passed " without a disssentment" that the trophies were to be restored.Shortly afterwards the Town Council received a letter giving notice of the demands of the RBL. The Council " unnanimously instructed their clerk, Dicky George, to reply saying that the Council could not see their way to take any further action in the matter" . At the same meeting the Council received a letter from the secretery of the Robert Owen Memorial Museum suggesting a statue of Robert Owen be errected on the site " now that the tank and guns had gone". On 11th July 1936 the Robert Owen Park was formerly opened.

 Quotations and photograph are from " The Newtonian-The Journal of Newtown Local History Group" Vol 11 Winter 2002.

 

 

 

[Bernard_Lewis]

Interesting...

 

Bernard

[Sidearm]

Very interesting indeed. Thank you. I had been missing information on this tank.

 

Roberts will be 2/Lt Alfred Lionel Roberts MC, ex-15th Battalion Tank Corps, who delivered many of these tanks.  It would be worth trying to track down a transcript of his speech if you can find one in a local paper, because Roberts had a great habit of departing from the script and often telling us some revealing details.  He also had a good sense of humour.

 

I have the tank as a Mark IV Female but no other identification.

 

Gwyn

    

[GWF1967]

18 minutes ago, Sidearm said:

Very interesting indeed. Thank you. I had been missing information on this tank.

 

Roberts will be 2/Lt Alfred Lionel Roberts MC, ex-15th Battalion Tank Corps, who delivered many of these tanks.  It would be worth trying to track down a transcript of his speech if you can find one in a local paper, because Roberts had a great habit of departing from the script and often telling us some revealing details.  He also had a good sense of humour.

 

I have the tank as a Mark IV Female but no other identification.

 

Gwyn

    

Thanks for the info.