The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

LETTERS FROM THE FRONTj Tbn Rev. G'.vynoro Davies, Haulfryn, has received the following letters from Caersalem Boys. Beni Salam, Egypt, Jan. 9, 1916. Dear Mr Davies,— 1 am writing you these few lines to I thank you and the kind friends of Caersalem Chapel for sending me such a nice Xmas present. I received it yesterday. The reason why I did not receive it before is that we have been moving about a good deal lately. You ¡ will be pleased to know that we have left the Dardanelles, and are now I stationed in Egypt-for how long I do not know. It comes to my mind here when I look on this vast desert (we are on the outskirts of the Sahara Desert) how you used to tell us about Egypt and its wonders in the Band of Hope. It seems but yesterday that I used to attend your Band of Hope on Tuesday evenings, but when I come to think it, my own children are now of age to attend the Band of Hope. How time flies All these incidents and memories of the past fill our thoughts when in danger. I hope and pray that this terrible war will soon be over. As one of the Caersalem boys, I hope, indeed I know, that you at home pray that God in His mercy will continue to watch over us, and bring us back again to our loved ones. My only message to Caer- salem friends is—continue to pray for us. May we put our trust in Him There's a silver lining though dark Clouds are shining." May we see clearly this silver lining soon is my earnest wish and prayer. Tell all the Barmouth people who have relatives or friends out here not to be anxious about them as we are alright and well treated. With kindest regards to all at Caersalem, and thanking you once again for your kindness. I remain, One of the Band of Hope boys, RICHARD BEEMO JONES. Beni Saiam Camp, Egypt. Jan. 9, 1916. Dear Mr Davies, Just a few lines to let you know that I received the beautiful present from the members of Caersalem Chapel. Please convey to them my very best thanks for their kindness. The hymn book will be of great use to me here as we have religious services every Sunday. There is a Welsh Chaplain attached to our Battalion, and he is from dear old Merionethshire—Rev. Richard Hughes, from Dolgelley. No doubt you know that we have left the Dardanelles for good for which I am not sorry, but I am sad to think that we had to leave many of our gallant comrades who laid down their lives in the great landing at Suvla Bay—an event which will always live in our memory. Thank God I was spared in that awful inferno, and now we are having a well-earned rest in the desert, not far from Cairo. It is very hot here in the day and cold in the night. Excuse this short letter. We are not allowed by the Censor to say much. Again thanking you and the members of dear old Caersalem for your kindness. Yours sincerely, EDWARD PRICE, Sergt., 1/7 R.W.F. G.H A., Signal Co M.E.F. One of the Islands, In the Mediterranean, 27, 12, 1915. Dear Mr Davios,- Allow me to thank you and the mem- bers of Caersalem very much for the 1 lovely Hymn book received on Christ- mas Day. Your kindly thought is much a appreciated and I wish I could express all bbati I feel for your kindness. Although we have no opportunity of- attending a Welsh religious service at G.H.A the book nevertheless will be often rend as it contains so many of the old favourites and will form one of the connecting links with home thoughts. I can assure you that a corner in my I haversack will always be reserved for the Llfyr Emynau. I bad a Llyfr Cymanfa sent out to me from home,and was delighted to find that one of my favourite "Intercession" was included. Up to a few days ago we had five Welsh fellows of the Signals in our tent and we bad a few rare evenings practising some of the tunes. By now however, we have been split up a bit, some for the Peninsula and other parts of the East, while it falls to my lot with four other R E.'s to take charge of a signal office and telephone exchange near the Beach. We are now nicely fixed with our office in a marquee. We I hope we will remain here for a while as we have got the place comfortably arranged. As we are near the beach, we often have long strolls along the Beach when off duty and many are the home thoughts that come. The scenery on this Island is rather pretty and in parts leaves a striking resemblance to some of the spots about Barmouth. I have not yet met any of the Barmouth boys as the Division they are attached to is in another part of the Dardanelles. A cousin of mine who is a Sergeant in the 1/7 R. W.F. is over there and be usually keeps me up with news of the boys. When I last heard from him they were all well. I think they have now all left the Peninsula for a rest. No doubt the Boys who were wounded out here and invalided home will have given you Uban I will be per- more news of affairs-than I will be per- mitted to. The weather is now getting colder but keeps very fine. Xmas Day was a lovely day with us and I managed to pass a very pleasftnt day. Again to-day it has been very fine and the sunset was a rare sight. On a lovely evening like this it is bard to realise all the suffering and sorrow that exists so near us, as all is so tranquil and calm. They reckon that the real cold weather is due in a week or so and we are busy getting our tent tightened up in readiness. There is little doing over here now though we usually have a daily visit from Jacks" and he generally drops a few souveniers just as a remembrance of the war. I am now looking forward to the arrival of the home mail. I am glad to say that all goes well with me and that I am in good health and spirits. Please convey my kindnest regards to all enquiring friends. I trust that both you and Mrs Davies are well. With kindnest regards and thanks. Yours very sincerely, RICHARD JONES, Manchester House. Mr Morris G. Roberts, Advertiser Office, has received the following letter signed by a number of Barmouth Boys M.E.F. Jan. 9, 1915. Dear Morris,— I am sure that you will be very much surprised that we are sending you a few lines to let you know tha.t we are in Egypt now, not far from Cairo. Well, we were in Egypt on Xmas Day, in a desert, but we did enjoy ourselves under the circumstances. We did well, we had some bread and jam for dinner. Other men are continuously receiving boxes and parcels out here. Well, old boy, I hope that you will kindly let it be known that Barmouth has not done half so much as other towns to their men who are nobly doing their duty for their King and Country. We remain, Your ft-iends, I Ev A EVANS, I LEWIS DAVIES, ELLIS ROBERTS, JOHN PARRY JONES, I E;DWARD E. TiioivAs, I