LEST WE FORGET

Jonathan SV Davies

In recent weeks we have been reminded of the loss to families in the area from past conflicts. The expression ‘Lest we forget’ is at the forefront of our thoughts.  Quite rightly, due to their extent, prominence at remembrance events in general has become focussed on the conflicts of World War One and World War Two.  However, it may also at times be important to cast a light on other theatres of war, both old and new where the loss of life from the area has cast a shadow over local families. The family indicated here had a significant involvement in the Boer War.

How many people, I wonder, when entering Briton Ferry Library look up at the wall to the left and see the memorial placed to Private Mortimer Whelan of the 3^rd Battalion Grenadier Guards.  He fell during the Battle of Belmont in the Second Boer War on 23^rd November 1899. 

On deciding to erect a memorial to Mortimer Whelan there soon arose the question of where to site it.  One possibility was to use his place of worship. However, Whelan was a Catholic and there was no church of that denomination in Briton Ferry at the time.  The solution was to place the tablet in a prominent public building.  The Cambrian newspaper stated on 2^nd October 1902 ….

‘At the meeting of Briton Ferry District Council last Thursday, it was decided to give permission for a tablet to be placed in the Free Library to the memory of Pte. Mortimer Whelan (Grenadier Guards) who fell at Belmont. It appeared that although he was a Catholic, the latter had no place of worship in the town and the library was the only suitable public place.’

The unveiling was reported thus in the Evening Express on Monday 19^th January 1903. 

‘The ceremony of unveiling the tablet erected to the memory of Private Whelan at the public library, Briton Ferry, took place on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large gathering.  The chair was occupied by Mr H. Eccles and the ceremony of unveiling was performed by Mr D Davies, J.P.  Among the speakers were Councillor Tudor Gwynne, Mr WD Jones, and the Rev. H Rees, curate-in-charge.  The tablet bears the following inscription: - Erected to the memory of Private Mortimer Whelan, 3^rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, who was killed at Belmont, South Africa, November 29, 1899.  This tablet was erected by the inhabitants of Briton Ferry as a mark of esteem and appreciation.  At the end of the inscription is the crest of the Grenadier Guards: - His life for is country.’

Mortimer Whelan was the son of William and Mary Whelan who were originally from Ireland.  William worked in the Cape Copper Works in Briton Ferry.  In the 1881 census, Mortimer is three years old and has four brothers and two sisters. The family lived in 19 Thomas Street, but by 1891 they had moved to 62 Regent Street.

On entering the Grenadier Guards, he was given the regimental number 7562. He joined on 1^st August 1898 and is described as a tin worker.  He would have been 20 and died just over a year later. The battle of Belmont was described as one where the British carried out little reconnaissance and the Boer’s followed their movements. It was caused by an attempt of Lord Metheun in command to relieve the siege of Kimberley. He sent the Guards Brigade on a night march to outflank the Boers, but due to faulty maps, the Grenadier Guards found themselves in front of the Boer position instead. Seventy Five men were killed during the action and 233 wounded; while the Boers had 83 killed, 20 wounded and 30 captured. Although described as a British victory, it was hardly glorious.

                                                                                                                                                                 www.britishbattles.com

Battle of Belmont, 23^rd November 1899

This, however, is not the end of the commitment by this family to the country since his brothers must also have enrolled. On 3^rd August 1900 just nine months after the death of his brother the following letter was reported The Cambrian by Private Patrick Whelan.

A RELEASED PRISONER OF WAR 

LETTER FROM A BRITON FERRY MAN

Irene, July 5th, 1900.

DEAR MOTHER, - I write you these few lines hoping you are all in the best of health. I am stationed for the time being at a place called Irene, eight miles south of Pretoria. There is about three hundred of us here, prisoners of war, helping to build a temporary bridge which have been blown up by the Boers. Now after having completed the construction, we are guarding it, and doing outpost duty on the surrounding hills at night. We are in a very bad predicament for the want of clothes, many of us walking about with our skin exposed. We feel the cold most acutely by night on outpost duty, when we got nothing to lie on but the bare veldt, doing our sentry on turns, and don't know the minute a bullet might come and lay us low, because the Boers are going about in batches, destroying the railways and everything they can get hold of. They do everything to impede the progress of the Britisher. I expect you would like to hear how we were treated at our place of imprisonment. The place was built with zinc, all open in front like a cattle shed.  We had neither tables nor beds; we had two blankets given to us, but nothing to lie on but the bare ground. As far as food was concerned, it was nothing but slow starvation. Between fever and all, men were walking about like skeletons. There were 60 died in hospital, mostly of fever. I was very lucky to escape it. The man that slept next to me died of fever, and the one on the right was taken to the hospital in it. But what we had been patiently waiting for came at last - the boys in khaki to our relief. When they came in sight there rose such a shout from the prisoners that seemed to shake the ground that we stood on. So I must bring my letter to a close for the want of paper. Wishing you and all the family the happiness that is possible for this earth to afford. From your ever devoted son,     PATRICK.

Eddie Whelan, Mortimer’s other brother, was wounded in action and arrived home at Briton Ferry to a hero’s welcome. These reports, both entitled ‘Home from the Front’ appeared in The Cambrian on 24^th August 1900 and 7^th September 1900 respectively;

Private Eddie Whelan, 9th Battery Field Artillery, has just arrived at Southampton from the front. He is a brother of poor Mortie [Mortimer] Whelan, who fell in the battle of Belmont, and also of Private Patsy [Patrick] Whelan, who was a prisoner of war at Pretoria, for many months. Private Eddie has been invalided home. He will make a short stay at Netley Hospital, and will proceed home to Briton Ferry. He should be cordially received on his return to Briton Ferry.

Private Eddie Whelan had a right royal reception on Monday evening. The Artillery Band met him at the station, and Mr Donovan was ready with a chair and a corps of willing bearers. Before the procession had gone half-way through Villiers Street, there were some two thousand followers. The spontaneity of the whole affair is a marvel and a mystery. At two o'clock the first intimation of his intended arrival was made known by Mr Humphreys who lost no time in seeing the bandmaster and making a few minor arrangements, which terminated in a brilliant demonstration of patriotic enthusiasm. 

So, it seems we have a Briton Ferry family who were remembered and honoured at the time for the part they played in the Boer War.  I feel it is incumbent on us not to forget.