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ARMLET PARADE AT ABERGAVENNY.

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ARMLET PARADE AT ABER- GAVENNY. AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE. !u Abergavenny, which has been to the lore in so many matters, is probably the first town in the United Kingdom to have a parade of the armleteers, as they have been called, otherwise the men who have become attested under Lord Derby's scheme of recruiting. The idea origin- ated with Capt. Athlerley Jones, who has thrown such energy and enthusiasm into local recruiting work, and the parade proved a great success. It was not expected that all the local men who are entitled to wear a khaki armlet would turn up, but a large number did so, and they created a most favourable impression by their bearing, which was exceedingly creditable for the first parade of the Army Reserve. The men assembled at the Market Hall at 10 o'clock, where they were given a little in- struction in elementary drill. They picked up the idea very quickly and in a few minutes were able to form fours and form two deep in a manner which suggested that they had received a good deal of training. They were no doubt helped by the fact that there was a good leaven of old Army men and Territorials among their number who had not forgotten what they had learned of military movements. A number of wounded soldiers of the 3rd Mons., together with the Volunteer Training Corps and the Cadets, fell in at the Drill Hall at 10.30, and under the command of Mr. Gower Andrews marched to the Market Hall, headed by the excellent band of the 2nd Monmouthshire Batt. (under the conductorsbip of Bandmaster S. T. Roderick), and the parade halted in Cross- street below the Market Hall until joined by the Army Reserve. Capt. J. R. Jacob (O.C. 3rd Monmouthshire Batt. Administrative Centre) then took command of the whole parade, which marched to St. Mary's Church through crowds of interested spectators. The whole parade numbered about 400, and formed an impressive spectacle, representing, as it did, three gener- ations of patriotism, The younger generation were represented by the Cadets, the second generation by the armlet men, and the third generation by the veterans of the Volunteer Training Corps. Deputy Lieutenant's Congratulations. t. Before leaving the Market Hall, the Army Reserve were inspected by Mr. W. J. Orders, D.L., J.P., who, addressing the men, said I esteem it a great honour and privilege to be here with my colleague, Mr. Hanbury, as representative of the Lord Lieutenant, and to have the opportunity of addressing members of the Army Reserve, more popularly known as the Group men, as also the members of the V.T C. I am sure that the Lord Lieutenant would have been delighted to be present to have witnessed such a splendid body of men, had it been possible, but be is detained in London on Parliamentary business. So far as the V.T.C. is concerned, I have a very intimate knowledge of its origin and the spirit which led to its inception, inasmuch as I, together with Mr. Mitchell Innes (com- mandant, Leighton, Monmouthshire) and other gentlemen took a prominent part in the move- ment which led to the formation of the corps in Newpprt, which, as most of you know, has been most successful, and is doing grand work to-day in connection with the hospital, special constables for the town, and other important matters. I think I may claim that through my instrumen- tality the Newport Corps is provided with rifles and ammunition, so that the men may make themselves efficient at the firing range (long ranges particularly), bi^t other important war work has prevented my doing much more. The hundreds of thousands (I believe nearly three quarters of a million) of V.T. Corps men are, in the majority of cases, old men in point of years, but still young in spirit-in the spirit of their forefathers, the spirit that has made England what she is to-day, a country respected by her friends and feared by her foes. The V.T.C. will, no doubt, be called upon to serve their country in one capacity or another. Some very useful work will surely be found for such fine and useful bodies of men, imbued with the spirit of youthful enthusiasm, and, above all, patriotism. They are capable of great things. One can hardly expect them to be in the firing line, but they can be utilised in other directions to release younger men for that part of the campaign in which youth counts for so much. The V.T.C. have been formed with the object of rendering useful service to their country in its hour of need, and when they are called upon they will not be found wanting. I am certain the local corps, under the splendid generalship of Mr. Hanbury and his officers will be ready to respond when the call comes. I congratulate you all on your splendid appearance and patriotism. As to the Group men, the armlet on the left arm distinguishes you all who have rallied round the flag at the sound of an urgent call to the colours and to the service of King and country. Many held back until the eleventh hour because there were ties which they could not honourably sever, whilst other eligible men without ties held back. Now the situation has been changed, for under Lord Derby's scheme an appeal has been made to everyone of military age to. enlist, and the gratifying response shows that there is a large percentage who say in effect, We are ready when our country wants us.' All honour to them. The number of armlet men is an ex- hibition of splendid patriotism and determin- ation, which we know will be forthcoming at the right time. The armlet is a sign that the wearer is determined that justice shall be done to the suffering people in Belgium, France and else- where, and as the men are called up group by .group and our Army swells, there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the Kaiser's camp. It will be the beginning of the end, for numbers must tell. No figures are published yet, and even Lord Derby states that he does not know the number, and I feel sure when they are- known every estimate will be found to be ex- ceeded and will stagger humanity. Monmouth- shire has done magnificently, not only now, but since the war started, and has need to be proud of the splendid service her soldiers have rendered. First always in sport, she is first in war, and her lietoes' names will be indelibly marked on the rolls of honour. I am proud to be here to-day, to congratulate Abergavenny, especially on the splendid result of hard work due in a great measure to our friend Capt. Atherley J ones, who has worked like a Trojan himself and given of his very best to achieve this result." Applause). The Secret of Happiness. I St. Mary's Church was filled to its utmost capacity. The service was conducted by the Rev. H. B. Jones (curate), and the Vicar (the Rev. H. H. Matthew) read the lessons and preached the sermon, taking as his text the words, Rejoice in the Lord alway and again I I say rejoice." (Philippians 4th chap., 4th verse). The rev. gentleman said that our beloved country was in greater danger to-day than she had ever been in the course of her long and glorious history, and we did not know what the coming year would bring forth. They only knew that to every man and every woman and very child in this country there came a call to give up all for their country. The Empire, for the freedom of which our fathers fought, claimed us as her defenders. There were a large number of men in the church that morning who gave witness of the noble response which had been made to the call. There were hundreds who had placed their lives and their powers at the disposal of the country. There was no secret of happiness and no unfailing recipl to obtain it -save a willingness to surrender. Men who had come back from the battle front in France or the East said with one voice that notwithstanding -the hardships and suffering and danger, there -was a cheerfulness and joyfulness amongst them, -that they who stayed at home in ease and security perhaps could not realise. It was not' that they liked danger or that they did not value their lives or health or security or comfort, -but it arose simply from the fact that they had surrendered themselves to serve others and given themselves to the cause that they believed to be the cause of truth and right and liberty. In a Jesser degree those who were there that day had .heard the same call, and were ready when their country needed them, and they too would be partakers of the same joy and happiness and cheerfulness which their brothers at the front felt in such abundant measure. They could not all make the same response as their brothers at the front. They were kept back by age or other circumstances, yet they had given themselves as truly to the country's service as those who had gone, forth to fight. The service was concluded by the singing of one verse of the National Anthem. Afterwards those taking part in the parade were formed up outside the church, where they were inspected by Mr. F. P. J. Hanbury, D.L., J.P., who was accompanied by the Mayor (Alderman Z. Wheatley). The whole parade then marched' off to the Town Hall via Lion-street and High- street, and as the procession arrived at the Town Hall Mr. Hanbury received the salute. Addressing the Army Reserve, on their return -to the Market Hall, Capt. J. R. Jacob said it was wonderful what they had been able to do after a few minutes' instruction, and he had no doubt 1 that the Army Reserve would make good soldiers I when called upon. l CONCERT AT THE TOWN HALL. An excellent sacred concert, also arranged by Capt. Atherley J ones, was held at the Town Hall in the evening. The proceeds were on behalf of local wounded and invalided soldiers and band expenses. The fact that the magnificent band of the 2nd Monmouthshire Battalion was taking part in the concert proved a great attraction, and the Town Hall was packed. Mr. Henry Pitt, of Brecon-road Nurseries, kindly lent plants for the decoration of the hall. The Mayor (Alderman Z. Wheatley) presided, and after the band had given an excellent render- ing of Suppe's favourite overture, Poet and Peasant," he delivered a short address. His worship said that it was very gratifying to the promoters to find that the public of Abergavenny had rallied round them in such large numbers. During the past month Lord Derby's scheme had been in operation in Abergavenny, and it was only right that he should try to enlighten them a little as to whether he was satisfied with the result and with the work which had been per- formed. As Mayor of the town, he could only say that he was very pleased with the number who had responded to the appeals which had been made. Without divulging any secret, he might say that, as far as Abergavenny was con- cerned, they had attested more than 80 per cent. of the eligible men. (Applause). Out of 1,600 eligible men in Abergavenny and the outlying parishes, 1,200 had been attested. He believed that when the total figures were announced by the Prime Minister and were flashed abroad, they would hearten the Allies and stagger the Huns. The result showed that the men of this country were determined, as far as lay in their power, to defend the homeland. Though there were, perhaps, many men who had not been attested, men who would be fetched, the numbers showed that the manhood of this country was deter- mined to uphold truth and right and liberty. He wished to thank publicly everyone who had assisted in the work of attestation or canvassing. The armlet parade that day was the first which had taken place under Lord Derby's scheme, and they could congratulate themselves that the I response for that voluntary parade was magni- I ficent. The men who paraded at the Market .Hall were men that Abergavenny and the nation at large could be proud of. As an old Volunteer who had gone through a great deal of training, he should like to say how pleased he was with the way the men shaped after only a quarter of an hour's tuition, and the way they marched to church was a great credit to themselves and their instructors. (Applause). The Lord Lieut. would be pleased, when the report was made to him, to find that Abergavenny had led the way in this great armlet parade. A few weeks ago local ladies undertook to raise funds to provide Christmas puddings for the troops abroad, and on Christmas Day every man in the Navy and every British soldier in a foreign land would receive a gift of a plum pudding from some part of England. (Applause). The amount which had been collected at Abergavenny had now been allocated to the 3rd Mons., who were fighting their battles in France and Flanders. Later in the programme Captain Atherley Jones, in his inimitable style, proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding, and to the artistes. Referring to the recruiting work under Lord Derby's scheme, he said that they had worked very hard and tried their best to get every sheep into the fold. There were still a few lambs left outside, however, and Sergt.- Major G. H. T. Powell would be ready to enlist them. (Laughter and hear, hear). With re- gard to the armlet men at Abergavenny, he threw out the suggestion that it would be a good thing if they could get a local gentleman to take command and to form an Abergavenny bat- talion, so that they could be trained locally instead of being sent away to some other district. (Applause). Some of them might, perhaps, be able to use their influence and bring pressure to bear on the powers that be. He wished to thank Mr. Hanbury and Capt. Jacob for their help in "connection with the parade that day, and he asked Mr. Hanbury to second the vote, Mr. Hanbury, speaking from the balcony, seconded the vote, which was carried with acclamation. The playing of the band, under Bandmaster S. T. Roderick, gave great delight to the audience. Each item was rendered in an admirable manner and was heartily applauded. In addition to the overture the selections were the tone-poem, Finlandia," the cornet solo Softly awakes my heart by Bandsman Prothero, with band accompaniment, the selection Morning, Noon and Night and Festival March." Excellent vocal items were given by Mrs. Duffield (" The Rosary "), Mr. Geo. Watts (" Eternal Rest "), and Miss Gwen Morgan (" Promise of Life "), while Mr. John Owen, always popular, was encored for the recital On doing one's duty," and responded with The Gospel of Good Cheer," which was equally successful. The accompaniments were played by Mr. J. R. Rosser, A.R.C.O. -0&.

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