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-LOCAL D.C.M.I

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LOCAL D.C.M. I PRESENTATION OF WRISTLET WATCH TO I PTE. G. H. FiSHER. On Friday evening, a smoking concert WLS tMd at the Black Lion Hot. with the object ot making a presentation of a wristlet watch to 1" ( H '-isher, D C M.. 01 Whitecastle. The watch was the gift of Fte. Fisher's former em- piover, Mr. A. P. Rogers, of Red Bam, who wished bv this m?ans to show in a tangible way  -d?ti?guished ser-iccs his appteciado? o? the -distinguished service* r?dered bv Pre Fisher Mr. J. J??hau presided, and the presentation was made by the Mayor (Alderman 7 Wh&atley, J. P- LC. fisher's father was also present. The Chairman said that at the call of du.y men had left all sorts of jobs to join the Armj. 1-e pis her was a representative of the land. He proved himself a good workman on the land, but he had proved iutnseli a tip-top man in .France. Those little gatherings expressed the spirit of Abergavenny towards the boys who haci been out tliere. They wisiied to give them, 1:1 taeir little interlude at home, some little tükea ot the spirit of tonvards them, to suable them to go back with a better heart krowing that the town really recognised what tiiey had done for England. They deserved the b-st that Abergavenny could give them. (Ap- t: ..nlse L Four Gaiiant Sons. The Mayor, 1;1 mn.-ang the presentation, t-anted Mr. Rogers for kindly inviting them to assemble together that night to do honour to one to whom honour was due. He took the oppor- tunity of offering hearty congratulations to Pte. r- her's father on his birthday, and he wished him manv happy returns of the day. (Applause), lie hoped that he would remember that birthday f, r manv years to come, because his son was honoured by the residents of Abergavenny. He congratulated those present on the manner in which they had conducted themselves that night. 1: was pleasing to him, as chief magistrate, to find them enjoying themselves in such a pleasant manner. (Hear, hear). He hoped that it would be the forerunner of many other gatherings that would take place in that room. (Applause). On the occasion of the presentation of the D.C.M. t, Pte. Fisher at the Town Hall, the previous Tuesday evening, they had one of the largest gatherings of the kind they had yet had. It went to show that where honour was due the town of Abergavenny was ready and willing to resoond and'show that they did appreciate and r-cognise those who had laboured for them and who'had spent and were willing to spend them- selves in the services of King and country. (Applause). The Mayor related the episode in which Pte. Fisher distinguished himself and for which he gained the award of the D.C.M. Had he been captured while carrying his important message it would have been valuable information to the Germans as to where the Royal Welsh Fusiliers lay, but he did his task with all the daring and skill he could put forth, and the result was that a great victory was obtained. He wanted Pte. Fisher to remember that when he laboured his labours had not been in vain, and if they all did their best, whatever position they occupied, their services would not have been spent in vain. Little did Pte. Fisher think in doing his duty that his services would be so highly appreciated, little did he think that the time would come when he would be publicly presented by his employer with some recognition of the services he had rendered. Let it be an inspiration to them all that whatever they put their hands to they would do with all their might. There were many families that had not sent one son, and therefore they congratulated Mr. Fisher, senr., on the gallant response made by his four sons. (Applause). He hoped that watch would convey more than money could buy, and that was sincerity, friendship, and the appreciation of his former employer. He hoped it would be an inspiration to him to continue the good work he was doing, and as he returned to somewhere in France to do his duty, perhaps it would inspire tiim. to greater deeds. Nothing would give them greater pleasure than to see him further recog- nised. They would like to see some boy from Abergavenny, or that part of the kingdom, bring the Y.C. to the town. The S.W.B., the old 24th, had more Y.C's to their credit than any other regiment, and he trusted that they would add further to their laurels. The Mayor then pre- sented the watch, which was inscribed as follows —" Presented to Pte. G. H. Fisher, R.W.F., in commemoration of his having won the D.C.M., by his former employer, A. P. Rogers, j an.,igiS. Mr. Fisher, se;:r., thanked the Mayor and Mr. Rogers for tHe great honour done to his son. He was pleased that his son did volunteer for the duty, and he was very pleased that he came back safe. (Applause). He thought that he did his duty there before he started. Discipline was a great thing in the Army, and he had a bit of discipline at home at one time. (Laughter). He was very proud that he had got a son like that. (Applause). He thanked the Mayor again for all he had done. He was sure he had had a long spell as Mayor, but he had to keep on till the end or the war, because they could not get another like him. When the war was over he must have a year's rest, arid then take on for another year. (Applause). ite. risuer, m response, said that it was a great pleasure to be with them, and he thanked them tor all their kindness. He thought it was his duty to do what he could, and he hoped he had done it in a manly manner. He hoped that he would come back again all right. (Applause). Mr. A. P. Rogers thanked the Mayor for coming there. His worship had a lot of duties to perform, and his time was taken up very much, and he thought it was a great honour that he should come to present that little token that evening. He was glad to see George back again and he hoped that it would not be long before he was back for good, with the war over and the Hun put in his proper place. (Applause). Mr. T. Rees seconded the vote oi thanks to I tie Mayor. The Strain of the Mayoralty. The Mayor, i: reply, referring to ins accep- tance of the Mayoralty, said that when others were called upon to do their duty he felt that he could hardly refuse to do his share. He hoped that peace would not be very long in coming, because he would be worn out if he went on much longer. It had been 3." years of strenuous work, and the duties were being added to day by day. First there was the Corporation work, then the war work, tribunal, dependants' and separation allowances, Red Cross work, sick and wounded, pensions, and many other things to see to, and latterly there had been a great deal-of work in connection with the Food Control Committee J All this work took up a great part of his time, i and those little gatherings helped one to wipe away the cobwebs and look upon the to ,lit?, side, and led one to hope that they were the fore- runners of many pleasant days that were to come in the future. He hoped that the war would soon end, for these were terrible times for those in responsible positions. On the question of food they were bombarded on all sides, and asked why they didn't do this, or why didn't they do that. It was all very well to talk, but he for one would willingly vacate his position and give way for anyone who could do the work better. The orders they got day by day from the Ministry of Food were almost innumerable. To even remember them needed no small effort, and to carry them out in detail required a cool head. Those who tried to do the work must do it unselfishly, for there was no use for selfishness. If he failed in his efforts they must credit him with having done the best he possibly could. ( applause). It would not be his fault if he could not get them food in Abergavenny. He did not think that there was any town in the country that was looked after as they were. As an illustration, a week the prevous Tuesday they received a telephone message that there was likely to be trouble in a town in the neighbour- hood unless some margarine was sent. They I gathered up the fragments and sent 144lbs. up by the first train, so they would see that they did not let other towns sutler if they could help it, but they shared and shared alike. He be- lieved that evervone was willing to bear their share ii others bore theirs. Let everyone be determined to suffer for the sake of others, and if they all suffered there would be no need for one to suffer more than another. Whatever position they were in, do not let them say that -So and so was better off than they were, but let them all try to do their best to help. The men at the front were doing the best they possibly could at their end, and it lay with us at this end to suffer, if there was need for it, and to be as brave as we could and put on a cheerful face, for it would encourage those who were fighting for us to do their share; over there. He appreciated what the town had done, and he thanked them and hoped that they would con- tinue to give as it had been given to them. (Applause). During the evening an excellent musical pro- gramme was gone through, songs being rendered by Messrs. Evan Price, Morrell, and W. Davies (Brynmawr), the latter's song, Eat less bread," causing much amusement, W. Powell, junr. Geo. Watts, J. Carter, O. Emery. Mr. W. Davies presided at the piano.

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