Letter From Buckingham Palace

On 27th June 1937, Joby received a letter from King George V inviting him and other servicemen to Buckingham Palace. The letter reads:

I am very pleased to see so many Old Comrades here to-day.

I appreciate your having come, both men and women, in such large numbers, many of you from long distances, and I hope that you will take away lasting memories of this great gathering.

I am happy to think that, as Patron, I am in the future to be associated with the work of some of those Bodies which make up the great Brotherhood of Ex-Service Men. Being one of that Brotherhood myself, I have always followed their progress with real interest and sympathy. I have especially welcomed the interchange of visits between the Ex-Service Men of other countries and ourselves. Those of us who have seen War know what a great calamity it is for victors and vanquished alike, and if, with the united weight of experience, we can convince the world of this fact, then I feel we can render no greater service to the human race.

Some amoung you have not known the tragedy of War, and, I pray God, never will. For you, too, there is a task to perform. It is not only in times of common danger thatwe need the fellow-feeling so lavishly outpoured during those dark years. The spirit of unselfishness and sympathy is just as neccesary now for the welfare of mankind in our daily life, and it is up to you, and to all of us, to see that this spirit is never allowed to fade. These are not easy tasks, but we must all do our best to carry them out; and by setting this example to our fellow-men we shall win honour and glory for the proud name of Ex-Service Man.

The Queen and I wish every one of you prosperity and happiness. For us this gathering will always remain one of the most outstanding events of our Coronation Year.

George R.I.

27th June 1937

World War I - Life At The Front

The following letter from Driver William Watts (116th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery) was written to his parents during World War I.

(Source: http://www.powell76.freeserve.co.uk/newsfromthefront.htm )

" Dear Mother and Father.

Just a few lines in answer to your welcome letter and thanks for the Glamorgan free Press and other papers. I trust that you will send the same lot again as I happened to come across the address of Joby Culverhouse, so I can now drop him a line. It is Sunday today and the sun is shining grand after all the wet weather. It was very cold at----------- all snow and sleet. We do not get near so many “Jack Johnsons” dropping about us as we did at--------------, and by what I can see of it, they must be running short of ammunition. It would be a good job if they had non at all. I have just been watching our boys firing at two German aeroplanes, which managed to get away.

Dear mother, I would like to let you know where we are, but that’s not allowed, so I must wait until the war is over to tell you all. I have a german rifle, two german bayonets that I picked up at the battle of --------------. We have a game of football now and again, shells or no shells; they are not going to stop us enjoying our selves. We are playing with a couple of sacks tied up, but a sergeant in our lot has sent home for two footballs, and they will be here before Christmas. So we will have a game Christmas day, and I hope a “Jack Johnson” will not drop and call “Time” before we finish it.

Dear mother, I hope you won’t forgetto send your supply of Woodbines. I shan’t forget it when I come back. You need not send any more writing paper or P.C’s as we have a nice leather wallet of paper and P.C’s from our Major’s sister. I must now draw to a close, with best love to all.
From your loving son WILL.

P.S. Give my love to Gerald and Arthur when he comes home.

The Old Contemptibles

Joby was a member of the Old Contemptibles - a self-adopted name by the first batch of troops who voluntarily enlisted to the Great War in 1914. The term was given by the German Kaiser, Wilhelm II, who had grow exasperated on hearing how his German forces were being held up in France while en route to Paris. (source: http://firstworldwar.com/atoz/oldcontemptibles.htm)

Joby's Old Contemptibles of Wales Members Contribution book is a small, wallet sized red book with gold lettering reading "Ni tydd eu henw byth farw".

Inside the booklet reads:
Old Contemptibles of Wales
Group: Treherbert
No.: 4

Contributions
Name: Job Culverhouse
Address: 34 Mt Libanus Street, Treherbert
Group Leader: WH Wilkins

Group Secretary: H Greathead, 5 Herbert Street, Treherbert

Medals from World War I

Three other medals awarded to Joby Culverhouse during the Great War are shown here:

1914 Star

Issued: instituted in 1917 for service ashore in France and Flanders between 5 August and 22 November 1914.

Front: Two swords cross with Aug 1914 Nov GV

Back: 12328 DVR J. CULVERHOUSE RFA

British War Medal

Issued: The British War Medal was authorised in 1919. Qualification for the award varied according to service. The basic requirement for army personnel and civillians was that they entered a theatre of war, or rendered approved service overseas between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.

Front: GEORGIVS V BRITT: MON: REX ET IND: IMP

Back: (man on horseback) 1914-1918

Edge: 12328 BMBR J. CULVERHOUSE R.A.

Victory Medal

Issued: The victory Medal 1914-1919 was awarded to all eligible personnel who served on the establishment of a unit in an operational theatre.

Front: (Angel with left arm outstretched)

Back: THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILISATION 1914-1918

Edge: 12328 BMBR: J. CULVERHOUSE R.A.

Above information from the following sites: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/medals.asp and http://www.firstworldwar.com/

Military Medal

On July 15 1993, an article appeared in the Rhondda Leader's Rhondda History Column(compiled by Jeremy Bebb) highlighting the Military Medal awarded to Joby Culverhouse seventy-five years earlier in 1918 .

Reads:

"Renowned Treherbert boxer Joby Culverhouse was awarded the Military Medal"

There is no survivng record why Joby received this medal. Having contacted the War Office to find out why, it was disclosed that the official records of this - and other - acts of bravery were destroyed by a bombing attack in London during the Second World War.

The Military Medal was established by King George V during World War I. The medals were issued for individual and associated acts of bravery.

According the website, www.firstworldwar.com, "Recipients of the medal, which was silver and circular of 36mm in diameter and which featured the head of the monach on the front, were allowed to list the letters 'MM' after their name. As many as 115,600 were awarded during the First World War."

Joby's Military Medal has the following details:

(Round)

Front: GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:

Back: GVR FOR BRAVERY IN THE FIELD

Edge: 12328 DVR: - A. Cfl:- J CULVERHOUSE RFA