Lampeter
during the wars
Lampeter was far from the front
line during the Great War (1914- 1918), but many men of the
borough and the college responded to the Call to Arms. Sadly,
many never returned, The town lost 41 men in the conflict. The
Yeomanry left Lampeter on August 10th 1914, and college numbers
dropped to just 28. As in other towns, events were held to raise
money to help Belgian refugees, as well as to help the war effort.
The farms in the Lampeter area worked to provide food for the
forces, and when military service became compulsory, in 1916,
a tribunal, consisting of members of the Council and other people
was formed to hear cases of exemption. When the war ended, a
proclamation was read by the Mayor from the balcony of the Town
Hall. After the war, the Council wrote to the Prime Minister
for a German Tank to display on Harford Square, but instead
they were sent a Howitzer gun, which was displayed for many
years in the centre of town.
After the war, land was donated
by the Lloyd brothers of Bryn House for a memorial. Money was
raised, and the monument was sculpted by Sir W. Gascombe John,
RA. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy, and unveiled by Major
JC Harford on October 14th, 1921
During the Second world War 1939-
1945, Lampeter once again answered the call to arms, and once
again, numbers in the college plumetted. The town became an
important distribution centre, as there was a Prisoner of War
camp in Henllan, an RAF camp in Llanon, and the Land Army in
Felinfach. The Victoria Hall was commandeered as a food warehouse,
and the Drill Hall as accomodation and a butchery. There was
a large petrol dump at the site of the Rookery Car Park, which
used the trees for cover. a large air-raid shelter was constructed
on the site of the present day Comprehensive School, and although
no bombs were dropped on Lampeter, several bombs were dropped
on nearby Pencarreg Lake, possibly because it was mistaken for
a factory. Pil boxes were also located on the main roads, and
one survives at the lower end of Bridge Street. |
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