Welsh Miner

The Transvaal Gold Mining Estates T.G.M.E. of Pilgrim’s Rest happened to employ numerous Welshman in their mines, by virtue of the fact that they were experienced miners, seeking a better life by emigrating from Wales during the dreadful conditions of the industrial revolution.

Welsh Singers at Johnny's

Many of them through loyalty to the T.G.M.E, and through hard work, had an enormous impact on what made the mining operations successful.

Most of those Welshmen grew to love the Pilgrim’s Valley, which was so like the valleys they had known at home. Once they had a football pitch, and a male voice choir established, they were as happy as Welshmen ever are. They brought their own brand of lilting English to the district, but whenever three or more of them gathered together, they spoke their mother tongue.

There wasn’t a child in Pilgrim’s Rest in those days who did not know a word or two of Welsh, or could not sing some of the old ballads.

Welsh Flag

Ah, the singing! To this day you have to be pretty good before you dare to sing in public in Pilgrim’s Rest, and even about the best of tenors, the old inhabitants will say: “He’s not as good as Dai Rees was when he was at his best in the old days”.

Early Diggers outside the Pub

Every adult male inhabitant of the district owned a horse, and hitching rails lined the main street where the cars are parked today.

On Saturdays the miners dressed in riding breeches, jacket and cap, used to assemble on their mounts at various particular points – Fullard’s Corner, Darke’s Gulley, Geoff Edward’s Corner, or Brown’s Hill. When they were all there someone would cry: “Last man in pays for the drinks!”

Inside the Bar of the Royal Hotel late 1800's

That was the starting signal for a wild race to either the Royal Hotel or the European. They would gallop flat out up the main street, dismount, tether their horses, and make a dash for the pub – and the last man to reach the bar counter, paid for the first round.

Long before closing time their voices would be raised in song, and late at night the horses would carry some of the revelers home, riding knee to knee, with the reins hanging free, their arms round one another’s necks, and their heads thrown back as they gave a final rendering of “ The Ash Grove”. A miner’s mount had not only to be able to gallop, but also be able to find its way home on a Saturday night.

Main Street of Pilgrim's Rest late 1800's

These cavalry charges through the village led to keen competition amongst fast horse owners. The miners scoured the surrounding district and countryside for good-looking colts, and even imported retired race-horses from Johannesburg. So enthusiastic did they become, that they established a gymkhana course, on the other side of Brown’s Hill, and held Saturday race meetings.

A Snippet from “The Valley of Gold” by A.P.Cartwright

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Gen. Beyers

Gen. de la Rey

Just before the first world war, Generals Beyers, de la Rey, Maritz and others had gone into rebellion, and General Louis Botha the Prime Minister of the Union had declared Martial Law. A young constable of the South African Police, newly posted to Pilgrim’s Rest, had made a careful study of what was, and what was not permitted, under Martial Law.

Royal Hotel Bar Pilgrim's Rest

One Saturday night he was patrolling in the village’s main street, when three miners emerged from the bar, talking to one another rather loudly in Welsh. The constable stepped forward and barred their way.

“It is my duty to inform you that under the provisions of the Martial Law proclamation, you are not permitted to speak a foreign language,” he said.

Welsh Language Banner

There was a shocked silence.

“What was it I am thinking I heard you say young man?” asked the senior member of the party.

“ I said you are not allowed to speak a foreign language….”

A foreign language! This whippersnapper had the impertinence to call the tongue of Welshmen, the time honoured language of Wales, known throughout the world, and indeed to goodness all Englishmen, who would speak it, if they could only learn it…. He called it foreign !

Prince of Wales Medalion

They fell upon that constable, and, for the honour of Wales, beat him up soundly. They then delivered him at the police station, his uniform in shreds, and told the sergeant-in-charge that they wanted to lay charges of high treason against him, and a further charge for gravely insulting the Prince of Wales.

But instead they were charged with assaulting and obstructing a policeman in the course of his duty, and of damaging his uniform.

Tactful Sergeant

It would have been quite a case if it had come to court. However the sergeant was a tactful man, and there was a conference between the police and the accused, during which it was explained that the constable had never heard anyone speaking Welsh before. Besides which, how was he to know that it was the second language of Great Britain? To him it sounded like a foreign tongue.

The Welshmen, on their part, described how deeply insulted they felt, and how sensitive the Welsh were about their language. They decided to offer to buy the constable two new uniforms as a compromise – and the matter rested there.

A Snippet from “The Valley of Gold” by A.P. Cartwright.

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