Lest We Forget

Photographs of Joby in boxing pose; brother Jim outside the Marquis of Bute in Treherbert; Joby with friends outside the same pub; poppy from the battlefields of the Somme

Found this today at the archives of the Treorchy Library, Rhondda Valley:

Rhondda Observer, Leader & Free Press

Saturday, April 20, 1963

FORMER RHONDDA BOXER

MR JOBY CULVERHOUSE, TREHERBERT

Old Rhondda sportsmen learned with regret of the death at the East Glamorgan Hospital of Mr Joby Culverhouse, Dumfries Street, in his day one of Wales' finest middleweight boxers.

A member of a famous sporting family, Joby, who was 68, showed great promise as a boxer in his boyhood and when still in his teens fought and beat some of the finest exponents of the fistic art in the Principality. As a stylist he had few equals. His straight left-hand leads, delivered at great speed, were the most lethal weapon in his armoury.

In 1914, at the height of his career, he was one of the first Treherbert young men to join the Forces. He served throughout the campaign with the Old Contemptibles. Of a quiet disposition, he is deeply mourned by a wide circle of friends.

On Christmas Day he was injured in a road accident.

The service at his burial was conducted by the vicar, the Rev D.A. Lewis, B.A. and the chief mourners were: Jim, brother; Ron, son-in-law; Jeff, grandson; Billy Hobbs, Joe and Henry Parker, nephews; Chris, Bryn, Cyril, Messrs H. James, R. Powell, G. Watts, E. Regent, J. Langley, Westcombe, Carroll, Ted James, D. Allen, B. Pugh, Pentre British Legion representatives Messrs R. Davies, J. Evans, G. Williams (Shunt) and A. Lewis

At the house: Selina, mother; Joan, daughter; Jean, grand-daughter; Elizabeth Ann, sister; Esther and Nellie; Martha and all.

Floral tributes; Mam and Jim; Joan and Ron; Jeff and Jean; Australia - Bill and Rhona; Vera and Gordon; Slough: Reg, Nancy and children; Australia - Esme, Edward and Children; Ton Pentre Legion; The Three Pals; Neighbours; Officers and Members, Conservative Club.

Found this following article today about Joby at the archives at Treorchy Library, Rhondda Valley:

Rhondda Observer, Leader & Free Press

Saturday, January 12, 1963

VETERAN BOXER IN HOSPITAL

Just before Christmas, Mr Joby Culverhouse, Dumfries Street, Treherbert was accidently knocked down by a motor car. Both of his legs were fractured and he also sustained pelvis injuries.

He is now at the East Glamoran Hospital, where it was stated this week that he is as well as can be expected.

Joby will be affectionately remembered by Rhondda sportsmen as the famous Welsh boxer of fifty years ago when his perfect style enabled him to beat some of the leading middleweights in the Principality and further afield.

He is a modest and likeable man and his very many friends wish him steady recovery.

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

Joby - Boxer

Joby came from a boxing family, with brother Jim also involved in both boxing and wrestling.

The Rhondda Valley has always enjoyed a strong love of boxing, producing Jimmy Wilde, Tommy Farr, Vernon Ball and Jimmy Driscoll.

Records for pre-war (1939-45) boxing are difficult to track down. Some websites are specialising in tracking down as many of these records as possible. On one site about Pre-War Boxing run by Miles Templeton, I managed to find the following information about both Joby and Jim Culverhouse.

(source: www.prewarboxing.co.uk)

Jim Culverhouse (Treherbert) total 44 bouts
Joby Culverhouse (Treherbert) total 33 bouts

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