MILITARY
The following Merthyr Express newspaper reports provide information on court cases which resulted from the contravention of the Blackout Regulations
21 September 1940 Pontlottyn Police Court "I struck a match in the trenches in 1914, and there is no one going to stop me doing it here," said John Williams of Fochriw, when told that he would be reported for displaying a light by striking a match at 10:45pm on 24th August. PC Whatley said there was an air raid in progress when he saw Williams strike a match. His mother, who appeared, said he was sorry and that he had served four years in the last war. Williams was fined £1.
28 December 1940 Police Court Ivor Jones of Pontlottyn was fined 20 shillings for not having blacked out the bedroom window of his house. P.C. W. Davies reported that he saw a light in the house at 11.30pm on December 14.
28 December 1940 Police Court Ivor Jones of Pontlottyn was fined 20 shillings for not having blacked out the bedroom window of his house. P.C. W. Davies reported that he saw a light in the house at 11.30pm on December 14.
25 January 1941 Pontlottyn Police Court: Light from Match Ernest Sibly of Fochriw was summoned for having a lighted match buring after the hours of darkness on December 21st which he denied. P.S. A. Hanney said that at 10.55 p.m. he was outside a dance hall at Pontlottyn when the dancers were leaving. It had been announced that there was an air raid warning in progress. Sibly lit a cigarette with a match. When spoken to, he put it out, but on going along the road he lit another match. There were hostile aircraft overhead at the time. When told about it, Sibly became abusive and refused his name. He was fined £1.
April 1940 Mr. Hugh M. Mantle who was killed on HMS "Hardy." He was 18 years old.