100 years ago:

There were scenes of considerable activity at the headquarters of the territorial army, the 1st Batallion Monmouthshire Regiment based at Stow Hill.

Holidaymakers in Newport were suffering disappointment as owing to the grave crisis all train services were cancelled and being used for other purpose.

A Hamburg American liner, the Belgia,  arriving before the formal declaration of war, at Newport Dock was refused admission. Later, after the declaration, the Captain of the Dock along with four police chiefs and eight constables followed the steamer in a tug, boarded her and declared her a prize of war. She was brought back and docked in the South Dock.

50 years ago:

In spite of 61 deaths on the road nationally, bank holiday traffic in the county started quietly and only began to build-up later in the morning.

A non-stop steel line for R.T.B. Plant at Ebbw Vale was near to completion. It would feature a new continuous annealing line with a 1,250ft-a-minute top speed, and a converter shop project completing a steel-making change-over.

Schools in the Gwent area were victim to further damage by unlawful entry with costs amounting to more than £60 being reported to Monmouthshire education committee. Schools affected were Garnlydan Junior School, Ebbw Vale, Tredegar Grammar School, Blackwood Infants’ School and Junior Mixed School and Varteg Junior Mixed School.

25 years ago:

A three-year-old boy was saved from drowning by lifeguards who managed to avert the tragedy. The incident took place at Nantyglo Leisure Centre and afterwards he was taken to hospital where it is thought he was not seriously injured.

Blaenau Gwent Council demolished it’s remaining unoccupied houses in the village, near Tredegar. The project, costing over £100,000 will leave only a handful of homes still lived in by residents, who have fought for several years to stay.

Motorists were left fuming when work carried out by Wales Gas disrupted travel on a Gwent hill. Wales Gas claimed the work was necessary to renew and improve mains but drivers using the A48 at Pwllmeyric, Chepstow were left angry.

More than 540 houses were planned on sites in Brynmawr, Nantyglo and Blaina according to a local plan going before the meeting of Gwent County Council’s planning committee. The plan visualises thirty sites for the new homes which will have been built up by 1996.

Thieves stole £500 worth of copper from the Britannia Mining School in Pengam, Blackwood.