The letter was written to James Hawes as a thank you for donating money to the miners in the Rhondda Valley. It was kept folded up inside the miner’s lamp that came with it as a gift. James Hawes was an undertaker who owned several funeral businesses around London in at least 4 locations in Higham’s Park, Well Street in Hackney, Seven Kings in Ilford and one in Romford.

The letter was written in January 1928 by David (Dai) Lloyd Davies, Secretary of Maerdy Colliery trade union lodge at that time and he describes some of the hardships experienced in the Rhondda Valley at the time. Mr Hawes had witnessed the miner’s unemployment march to London in 1927, during which two miners died during. He was horrified at their condition and poor health, mentioning that most of them didn't even have proper shoes. Following witnessing this, he made a donation to the miners. It is also possible that he was involved in arranging the transport of these men that died on the march to Paddington station.

The letter and lantern was kept in the family with great pride and has recently been donated to the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenafon.