NEWS
Work has begun on a new book, to commemorate the History of the 15th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, and to remember the men who served and died while serving with it in the Great War. As a result, I am looking for any information, recollections, photographs or letters from the Soldiers who formed part of this Battalion, and would like anyone interested in sharing this information to contact me through the e-mail address on the first page of this site. The cost of copying of documents and postage will be met be myself, and anything used will be gratefully acknowledged.
Gwell Angau na Chywilydd
15th Welsh Regiment-A Potted History
Raised as part of the Welsh Army Corps, the Carmarthenshire Battalion had a glorious career during the war. The Battalion was first raised in Swansea during October and November, 1914, by the Carmarthenshire County Committee, attached to 129th Brigade, 43rd Division, and was composed at first of men recruited from Lancashire. Recruiting in Lancashire was stopped at the end of 1914, and all subsequent recruiting was carried out in Carmarthenshire and South Wales. The preliminary training of the battalion was carried out at Rhyl.
From 28th April, 1915 the Battalion became attached to 114th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division, part of K4. In the summer of 1915 the Battalion moved with the remainder of the Welsh Division to Morn Hill Camp, Winchester, where it completed its training and equipping, and embarked for France from Folkestone on December 5th, 1915, disembarking at Boulogne the same day.
During the winter and spring of 1916 the Battalion held nearly every section of the British line from Givenchy on the La Bassee Canal to Laventie, about six miles South of Armentieres. At the end of May, 1916, the Battalion moved South with the remainder of the 38th (Welsh) Division to the Somme area, in readiness for the First Battle of The Somme, which commenced on July 1st. After the attack on Mametz Wood on July 11th and 12th the Battalion moved north to Hebuterne, where it remained for about a month.
In August 1916 the Battalion moved North again to the Ypres Salient, where it remained for twelve months, during which period it held different sections in the northern-most part of the Salient, from Ypres to Boesinghe. It took part in the attack on Pilckem Ridge on July 31st, 1917, with the remainder of the 38th Division. On August 16th, 1917 the Battalion was temporarily attached to the 20th Division for the attack on Langemarck. For its work on the latter occasion it received a special letter of thanks from the G.O.C., 20th Division.
In September 1917, the Battalion moved South again to the Armentieres district, where it was employed in holding the line until the end of March, 1918, when it was moved south again to the Albert Sector in support of the hard-pressed troops, who had been driven back by the German Offensive of 21st March. From April, 1918 to August, 1918, the Battalion was in the line from Albert to Aveluy Wood and Mesnie, On August 24th, 1918, A and B Companies of the Battalion, under the Command of Captain G. W. Lancaster, MC., who afterwards died of wounds, crossed the Ancre at St. Pierre Divion, worked down the opposite bank, driving out the Germans as they advanced, and then opened up the remaining crossings over the river for the remainder of the Division, who crossed on the 25th.
From August 25th until the signing of the Armistice on November 11th, the Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Helms, D.S.O., took part in every engagement in which the 38th (Welsh) Division was involved, the most important of these being the capture of the Ancre, the capture of Morval, crossing of the Canal Du Nord, Gouzeaucourt, Villers Outreaux, Selle River crossing, and Mormal Forest. During this period its casualties amounted to 40 Officers and 900 Other Ranks killed and wounded. The casualties of the Battalion since landing in France were approximately as follows-
Killed Wounded Missing
Officers 26 48 -
Other Ranks 393 1073 43
The Carmarthenshire Battalion won a full share of military distinctions: Lieutenant Colonel E. Helms won the D.S.O. & Bar; Lieutenant Colonel T. W. Parkinson the D.S.O.; Acting Major J. A. Daniel the D.S.O. & M.C.; Captains J. Williams, T. Landman and F. R. Jordan, the M.C. and Bar; and the following officers won the M.C.: Captains J. C. MacDonald, J. D. Sampson, G. W. Lancaster (died of wounds)m P. R. Ayres (Adjutant), F. C. Palmer, C. Bevington, W. N. Soden R.A.M.C., D. R. Thomas, J. R. G. Morgan (Quartermaster), Lieutenants G. E. Berry, G. H. Minshall (killed), M. G. Bostock, B. G. Fox, R. A. Griffiths, G. E. Lowe (killed), F. Roberts, J. Glyn Williams, L. J. Thomas, J. Evans, W. P. B. Ashton, Lieutenants J. P. Morgan, E. J. Patterson, A. G. Demay (C.S. M.O.R.C.P. attached).
Twenty-two men were awarded the D.C.M., three the M.M. & Bar, sixty four the M.M., one M.S.M., four foreign decorations and sixteen were mentioned in despatches.
The Cadre of the Battalion, consisting of three Officers and twelve other ranks, disembarked at Southampton on May 23rd, 1919, after three years and six months of service in France. Of those who went out with the Battalion in 1915, the following returned with the Cadre: Lieutenant Colonel T. W. Parkinson, D.S.O., Captain & Quartermaster J. R. G. Morgan, M.C., R.Q.M.S. S. T. Evans, M.S.S., C.Q.M.S. Roberts, Sergeant Millichap, Corporal Paget, Corporal T. C. Johns, Lance Corporal J. O’Leary.
Battle Honours earned by the Battalion during the Great War were;
The Battle of Albert,
The Battle of the Pilckem
The Battle of Langemarck
The Battle of Albert
The Battle of Bapaume
The Battle of Havrincourt
The Battle of Epehy
The Battle of Beaurevoir
The Battle of Cambrai, 1918
The Battle of the Selle
The Battle of the Sambre
The 15th Welsh Roll of Honour for Casualties in the Great War
Closely packed graves of Soldiers of the Welsh Regiment at Morval British Cemetery.
| Rank |
Name |
Cemetery |
| Private |
Absalom, Herbert |
Tyne Cot Memorial |
| Private |
Acock, Frank |
Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres |
| Private |
Allen, Arthur Laugharne |
Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres |
| Private |
Allen, Harry Montague |
Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe |
| Lance Corporal |
Allen, Wilfred |
Thilloy Road Cemetery, Beaulencourt |
| Private |
Allen, William Henry |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Anderson, Richard John |
Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy |
| Private |
Andrews, Edward James |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Private |
Andrews, John Edward |
Dozinghem Military Cemetery |
| Lance Corporal |
Antell, Arthur |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Major |
Anthony, Percy |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Arthur, William Thomas |
Morval British cemetery |
| Private |
Ashman, George |
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Private |
Ashton, George William |
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Private |
Axford, Stanley |
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval |
| Private |
Badnell, Arthur John |
Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres |
| Lieutenant |
Bainbrigge, Philip Gillespie |
Five Points Cemetery, Lechelle |
| Private |
Baker, James |
Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery |
| Private |
Balderson, Robert |
St. Venant Communal Cemetery |
| Private |
Ball, Edward |
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval |
| Private |
Ball, James |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Barnett, George Leonard |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Barnett, William John |
Pozieres British Cemetery |
| Lance Corporal |
Barrow, Arthur |
Marcoing British Cemetery |
| Private |
Barrow, George |
Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres |
| Private |
Bartlett, Robert James |
Tyne Cot Memorial |
| Private |
Beal, Cecil Charles Branston |
Martinsart British Cemetery |
| Private |
Beasant, Walter Henry |
Moulin-De-Pierre British Cemetery |
| Sergeant |
Bennett, Harry |
Varennes Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Bennett, William Edward |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Bickerstaff, Thomas Charles |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Sergeant |
Bickerstaffe, William |
Varennes Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Billington, Arthur George |
Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery |
| Private |
Bird, Harry |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Sergeant |
Bithell, Herbert Lewis |
Merville Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Private |
Boardman, William |
New Irish Farm Cemetery |
| Private |
Bond, Eric Henry |
Moulin-De-Pierre British Cemetery |
| Private |
Booth, Leonard |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Bowen, Ernest |
Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery |
| Private |
Bowen, George Winfred |
Dozinghem Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Bowen, Thomas John |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Second Lieutenant |
Bowen, William |
Fienvillers British Cemetery |
| Private |
Bradbury, Thomas |
Moulin-De-Pierre British Cemetery |
| Private |
Brain, George Heal |
Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy |
| Private |
Breach, William Herbert |
Morval British Cemetery |
| Corporal |
Brightwell, Thomas |
Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery |
| Lance Corporal |
Brindle, James |
Bolton (Astley Bridge) Cemetery |
| Private |
Brown, John James |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Brown, Pryce |
Manchester Southern Cemetery |
| Private |
Brown, Samuel Edward Victor |
Guards Cemetery, Lesbouefs |
| Corporal |
Burley, William Henry |
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval |
| Private |
Burton, William |
Moulin-De-Pierre British Cemetery |
| Sergeant |
Bush, Ernest Frederick |
St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue |
| Private |
Byrne, James |
New Irish Farm Cemetery |
| Lance Corporal |
Cadle, Herbert |
St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen |
| Private |
Capper, Leonard |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Carey, Patrick Michael |
Mendinghem Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Cay, William |
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Private |
Chadwick, Albert |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Chadwick, James |
Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery |
| Private |
Chadwick, Thomas Benjamin |
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Captain |
Chamberlain, John MC. |
Ferme-Olivier Cemetery |
| Private |
Chapman, James Ernest |
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval |
| Lance Corporal |
Chapman, William Arthur |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Lance Corporal |
Church, Edward Charles |
Tyne Cot Memorial |
| Private |
Clarke, Ernest |
Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt |
| Private |
Clarke, Walter |
Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt |
| Private |
Clee, Thomas |
Tyne Cot Memorial |
| Private |
Close, William John |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Lance Corporal |
Coffey, J |
Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille |
| Private |
Cokley, Daniel |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Cole, James |
Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine-Au-Bois |
| Private |
Coleman, James |
Tyne Cot Memorial |
| Private |
Coleman, Joseph |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Collins, John Bryant |
Serre Road Cemetery, No. 2 |
| Private |
Combs, Phillip Alfred |
Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Private |
Connoly, John |
Fienvillers British Cemetery |
| Private |
Coulton, Arthur |
Moulin-De-Pierre British Cemetery |
| Private |
Cridland, William |
Merville Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Private |
Crook, William |
Le Quesnoy Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Private |
Crossley, Jesse |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Cunningham, Joseph |
St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue |
| Private |
Dash, Horace |
St. Pancras Cemetery |
| Second Lieutenant |
David, Frederick John Louis |
Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, Albert |
Pozieres Memorial |
| Private |
Davies, Arthur Raymond |
Welsh Cemetery (Caesars Nose) |
| Private |
Davies, Ebenezer |
Mendinghem Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, Evan John |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Davies, Evan Thomas |
Martinsart British Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, Francis Joe |
Tyne Cot Memorial |
| Private |
Davies, Frederick |
Dozinghem Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, John |
Mendinghem Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, John Glanford |
Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy |
| Private |
Davies, Joseph Henry |
Harponville Communal Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, Llewellyn |
Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt |
| C.Q.M.S. |
Davies, Mansel |
Merville Communal Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, Martin |
Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, Nathaniel |
Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy |
| Captain |
Davies, Percy Hier |
Tyne Cot Memorial |
| Private |
Davies, Reginald |
Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy |
| Private |
Davies, Robert |
Moulin-De-Pierre British Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, Samuel John |
Abbeville Communal Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, Thomas |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Davies, Thomas Haydn, MM. |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Corporal |
Davies, Thomas John |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Davies, Tommy |
Dozinghem Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, Trevor |
Martinsart British Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, William |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Davies, William Henry Thomas |
Sailly-Saillisel British Cemetery |
| Private |
Davies, William John |
Dozinghem Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Dawes, Ronald Guy |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Day, William |
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval |
| Private |
Dayton, Stanley |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Lance Corporal |
Demaine, John |
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Private |
Denton, Frank Charles |
Tyne Cot Memorial |
| Private |
Derrick, Herbert |
Rhondda (Trealaw) Cemetery |
| Lance Corporal |
Deyes, William Percival |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Dodd, John Henry |
Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy |
| Private |
Driver, Wilfred |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Dryland, John |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Private |
Duncan, Robert |
Dozinghem Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Dunford, George |
Vis-en-Artois Memorial |
| Private |
Dunn, James |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Private |
Dunsford, Henry John |
Beaulancourt British Cemetery, Ligny-Thilloy |
| Private |
Dutfield, William Henry |
Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Corporal |
Dutton, Herbert Henry |
Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuile |
| Private |
Eade, John William |
Welsh Cemetery (Caesars Nose) |
| Private |
Earles, William Henry |
Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Private |
Edmunds, Samuel |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Private |
Edwards, Christopher |
Cross Roads Cemetery, Fontaine-Au-Bois |
| Lance Corporal |
Edwards, David John |
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Private |
Edwards, Evan |
Martinsart British Cemetery |
| Private |
Edwards, William |
Harponville Communal Cemetery |
| Sergeant |
Evans, Benjamin |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Evans, David |
Cite Bonjean Cemetery, Armentieres |
| Private |
Evans, David Charles |
Perth Cemetery (China Wall) |
| Private |
Evans, David Ellis |
Varennes Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Evans, David John |
Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt |
| Private |
Evans, George |
Bethune Town Cemetery |
| Lance Sergeant |
Evans, Griffith Albert |
Essex Farm Cemetery |
| Private |
Evans, Herbert |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Evans, John Emlyn |
Merville Communal Cemetery |
| Private |
Evans, Morgan Rees |
Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery |
| Private |
Evans, Phillip Charles |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Private |
Evans, Richard Henry Evan |
Moulin-De-Pierre British Cemetery |
| Second Lieutenant |
Evans, Robert Charles |
Pozieres British Cemetery |
| Private |
Evans, Samuel Henry |
Cologne Southern Cemetery |
| Private |
Evans, William Bailey |
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Private |
Evans, William Edward James |
Millencourt Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Lance Corporal |
Evens, Tola |
Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery |
| Private |
Eynon, Thomas |
Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy |
| Private |
Farrow, George |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Private |
Farrow, Herbert |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Sergeant |
Fielding, James |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Fielding, Joshua |
Moulin-De-Pierre British Cemetery |
| Private |
Fisher, John |
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial |
| Private |
Fletcher, Hugh |
Fienvillers British Cemetery |
| Private |
Foley, Patrick |
Bois-Des-Angles British Cemetery, Crevecoeur-Sur-L'Escaut |
| Private |
Foley, William Hambling |
Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy |
| Private |
Foots, James Todd |
New Irish Farm Cemetery |
| Lance Corporal |
Forrest, Henry |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Foster, Sidney Gordon |
Artillery Wood Cemetery |
| Private |
Francis, Albert |
Llanelli (Box) Cemetery |
| Corporal |
Francis, Gwilym |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Froy, Jesse |
Mendinghem Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Fry, William Henry |
Varennes Military Cemetery |
| Private |
Garley, Arthur |
Bard Cottage Cemetery |
| Private |
Garside, John |
Contay British Cemetery, Contay |
| Private |
Garside, William John |
Plougsteert Memorial |
| Second Lieutenant |
George, Elmore Wright |
Martinsart British Cemetery |
| Sergeant |
German, Archie Ernest |
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval |
| Private |
Gerrard, William |
Thiepval Memorial |
| Private |
Gibbon, Charles |
|