The 15th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment was the Carmarthenshire Battalion. Although made up of a lot of local men, there was a large draft from the Bolton area. The 15th Welsh formed part of the 38th Welsh Division, who were to gain immortal fame at Mametz Wood & the Pilckem Ridge.

This part of the website is in honour of the men of the Battalion who died during the Great War, and especially to my Great Uncle, Private Harry Montague Allen, from Whitland, who died of wounds suffered at Mametz Wood, and is buried at Heilly Station Cemetery.

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