The 15th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment was the Carmarthen 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 114 Brigade of the 38th Welsh Division, who were to gain immortal fame at Mametz Wood and the Pilckem Ridge, and played such a vital part in the final 100 days offensive which ultimately won the war. 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.

15th Battalion, 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 129 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 28 April 1915 the Battalion became attached to 114 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 5 December 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 1 July 1916. After the attack on Mametz Wood on 11 and 12 July 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 31 July 1917, with the remainder of the 38th Division. On 16 August 1917 the Battalion was temporarily attached to the 20th (Light) 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 21 March. From April 1918 to August 1918, the Battalion was in the line from Albert to Aveluy Wood and Mesnil. On 24 August  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 following day.

From 25 August 1918 until the signing of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, the Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Helme, 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, among which were: Lieutenant Colonel E. Helme won the D.S.O. and Bar; Lieutenant Colonel T. W. Parkinson the D.S.O.; Acting Major J. A. Daniel the D.S.O. and M.C.; Captains J. Williams, T. Landman and F. H. 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), 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.  and 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 23 May 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 and 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

Buy The Book- 'Carmarthen Pals'

I am lucky enough to have found a publisher for my book on the History of the 15th Welsh during the Great War, Pen and Sword Books, who have published it as part of their excellent 'Pals' series. The book is available, either through Amazon, by clicking the link below, or from your local bookshop. Waterstones in Carmarthen also stocks it. By purchasing it via the links to Amazon from this site, you will be helping to contribute to the running costs of the Carmarthen County War Memorial website;

Amazon Link; Carmarthen Pals

Pen and Sword Link; Carmarthen Pals

As ever, further information is always being searched for, and any photographs, notes, extracts of diaries, in fact anything related to the 15th Welsh, is always welcome, so I can continue my research into the Battalion. Please read the book reviews below which 'Carmarthen Pals' has received;

Reviews of 'Carmarthen Pals'

History of War Website

Carmarthen Pals: A History of the 15th (Service) Battalion The Welsh Regiment, 1914-1919, Steven John

The 15th (Service Battalion), the Welsh Regiment, or the Carmarthen Pals, was one of the New Army battalions raised in Britain once it became clear that the First World War was going to last for longer and require a much bigger army than almost anyone had expected in the summer of 1914. This book looks at the history of that battalion from its original formation late in 1914, through some of the most famous battles of the war (including the Somme, Passchendaele and the hundred days offensive 1918) and ending when the battalion was dissolved in 1919.

Perhaps this books defining feature is that the author has taken the time to research the stories of a large number of the dead, so rather instead of the anonymous totals presented in many books here we often have a potted biography of at least some of each day's dead.

This book makes one realise just how costly the final victorious campaigns of 1918 were. A single action on 8 October 1918 cost the battalion 53 dead, nearly 10% of the 570 dead suffered by the 15th Welsh during the entire war, and twice as many men died during 1918 as during 1916, when the battalion was involved in the battle of the Somme!

The appendices nicely round off the book, including complete lists of the battalion's dead, medal winners (with citations where possible), and officers (with brief biographies).

This is an impressive sobering read, which stands as a memorial to the men of the 15th Welsh and the sacrifices they made during the Great War. 

Chapters; Raising the Battalion, Western Front: The Nursery Sector, Somme: Mametz Wood, Withdrawal from Mametz Wood and the move North, First Large Scale Trench Raid, Passchendaele: The Build up, Passchendaele: The Pilckem Ridge, Passchendaele: Langemarck, Return to French Flanders, Return to the Somme, The Great Advance: The Battle of Albert, The Great Advance: The Battle of Bapaume, Advance to Victory, Appendices, Casualties of the 15th Welsh, Roll of Honour, Awards to the Battalion, Nominal Roll of Officers, Battle Honours, Order of Battle, 38th (Welsh) Division, Summary.

1914-1918.net- The Long, Long Trail

Steven John's book joins the long line of fine works examining the war of those locally-raised units of Kitchener's Army known as "pals", that helped build the volunteer army of 1914 and its esprit de corps. We have here another dedicated if not fanatic researcher-author, who has tracked down the fine details of the raising, training, fighting and fate of a pals infantry battalion, in this case the 15th Welsh. The "Carmarthen Pals" certainly came in part from the town, but also from across the smaller towns, villages and farms of that rural county in West Wales. Strangely, as the author explains, it also went on a recruiting jaunt to industrial Bolton in Lancashire.

We have grown used to the high standard of research behind these books, and "Carmarthen Pals" is no exception. The book mentions many individuals by name and is full of photographs, having pulled on official and regimental sources as well as the local press and the memoirs of individuals. A selection of maps helps the reader understand the battalion's role and location when it went into action, and the book concludes with a useful roll of honour, short bibliographies of battalion officers, and list of awards and decorations. The only black mark is the absence of an index.

A good read and valuable work of reference, that might be seen as a companion volume to Bernard Lewis' earlier "Swansea Pals" as the two units were under command of the same infantry brigade.

The Great War Journal, March 2010

MARK MARSAY and DIANE CROWTHER

Book Reviews

CARMARTHEN PALS

A History of the 15th (service) Battalion The Welsh Regiment 1914-1919 Steven John

ISBN: 9781848840775 -£25.00 (hb) Pen & Sword-272 pages

Pen & Sword are to be applauded once again for adding to their ever growing collection of 'Pals' histories. This fine book details the war of the Carmarthen Pals from their formation in 1914. The then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George, had a vision of a Welsh Army Group and huge efforts were made to recruit and form Welsh fighting units. After its training the Battalion crossed to serve in France in 1915 and from early 1916 fought with distinction. After its initiation at Givenchy, the Battalion moved to the Somme in May 1916, attacking Mametz Wood in the early days of the infamous July offensive. It then moved to the Ypres Salient and in July 1917 attacked Pilckem Ridge. In the closing months of the war the Battalion suffered over 900 fatalities as they pushed the enemy back. This is a first-class history and has over 200 photos, maps and diagrams, as well as a host of personal accounts and letters.

A first-class history. 10/10. MM

Book Reviews (Matthew Bennett)

Carmarthen Pals: a history of the 15th Service Battalion, The Welsh Regiment 1914-19 by Steven John (Pen & Sword) 272pp, hardback £25.00

No one with an interest in World War One can be unaware of the tragedy of the Pals battalions. Theirs was a road to Hell paved with good intentions. Largely recruited from the close-knit communities of the industrial towns and so imbued with a self-belief and unity of purpose, they seemed tailor-made for military use. Sadly, their deployment from 1916 onwards frequently led to their destruction, delivering a hammer blow of grief and loss to their families living side- by-side in city streets.

The Carmarthen Pals were unusual in that they were recruited from a much wider area, due to the rural background of many of their soldiers, although they were also drawn from local towns such as Llanelli and even farther afield from Bolton, with its community of Welsh weavers. Steven John's book provides a clear account of the 15th Battalion's experience throughout the war. It is a lavishly illustrated volume filled with pertinent illustrations, photographs and cartoons, maps of operations and scenes from the battlefields today to help those wish to tour the sites of blood and bravery of almost a century ago. One does not need to be Welsh to appreciate the achievements of these soldiers. In a sense, all history is local history, and specific experiences add much to creating a wider understanding. The appendices form a roll of honour to the men of Carmarthen but speak for a whole nation's sacrifice.

Shropshire Star, Saturday October 24, 2009.

Book news and reviews

With TOBY NEAL

War tale interwoven with family intrigue. Steven John's book tells the story of Welsh comrades-in-arms.

Having a bit of time to spare after his move up to Shropshire, Steven John started to delve into his family tree, and quickly made surprising discoveries, including a hefty skeleton in the cupboard.

As he uncovered more fascinating family material from around the time of World War One, his researches broadened and deepened, and spurred him to write a book.

That book by Mr John, who hails from Laugharne in West Wales, has now been published and tells the story of the Carmarthen Pals — the 15th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, comprising Welsh comrades- in-arms who fought and died in the battlefields of the Western Front.

Mr John, who is an engineer at Muller at Market Drayton, said: 'I got offered a job just over six years ago and moved the family up here, to Shrewsbury. It's a nice town and we spent quite a few holidays up here.

"I started to research my family tree after I moved up here. I work shifts, so I get plenty of time off, and it's a question of finding something to occupy my spare days. I started to look into the family tree and discovered a couple of members of my family nobody knew about who were killed in the war.

'It's turned into a bit of an obsession, to be honest. My grandfather's father was killed in France. He was brought up by another man. We always thought this other man was his father, but I discovered his father was actually killed when he was three, and his mother was remarried, and they never told him about his real father. That started it off. Once I discovered that, I started digging into other bits and pieces of the family.'

'I found out that my mother's uncle was killed with the 15th Welsh, which is why I wrote the book. He died at the Battle of Mametz Wood, on the Somme. There was a Welsh division formed in the First World War and their first major battle was at Mametz Wood, so it's like a place of pilgrimage for a lot of Welsh people who are interested in the First World War.'

'When I found out that my great uncle was killed there I went out there for a holiday and had a good walk around the place. You tend to get caught up in the atmosphere, and that kick-started going in depth with the research.'

'When I got a lot of material together I thought that I might as well use it and put it into a book. I have written a couple of books on local war memorials at home.' With his Carmarthen Pals book, Mr John has linked up with Pen & Sword Books, a well-known publisher of titles with military interest.

A lot of it is based on the war diaries of the 15th Welsh, which are from the public records office in London. And then I was lucky enough to find the memoirs of one of the men who served in the battalion. He was William Shanahan from Llanelli. When he was in hospital in the last months of his life he dictated a lot of notes to his grandson, who wrote them into a little booklet of his memoirs, and placed them into the Imperial War Museum.

Mr John's interest sees him visit the battlefields three or four times a year. "All the family come. My wife has started to rebel against it a bit though- She would like a nice normal family holiday instead of traipsing around a battlefield."

"Carmarthen Pals" has been published by Pen & Sword. It is hardback and costs £25.