187 replies to this topic

[hywyn]

Gives deployment in various trenches and names four privates as wounded.

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Hywyn

[archibaldsidney]

I know that this is a reply to a really old post but felt the need to put it on anyway. In Nov 2006 Paul asked about where the welsh attacks on Mametz Wood went in. Gaz provided a sketch map but this was not quite correct. He has put all the attacks to the south of the wood. I was a member of the committee which set up the monument 25 years ago and the position choosen for the memorial was made carefully. The monument faces the eastern side of the wood- the bottom edge of the Hammerhead. The attack of the 7th July was made from the area to the right of the monument from Marlborough and Caterpiller Woods, down the slope across the valley and up to the side of the Hammerhead. It was at right angles to the German second line and was supposed to have been masked by a smoke barrage. In reality the troops were enfiladed from Sabot and Flat Iron Copses and the second German Line- roughly the Bazentin-Longueval road.Thisattack failed, only a few men penetrated the wood and another attempt was ordered for the 10th July. This attack went in from the southern end of the wood near Strip Trench and Cliff Trench to the left of the Dragon Memorial. The troops had to fight their way northwards through the whole body of the wood,  the northern edge of which was covered by the German Second line. During the lull between the 7th and 10th July the Germans reinforced their positions and dug new trenches while the wood was deluged by shells, HE, Gas and Incendiary.
This summer on 7th July 2012 the South Wales branch of the Western Front Association will be holding a commemorative service to mark the 25th anniversary of the erection of the memorial. If you are in the area please join us we would love to see you.

Phil Davies.

[NathanHead]

Hi, I've been reading this forum for some time now while researching some relatives who were at Mametz. I decided to register today to just post and say Hi really, and to thank everyone for all their comments and links and images. It's really helped me visualise what happened.

[Garron]

Hi, Phil only just seen this post I do apologise, the map I made on MS paint is a ad-hoc version from the Colin Hughes book on the battle (not scanned due to copy right) and its based on the attack of July 10th. Everything I've seen on the battle shows that was roughly the line of attack.

Gaz

[NathanHead]

in this picture (somehwhere) is my great-grandad Ted Richards of the 14th Welsh.


after his brother James was killed at Mametz wood, Ted recovered from his war injuries in his converted manor house in England where he met my great-grandmother, who was working there as a volunteer nurse at the time.

not sure if I've posted this in the wrong topic, really sorry if I have. I'm new to this forum and still getting my bearings.

[BottsGreys]

NathanHead, on 03 May 2012 - 09:06 PM, said:

Hi, I've been reading this forum for some time now while researching some relatives who were at Mametz. I decided to register today to just post and say Hi really, and to thank everyone for all their comments and links and images. It's really helped me visualise what happened.

Welcome!  You and Bernard (Lewis) are sure to have something to talk about.

Chris

[NathanHead]

BottsGreys, on 04 May 2012 - 05:15 PM, said:

Welcome!  You and Bernard (Lewis) are sure to have something to talk about.

Chris

cheers for the welcome Chris

[Bernard_Lewis]

Nice photo; any idea where it is? Bears a passing resemblance to the Swansea Workhouse! (which had an infirmary)

Bernsrd

[NathanHead]

Bernard_Lewis, on 04 May 2012 - 08:26 PM, said:

Nice photo; any idea where it is? Bears a passing resemblance to the Swansea Workhouse! (which had an infirmary)

Bernsrd

I know exactly where it is Bernard. it's in Warrington, not Swansea, oddly enough.
my great grandmother lived in there before the Great War and my great-uncle also lived  in another house in the same grounds called Redbarn and later he moved to the gatehouse lodge at the main gates. and later my great-grandparents moved into the cottage across the road where my grandparents lived, and my dad grew up in.

the house WAS called Thelwall Heys, but for a while was just known as "The Heys". over the past few decades it has been broken up into small appartments and houses,  after the Second World War it had the various wings and buildings in the grounds split up and made into seperate apartments. When you look on a map there are a few house names listed on the same address; "The Cottage", "Cliff Lane Farm", "Thelwall Heys Cottage" & "Acropora House", but originally they were just one large manor-house owned by two sisters called Shipman and my great grandma was their live-in help - later a volunteer when the manor house was converted into a makeshift hospital during the Great War. its on a private drive just off Cliff Lane in Grappenhall, Warrington.

(ps. not to be confused with the confusingly similar "Grappenhall Heys", which is situated at the opposite side of the village which is currently a public "walled" garden and was Wren accomodation during WWII.)


I have no idea why my great-grandad Ted was sent to Warrington to recover from his injuries, he lived in a farm in Hereford on the Welsh border. All his family was there. I don't know why he was sent to the North of England, I reallydon't. I do know that my great-great-grandparents held him responsible for his brother James not returning from Mametz and so  he didn't return to their farm in Hereford after the War was over. He stayed in Grappenhall, Warrington with Ada and they married.


I cropped the above photo to just show the people, but the original shows a bit more of the main building. it's framed and on the wall at my parents' house, it's a strange photograph though, its not on paper, its an old lithographic thing that's printed on a sheet of reflective metal so it's quite hard to see. I'm surprised at how clearly it scanned though.

[NathanHead]

hey Bernard, I just ordered your book. I look forward to reading it

[Bernard_Lewis]

I hope you enjoy it, Nathan!

Bernard

[NathanHead]

Well Bernard, my copy of Swansea Pals arrived today and I haven't been able to put it down. It's brilliant. So many amazing pictures too.
I was wondering if I could pick your brains with something though?
At the back you include the next of kin listfor the 14th Welsh.

My two ancestors that were in the 14th Welsh are not included, one was mortally wounded at Mametz and the other badly injured, I was wondering if you knew of any reason why they may not be on that list? I noticed the date was December 1915, I'm not 100% sure on this but I'm sure that I've always been told that my two relatives didn't sign up to Kitchener's drive until 1916, right before they went to France.


I also noticed that my great-grandad and great-great-uncle's service numbers start with a 3 and the majority of the names on those lists start with 1 or 2, did the service number reflect when a man signed up? or were they generated in some other way? do you know how I could find out for certain? sorry to bother you with stuff like this, I feel really cheeky coming out with such bold requests.

[Bernard_Lewis]

Aw shucks, you're making me blush

The list is literally a contemporary snapshot of the battalion; compiled in December 1915 by the local recruiting committee. A list of men who proceeded overseas in, essentially, the first 'batch' from the battalion. A man who joined in 1916 certainly wouldn't be on there.

Yes, most of the 'original' men have numbers starting with 17 or 29. To be honest I've not studied how numbers were allocated but there are people on the Forum who are experts in that area. If no-one comes along here with a comment in a day or two it will be worth you posing this question in a new post in the relevant part of the Forum. Include 'Welsh Regiment numbering' in the heading(s) and I'm sure someone will enlighten you (and me)!

Glad you're enjoying the book.

Bernard