19th OCTOBER 1914 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Start of 1st Battle of Ypres, Belgium, 1914

The 1st Battle of Ypres has been said to have begun when 7th Division (with 1 RWF) met the Germans near Gheluvelt on 19 October. It resulted in the establishment of the Ypres Salient which the British would hold until the final advance of 1918. This battle lasted until 22 November. The 7th Division was reduced to a weak brigade and four battalions, including 1 RWF, had been merged into one.

The military funeral of Pte Mordecai Williams who died 3rd October 1915

All that was left of them

A photo of the original members of 4 RWF. All that was left of "them"', 4th Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, c.1918

PTE ALBERT HILL VC

PTE ALBERT HILL VC 

In August 1914 Albert Hill joined the 10th Battalion, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, as a private. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at Delville Wood, part of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. His citation read:

For most conspicuous bravery. On 20 July 1916, during the Somme Offensive, when 15280 Private Hill's battalion had been deployed under heavy fire, for an attack on the enemy in Delville Wood, France, the order to charge was given and he dashed forward. He met two of the enemy and bayoneted them both. Later, he was sent by his platoon sergeant, Hugh Green, to contact the enemy, and found himself cut off, being surrounded by over twenty Germans. He threw two hand grenades, killing and wounding about eighteen and scattering the remainder. He then joined a sergeant of his company and helped him to fight the way back to the lines. When he got back, hearing that his Company Officer, Captain Scales, and a scout were lying out wounded, he went out and assisted to bring in the mortally wounded Officer, two other men bringing in the scout. Finally, he himself captured two of the enemy and brought them in as prisoners. His conduct throughout was magnificent.[1]

He was also a holder of the French Croix de Guerre, the Russian Cross of St. George, and three campaign medals.

25th SEPTEMBER 1915 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Battle of Loos, France, 1915

This was the main British offensive of 1915 and the first time gas was used by them. 1, 2, 4 and 9 RWF were involved. 1 RWF was affected by gas before leaving its trenches and lost over 450 men overall. 2 RWF was in support but had 123 casualties. The 9th Battalion advanced through almost impenetrable wire, gas, and MG fire from both flanks. The CO, three company commanders and the adjutant were killed. Overall casualties totaled 250. The only battalion to have any success was the 1st.

20th SEPTEMBER 1854 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Sgt Luke O’Connor won VCs at The Alma, Crimea, 1854

During the assault on the Russian lines Sgt Luke O’Connor, although badly wounded, took up the Regimental Colour and, dashing forward planted it on the Redoubt above the Alma River. Sgt O’Connor received the Victoria Cross and was commissioned in the field. O’Connor went on to gain the rank of Major General and served as Colonel of the Regiment before his death in 1915.

20th SEPTEMBER 1854 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Capt EWD Bell won VCs at The Alma, Crimea, 1854

During the assault on the Russian lines, Captain Bell, seeing that one of the Russian guns was being withdrawn more slowly than the rest, captured it single-handed and galloped to the rear. Later, he led the 23rd out of the battle as the most senior uninjured officer left on the field. Captain Bell was one of the first recipients of the Victoria Cross.