Christmas 1916

Christmas 1916 saw the Second Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers in the trenches on the Western Front. They did however manage Christmas dinner.

Dinner for the men was:
"soup; roast meat with potato, carrort, turnip and onion; plum pudding; an apple, or orange, and nuts. The sergeants had whisky, port and cigars."

Dinner for the officers was:
"pate de foie gras, julienne, curried prawns, roast goose, potato and cauliflower, plum-pudding, anchovy on toast, dessert; Veuve Cliquot, port, cognac, benedictine; coffee."
taken from 'The War The Infantry Knew - 1914-1919' by Captain J.C.Dunn.

(http://universalsoldieruk.blogspot.co.uk/2005/12/christmas-1916.html)

A special addendum within the War Diary of the 15th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers can be seen for the 25th of December 1916.  A room at Bollezeele Station in northern France was hired, cleaned, furnished and decorated for a Battalion Christmas dinner.  Six hundred men were served soup, turkey and vegetables, Christmas pudding and sweets which were washed down with stout and beer, and a concert followed which was given entirely by the men and lasted until eleven o’clock in the evening, when all were “well satisfied”.

http://cymru1914.org/en/view/manuscripts/3437194

15th DECEMBER 1702 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

First formed into a fusilier regiment, called the ‘Welch Regiment of Fusileers’, 1702

It was announced in the Daily Courant that Ingoldsby’s Regiment was to be known as the ‘Welch Regiment of Fusileers’. The title derives from the fusil or flintlock musket which by the end of the 17th century had superceded the matchlock which was fired by a slow-burning match. The flintlock was first introduced for foot soldiers who guarded the artillery to avoid having burning matches in the vicinity of gunpowder. It was a great honour for the Regiment.

28th November 1885 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Surrender of King Theebaw, Burma, 1885
1 RWF, serving in India, was ordered to join the force about to leave for Rangoon because of strained relations between the King of Burma and the Indian Government. A brigade, which included 1 RWF, was sent to Ava. The Burmese requested an armistice. This was refused until King Theebaw surrendered himself. On the 27th this was agreed and next day he surrendered unconditionally, and was escorted by B Company to the waiting steamer.

25th November 1917 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

40th Division, with 19 RWF, at attack on Bourlon Wood, France, 1917
The failure to take Bourlon ridge during the tank battle of Cambrai meant its capture was given to 40th Division with 19 RWF, a ‘bantam’ battalion of men under 5' 3". The wood was cleared, and the ridge occupied with difficulty. The Germans counter-attacked from dawn on the 24th and the defenders were driven off in the afternoon. It was regained by an assortment of ad hoc units. When relieved on 26th/27th 19 RWF had suffered 370 casualties.

18th November 1857 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Lieut TB Hackett and Boy G Monger won VCs, 1857
In capturing the hospital at Secundra Bagh, Lucknow, India its thatched roof caught fire. Lieut Hackett and Boy Monger rescued a corporal of the 23rd who was lying in the open and exposed to very heavy fire. They then climbed on the roof of a bungalow and cut down the thatch to prevent it being set on fire. They were both awarded VCs.

“For daring gallantry at Secundra Bagh, Lucknow, on the 18th of November, 1857, in having volunteered to accompany Lieutenant Hackett, whom he assisted in bringing in a Corporal of the 23rd Regiment, who was lying
wounded in an exposed position.”

LG 12th April 1859

“For daring gallantry at Secundra Bagh, Lucknow, on the 18th November, 1857, in having with others, rescued a Corporal of the 23rd Regiment, who was lying wounded and exposed to very heavy fire. Also, for conspicuous bravery, in having, under a heavy fire, ascended the roof, and cut down the thatch of a Bungalow, to prevent its being set on fire. This was a most important service at the time.”

15th November 1924 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Regimental Great War Memorial unveiled in Wrexham, 1924
It was dedicated by the Archbishop of Wales in front of a large number of serving and former members of the Regiment. It was designed by Sir William Goscombe John, RA.

15th October 1841 - ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Lt Col Arthur Wellesley Torrens assume command of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. Originally commissioned into the Grenadier Guard he transferred to the RWF as a Lieutenant Colonel. It was common for officers to transfer between Regiments during the 18th and 19th Centuries in order to advance their careers. Torrens went on to command a Brigade in the 4th Division during the Crimean War. He was mortally wounded at the battle of Inkerman and died, in Paris on the 24th August 1855 some nine months later.

Weeping Window Poppies opened today at Caernarfon - they will be there till November 20th

Last Post on Summit of Snowdon 9th October 2016

Yesterday we played Last Post on the summit of Snowdon - the highest mountain of Wales and England.

Lest we Forget

Photo by Mel Garside

9th October 1932 - On this Day in RWF History

2nd Battalion, the Royal Welch Fusiliers sail for Gibraltar.

2 RWF departed the UK for a two year tour of duty in Gibraltar on the 9th October 1932. The Battalion arrived on the 13th October and having served for two years on the Rock were moved to Hong Kong on 21 October 1934. During their tour in Gibraltar training was restricted by the geography of the Rock. Never the less, the Battalion had a range facility for shooting and sports were very popular. US Marine Corps ships detachments also paid a number of visits to cement the bond between the two Regiments forged in combat during the Boxer Rebellion.

World War II tags found in Caernarfon shop spark search for evacuees

Ian Martin, who discovered the tags as he rummaged through boxes at Bygones Antiques, is trying to find Valerie and Theodora Keatley or their relatives.

Evacuee name tags dating back to World War II have been found in an antique shop.

The tags, which belonged to sisters Valerie and Theodora Keatley, were discovered by Bygones antique and collectors shop owner Ian Martin as he rummaged through boxes.

It is thought the children would have been between five and eight years old when they were evacuated from Liverpool to North Wales in the 1940s , and now Mr Martin wants to reunite the women or their family with the tags.

He said: “I was going through a box of stuff I bought recently and the tags were at the bottom.

“I’d love them to be reunited with the ladies or their families.

"It’s very possible that the sisters are still alive, so it would be great to give them these tags back.

“They should be with the family. That’s their rightful place, but if I can’t find them then I will be giving them to a museum in Liverpool .”

Mr Martin, who only opened his shop in Caernarfon in May, has already been contacted by two museums who would like the tags in their displays.

The grandfather has attempted his own research into the lives of Valerie and Theodora, and discovered the school named on their tags on Clint Road, Liverpool, was demolished in 1976.

He added: “My mother was an evacuee, sent from Birmingham to Leicester when she was seven in 1940.

"I imagine the sisters would have been around the same age as my mother.

“She talks very fondly about being evacuated and, having heard her stories, I’m even more determined to get the name tags back to the family of these women.

"I know how much it would mean to them.”

During WWII , approximately 130,000 people were evacuated from Merseyside to protect them from possible bombing.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/world-war-ii-tags-found-11974311#ICID=sharebar_twitter

2nd October 1956 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Death of Brigadier Sir Eric Skaife CB OBE DL, 1956

An Englishman, he was commissioned RWF in 1903. He was made a prisoner of war in October 1914. Whilst a prisoner of war he learnt Welsh. He commanded 1 RWF 1929-33. In 1937 he came Commander 158 (Royal Welch) Brigade TA in North Wales. He was Colonel of the Regiment 1948-52. He immersed himself in Welsh cultural life for which he was knighted in 1956. He left a generous bequest to the Regiment when he died.

Another RWF sporting hero - Captain Robert Barclay

200 years ago he walked 1000 miles in a 1000 consecutive hours for a 1000 guineas!!

An acknowledged strongman, the Scot had no hi-tech equipment, support bus or energy drinks to help him.
On 1 June, 1809, a crowd of thousands gathered to watch Captain Barclay embark on his much-heralded challenge.
The newspapers had been full of his 1,000-guinea wager that he could walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 consecutive hours and the Royal Welch Fusiliers officer had become something of a cause celebre in Newmarket.

Dressed in the gentleman's fashion of a heavy woollen overcoat, flannel breeches, lambs wool stockings and heeled leather shoes - no cushioned trainers and Lycra here - he set out on his first mile.
Many doubted he could do it.

Walk the distance, yes. But to go without a night's sleep for six weeks was unheard of, so many betted against him.
The sums of money changing hands over the challenge were phenomenal and when he succeeded, Captain Barclay not only earned the title of Celebrated Pedestrian but became a very rich man as well. The 1,000 guineas bet in itself was worth about £35,000 in today's money, and the captain is estimated to have made £100,000 on side bets (about £40 million today).

But his feat of endurance was not without its difficulties.

Among the complaints he listed were "a little pain in his legs" on the twelfth day; pains in his neck and shoulders and nausea in the second week; toothache in week four; and "very ill" two days before the end.

When he was called to start the 607th mile, he could not be woken.
So his brother and friend dragged him to the starting line and pushed him off and when he still did not wake - and with just 20 minutes left to complete the mile - his groom William Cross smacked him across the shoulders with a stick to startle him into action.

By the end of the six weeks, he had lost 32lbs.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2807657.stm

Johnny Basham RWF Champion Boxer

JOHNNY BASHAM (1889-1947) CHAMPION BOXER.
From 1911, in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Basham boxed regularly.
He won the British Welterweight and was the first soldier to win a Lonsdale Belt outright.
He became British, European and Empire Welterweight Champion.

The Lonsdale belt awarded to Johnnie Basham in 1914, 1915 and 1916
Mappin & Webb London 1909, the central oval enamel portrait of 2 boxers in the ring surmounted by Lion passant and 'NATIONAL SPORTING CLUB WELTER WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP' to the top with 'CHALLENGE BELT' underneath, flanked by hinged strap work too each side with 2 oval and 2 circular medallions, one each side of the central plaque with enamel figure of boxer, to left hand side with fight details on the first medallion engraved 'May 10th 1915,SERGt JOHNIEE BASHAM defeated SERGt TOM MCCORMICK 13 Rounds', second medallion '21st MARCH 1910 YOUNG JOSEPHS DEFEATED JACK GOLDSWAIN 12 ROUNDS FOR £500', third medallion 'DEC. 14th 1914, SERGt JOHN BASHAM Defeated JOHNY SUMMERS 9 rounds for £300', to the right hand side the first medallion engraved 'DEC 9th 1912 JOHNNY SUMMERS defeated SID BURNS 20 rounds £450', second medallion engraved 17th JUNE 1912 JOHNNY SUMMERS DEFEATED ARTHUR EVERNDEN 13 ROUNDS FOR £400', the third medallion engraved 'MAY 1st 1916 SERGt JOHNNIE BASHAM DEFEATED EDDIE BEATTIE 19 ROUNDS £475', with striped red, white and blue silk ribbon running the full length of approximately 85cm. Complete with the original blue velvet lined wood storage locking case and key. This belt, originally presented by the Earl of Lonsdale, was won in 1910 by Young Josephs, and in June and December 1912 by Johnny Summers. The latter lost in 1914 to Sergeant John Basham, who then retained it in two further contests in 1915 and 1916, therefore winning the belt outright.FOOTNOTES John Michael "Johnny" Basham (born Newport 1890 – 1947) was a Welsh boxer nicknamed 'The Happy Wanderer' who became British and European champion at both welter and middleweight. His professional career spanned over 20 years, from 1909 to 1929. Basham was the first welterweight to win the Lonsdale Belt outright, successfully defending his British welterweight title on two occasions and also took the Commonwealth Welterweight title in 1919. His career was defined not only by his successes, but also through the death in the ring of opponent Harry Price. His first professional fight was against Boxer Ryan on the 18th of October 1909 in Newport. In 1912 Basham joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was stationed at The Barracks, Hightown, Wrexham. His move to North Wales resulted in most of Basham's fights now occurring either in Wrexham or across the border in Liverpool. Several of his fights were fought at The Barracks or in the Drill hall, Poyser Street, Wrexham. Basham's first title fight was held on the 21st of December 1914, a victory against Johnny Summers for the British Welterweight belt fought at the National Sporting Club giving Basham his first Lonsdale Belt. Basham's career slowed during the First World War as he was serving in the British Expeditionary Force in France, making competitive fighting difficult. Basham was one of a group of fighters, known as 'The Famous Six', who were an elite corps of Army Physical Training Instructors. The other five men were Jim Driscoll, Jimmy Wilde, Bombardier Billy Wells, Pat O'Keefe and Dick Smith. In May 1915 the National Sporting Club arranged Basham's first defence of his welterweight title, his opponent being Tom McCormick who had held the title briefly in 1914. The twenty round fight lasted until the thirteenth when Basham stopped McMormick through a technical knockout. In 1916 Basham defended his British title for the second time, again at the National Sporting Club in Covent Garden, facing Scotsman Eddie Beattie. The match went as far as the nineteenth before Beattie was stopped via a technical knockout.
In later years Johnny was a poor man, when the American troops were in Newport during the last war Johnny would walk into a pub displaying his Lonsdale belt in the hope of them buying a drink for him, and the belt could often be seen displayed behind the bar. Johnny was a popular figure in Newport and the people of Newport rallied through a sportsmans' committee and organised a boxing tournament the proceeds of which were to have provided Johnny with a pension. But unfortunately just one week before the tournament Johnny died. There was a huge turnout for Johnny's funeral. A simple wooden cross marked Johnny's grave for 40 years until in 1987 a boxing tournament was arranged between Newport and its German twin town of Heidenheim. The ring was set up in Newport Centre, the advertising went out and by the end of the evening enough money was raised to pay for a handsome headstone.
Provenance: Christies: The property of J.Carr esq., March 31st 1954 Lot 119, the lot includes the original catalogue from this sale. On Johnny Bashams death the belt was sold by his widow to the Reform Club in Newport of which he had been a member, and was subsequently disposed of by the club to the present owners family.

MUSEUM CLEARANCE SALE!

Capt EWD Bell and Sgt Luke O’Connor won VCs at The Alma, Crimea, 1854

Sgt Luke O’Connor, although badly wounded, took up the Regimental Colour and, dashing forward planted it on the Redoubt above the Alma River. When the Russians left the Redoubt Captain Bell, seeing that one of the 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. Captain Bell and Sgt O’Connor received VCs, and the latter was commissioned in the field.

20th September 1854 – ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY - Crimea

Battle of the Alma, 1854

The progress of the Allied advance on Sevastopol in the Russian Crimea, was halted by the Russian forces drawn up on hills across the river Alma. In the attack on the Great Redoubt the ensign carrying the Regimental Colour was killed, followed by Lieut-Col Chester, the CO, who had seized it. Eventually the Great Redoubt was taken but a counter-attack forced a withdrawal. Reinforced, it was again taken, but at great cost, the Regiment suffering over 200 casualties.

14th SEPTEMBER 1854 - ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY - CRIMEA

The 1st Battalion lands on the Crimea.

The Royal Welch were one of the first units to land in the Crimea as part of a joint British and French force. Major Daniel Lysons, RWF, claimed to be the first British soldier to have set foot on the Crimea following a hotly contested row to the shore. Lyons went on to command the Regiment in the Crimea following the death of Lieutenant Harry Chester the much loved and respected commanding officer at the Battle of The Alma on the 20th of September 1854. Daniel Lysons wrote an account of his experiences in his book “The Crimea First to Last”.

LYSONS, Daniel�Born on 1 August 1816 at Rodmarton, Gloucestershire, he was the second son of Rev. Daniel Lysons MA FRS, of Hempsted Court, Gloucestershire, and his second wife Josepha Catherine, daughter of John Gilbert Cooper Esq. of Thurgarton Priory, Nottinghamshire. He was educated at the Reverend Harvey Myatt’s School at Bath, and Shrewsbury School (1829–32), after which he was in Nîmes for two years (1832–3) learning French.
He purchased his commission as ensign in the 1st (The Royal) Regiment of Foot on 26 December 1834 and as lieutenant 23 August 1837. He served with his regiment in Canada during the insurrection, including the actions of St. Denis (November 1837), where he was honourably mentioned in Colonel Gore’s despatches, and of Eustache. He was also mentioned in despatches and in General Orders on the occasion of the wreck of the transport Premier on 4 November 1843 and was promoted captain in the 3rd West India Regiment on 29 December the same year.
He transferred to RWF and purchased his majority on 3 August 1849. The first British soldier to land in the Crimea, he was present at the battle of the Alma where he acted as Assistant Adjutant General, 2nd Division, a service for which Lord Raglan, in his despatch of 28 September 1854, reported that ‘Lieutenant-General Sir de Lacy Evans eulogises the conduct of Major Lysons’. Promoted lieutenant-colonel on 21 September 1854 he took command of RWF in succession to Lieutenant-Colonel H. Chester who had been killed in action (q.v.). He was also present at the battle of Inkerman, the minor affairs of Bulganac,
Kirby update by RJMS - May 2011 Edn
McKenzie’s Farm and the capture of Balaclava. Present during the whole of the siege of Sebastopol, he led the main column of the attack on the Redan by the Light Division on 18 June 1855, commanding the 1st Brigade of the Light Division in the later part of the action when he was severely wounded in the leg and was mentioned in despatches. At the final assault on the Redan on 8 September 1855 he was severely wounded when a ball lodged in his thigh.
Appointed CB on 5 July and promoted brevet colonel on 17 July 1855, he was given command of 2nd Brigade, Light Division from October 1855 until the end of the war in the Crimea. He received the Crimea medal with the clasps ‘Alma’, ‘Inkermann’ and ‘Sebastopol’; The Turkish Crimea medal and the Sardinian medal ‘Al Valore Militare’ and was appointed an officer of the Legion of Honour 4th Class and to the 3rd Class of the Turkish Order of Medjidie.
After the Crimean War he was sent to Canada to organise the Militia of Canada at the Trent affair in December 1861. His subsequent promotions and appointments were DQMG in Canada 1862-67; major-general 6 March 1868 commanding the Brigade in Malta; Brigade Commander at Aldershot 1869-1872 and Northern Division 1872-74; QMG to the Forces 1876–80; promoted lieutenant-general 2 June 1877 and elevated to KCB. He was appointed colonel 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot on 28 August 1878. Promoted General on 14 July 1879 he commanded the Aldershot Division from 1880-83. On 26 June 1881 he was appointed Hon. colonel 1st (Volunteer) Bn. The Royal Fusiliers (10th Middlesex), elevated to GCB in 1886 and on 26 March 1890 was appointed Constable of the Tower of London.
He was responsible for the publication of various drill books and wrote The Crimean War From First to Last, John Murray (1895) and Early Reminiscences, John Murray (1896). He married first Harriet Sophia, daughter of Charles Bridges of Overton in 1856 and
second Anna Sophia Biscoe daughter of Rev. Robert Tritton of Morden, Surrey, in 1865. His second son, Lieutenant Henry Lysons, was awarded the Victoria Cross in the Zulu War.
Lieutenant-General Sir Daniel Lysons GCB died on 29 January 1898 at 22 Warwick Square, London. The Times of 3 February 1898 carries an account of his funeral on 2 February at Rodmarton, and simultaneous memorial service, at which the Queen was represented, in St Gabriel’s Church, Warwick Square, London SW. A list of those who attended, which included three field marshals, four admirals and eighteen generals, is in the Parish Magazine.
The Oxford DNB has a detailed biography, including many sources and a list of portraits. The National Portrait Gallery has two likenesses of him, one of which is a chromolithograph (1878) by Sir Leslie Ward (the caricaturist Spy).
Obituary�The Times 31 January 1898�St Gabriel’s Parish Magazine, March 1898 (RWF Museum L/652/53) Who Was Who, Vol. I
Memorials�St Giles’s Church, Wrexham, North Wales
Also of�General Sir Daniel Lysons GCB sometime Lieut Colonel Commanding 1st Battn RWF QM General of the Forces and Constable of the Tower Born 1816 Died 1898
References�Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, online at
Kirby update by RJMS - May 2011 Edn
http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/printable/17297
Burke, Bernard J, Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, 1852 vol. 1, page 780–1
Wikipedia – Royal Welch Fusiliers officers online at
http://en.wikipedia.org/…/Category:Royal_Welch_Fusiliers_of…
The Times 3 February 1898�Auden, J. E. (Ed.) Shrewsbury School Register, Vol. 1 1798–1908, Wilding & Son,
Shrewsbury, 1928, pages 76–7�Ward, Beatrice (Ed.), Letters of Edwin Utterton from the Crimea and the Indian Mutiny,
Privately printed Gibraltar, 1964, pages 16, 18, 24, 24, 36, 46�Kirby, Major E. L. (Ed.) Letters of Boscawen Trevor Griffith from the Crimea. Privately
published, nd.

RWF Llandudno 1915

The 17th service battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers on parade in 1915 at Bodysgallen Hall near Llandudno, North Wales, UK

Our World War One Faces Project

Do you have photograph of a Royal Welch Fusilier from WW1?

May we have a copy?

rwfmuseum1@btconnect.com

Our Memorial Garden

Please do come and place a Poppy Cross in out=r Memorial Garden inside Caernarfon Castle. It will be in place until November 20th. Come and remember any soldier from any regiment in WW1. 

Contact us on rwfmuseum1@btconnect.com for details.

Presently over 3000 poppies planted by people from 52 countries raising almost £8000 for the Poppy Appeal to date

10th September 1943 ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Sinking of HMS Abdiel, 1943

The 6th Bn (Royal Welch) The Parachute Regt was serving in North Africa. It was warned for operations which turned out to be in Italy. The battalion boarded HMS Abdiel on the evening of the 8th. When it reached Taranto Bay in Italy, no move was made to disembark the troops. On the 10th, shortly after midnight there was a violent explosion and Abdiel began to sink. Fifty-eight members
of the battalion were lost, including the CO and RSM.

Welcome to the Medals Room in our museum.

Thought you might like a bit of a virtual tour of our Medals Room in our museum. Enjoy! Come along and see the real thing.

Photos copyright Lynn Arrowsmith

8th September 1855 ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Assault on the Redan, Sevastopol, Crimea, Russia, 1855

The 23rd took part in the terrible assault on that part of the stronghold called the Redan. The Russian fire was so intense that 14 of the 18 officers became casualties as they led their men across
285 yards of open ground to the objective. As no second line reinforced it the Regiment had to fall back. The Russians, however, had had enough and they abandoned it.

7th September 1736 ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Porteous riots in Edinburgh, 1736

The 23rd was in Edinburgh when, on 15 April, Captain Porteous, commander of the City Guard, ordered his men to fire on a mob, killing or wounding 17 persons. He was found guilty of murder but reprieved by the Queen. On 7 September a mob seized Porteous from prison and hanged him. The city magistrates called for assistance from the 23rd, which was deployed throughout the city.

4th September 1918 - ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

The death of Acting Captain John Shingler MC, 4th Battalion, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers

John Stanley Marsh Shingler, was born at Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia, the son of Sarah Elizabeth and the late John Hilton Shingler of Scotland Street, Ellesmere. Shrops, was educated at Ellesmere College, and served with the College Contingent Junior Division, OTC. Was commissioned 2/Lt (11/11/14) to 4 RWF joining the battalion in France. Then converted to a pioneer battalion in Sept 1915 in the 47th London Div, he was promoted Temp Lt (2/3/16) and Lt (1/6/16).Was gazetted (20/7/16) A/Capt and while working on the trenching and tramway along the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge, he was awarded the MC 6 Jul 1917 for an action on the 11/12th Jun at Bluff Tunnels. He commanded D Coy, but lost his company in the battalion re-organization 27 Jan 1918 when his coy was split into three platoons and transferred, one to each of the other coys in the battalion. Later he commanded a coy (28/6/18) with the rank of A/Capt, was wounded in mopping up operations at St. Pierre Vasst Wood 2 Sept, and died of wounds 4 Sept 1918 age 25. Buried Dernancourt Communal Cemy Extension, France.

MC Citation :- For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at a critical moment when hostile shell fire was constantly concentrated upon his platoon, who were working in a trench. He steadied and collected his men, going up and down the trench for the purpose, and showing utter disregard of his own safety while doing so. He led them then from the shelled area, afterwards taking them back to their work and completing it with success before day-light. Throughout the operation he has displayed coolness and untiring energy when employed on similar work.

MC (LG 25/8/17).

Captain John Shingler seated on right of photograph.

4th September 1916 ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

Lieut Albert Nevitt won Albert Medal, 1916

He was giving bombing instruction at Bodelwyddan Park, near Rhyl on 4 September 1916. A bomb fell into the trench. At the second attempt he found it in the water and threw it over the parapet
where it exploded. A similar incident occurred three weeks later. On 4 October he stayed with an injured sergeant after an explosion in the bomb store. He had earlier won an MC and been mentioned in despatches while serving with 10 RWF.

2nd September 1882 ON THIS DAY IN RWF HISTORY

2 RWF march through North Wales, 1892

When the 2nd Battalion returned from Ireland a recruiting march was planned from Holyhead to Wrexham. Some of the journey was covered by train and the route included Bangor, Caernarfon,
Harlech, Dolgellau, Llanrwst, Abergele, St Asaph, Denbigh, Corwen, Llangollen and Wrexham. Officers and men were lavishly entertained along their route. Only a few recruits came forward and the Goat was accidentally killed.