38th Welsh Division

[Thomas]

Hello everybody,

Can someone please post a trench map showing the 38th Welsh Divisions attack on the Pilckelm ridge on the 31st of July showing their objectives and the Black and Green lines. The Division was on the right of the Guards Dvision astride the Boesinghe canal and on the left of the 51st Division.

Thanks,

From,

Thomas McCall

[Aurel Sercu]

Thomas,

A map (or better a sketch) coming in half an hour.

The problem : Dudley Ward's Reg. Rec. of the RWF gives a not too detailed sketch. 51st Division (on the right) is a bit better. And the Guards (on the left) is even better.

I'll see if I can find something more detailed.

Interested in anything in particular ? Welsh Regiment or Royal Welsh Fusiliers ? Which battalion ? You may know that the RWF launched the attack of 31 July 1917 (3.50 am) from the Yorkshire Trench (the site which we (Diggers www.diggers.be) restored a year ago.)

Aurel

[Aurel Sercu]

Thomas,

Sorry. Just can't find "a trench map" (as you asked) with the Blue, Black and Green objectives lines for the 38th Division.

Can you do with this primitive sketch ? Useful ?

I'll continue my search...

Aurel

[Thomas]

Thanks Very much Aurel the sketch it's very useful.

I'm interested in the 15th battalion The Welsh Regiment which was a pals battalion made up of men from my county. And The 15th battalion the Royal Welch Fusiliers which the welsh bard Hedd Wyn served with until his death on the Pilckelm ridge.

I know the 15th Royal Welch suffered heavy casualties in taking Battery Copse and I was wondering if this is where he was wounded before being taken to the Regimental Aid Post where he died.

Thanks again Aurel!

From,

Thomas McCall.

[Aurel Sercu]

Thomas,

114th Brigade with 15/Welsh, 14/Welsh and 15/RWF attacked from a line which was some distance (south east) from our Boezinge canal site (with Yorkshire Trench 1 dug-Out).

Hedd Wyn has a memorial plaque as you know at Hagebos ((= Iron Cross, or Vulcan Crossing). I don't know if this is the exact spot where he was wounded. If Battery Copse : I know the name, but I don't know the exact location, thopugh it was close to Hagebos.

He was taken to an Aid Post in Pilkem, Corner House, died there and was buried at Le Lièvre Cemetery (I know more or less where that was, near the railroad). In 1920 or 21 the cemetery moved to Artillery Wood.

Aurel