RWF

[Terry Marker]

I recently visited Wicres Churchyard Cemetery (near Aubers Ridge) and found four CWGC headstones. Three were to members of the RWF with a date of death as 5 June 1915, the other was unknown.

Could anyone kindly advise me where the RWF (14 Battn) were during the spring of 1915 and why these men would have been buried there. (Were they for example prisoners of the Germans?)

Many thanks,

Terry Marker

[Mike McCarthy]

Hi Terry, trust all well with you,

1/4 Btn RWF as part of 3rd Bde were in theatre in May 1915. In support at Rue d'Ouvert about 1 mile East of Festubert.

best regards

Mike

[larney]

Hi Terry,

The 38th (Welsh) Division (14th RWF were part of 113 Brigade), were holding the line in the Neuve Chappelle Sector, and on 11 June 1916 received orders to march south to the Somme (and of course Mametz Wood). It looks like these men of 14 RWF were among the last casualties suffered by the battalion before this move. (These three men died on 5 June 1916).

I haven't got any war diaries for the RWF I'm afraid, but the Division handed over to the 61st Division. They exchanged one place of slaughter to another, with the 61st being invloved at the later fighting at Fromelles!

I'll dig my history of the RWF out in a bit and see if I can find any more.

Cheers,

Steve.

[Terry Marker]

Hi Terry, trust all well with you,

1/4 Btn RWF as part of 3rd Bde were in theatre in May 1915. In support at Rue d'Ouvert about 1 mile East of Festubert.

best regards

Mike

Many thanks Mike. Hope to meet up again soon. Regards, Terry

[Terry Marker]

Hi Terry,

The 38th (Welsh) Division (14th RWF were part of 113 Brigade), were holding the line in the Neuve Chappelle Sector, and on 11 June 1916 received orders to march south to the Somme (and of course Mametz Wood). It looks like these men of 14 RWF were among the last casualties suffered by the battalion before this move. (These three men died on 5 June 1916).

I haven't got any war diaries for the RWF I'm afraid, but the Division handed over to the 61st Division. They exchanged one place of slaughter to another, with the 61st being invloved at the later fighting at Fromelles!

I'll dig my history of the RWF out in a bit and see if I can find any more.

Cheers,

Steve.

Many thanks Steve, it answers many questions. If you do find any more in the history I would appreciate knowing a little more. Regards, Terry

[larney]

Hi Terry,

Found it!

'The 14th RWF on 4th June sent a party of 60 men, under Captain H. Williams, to raid the Moated Grange. After an artillery bombardment the party penetrated the wire and entered the trench, only to find that the enemy had retired to the support line. With only ten minutes to inflict such damage as they could, they bombed some dugouts and engaged the support trench. The return journey was not so easy, and Captain Williams and 2 other ranks were killed; Lieutenants A. Lloyd Jones, J. Glynn Jones and 24 other ranks were wounded; 5 men were missing.'

From a quick look on the map, Wicres was behind the German lines, and so I would presume that the RWF buried there were among the men captured/ missing during that trench raid.

Best Wishes,

Steve.

[Terry Marker]

Hi Terry,

Found it!

'The 14th RWF on 4th June sent a party of 60 men, under Captain H. Williams, to raid the Moated Grange. After an artillery bombardment the party penetrated the wire and entered the trench, only to find that the enemy had retired to the support line. With only ten minutes to inflict such damage as they could, they bombed some dugouts and engaged the support trench. The return journey was not so easy, and Captain Williams and 2 other ranks were killed; Lieutenants A. Lloyd Jones, J. Glynn Jones and 24 other ranks were wounded; 5 men were missing.'

From a quick look on the map, Wicres was behind the German lines, and so I would presume that the RWF buried there were among the men captured/ missing during that trench raid.

Best Wishes,

Steve.

Great work Steve, many thanks, Terry