8th Welsh Regiment (Pioneers)

[CKirkup]

Hi

Does anyone know if anyone has transcribed the war diaries of the 8^th Welsh Regiment (Pioneers)

Also why is it spelled Welch instead of Welsh in some of the great war documents

I have just discovered that my grandfather fought in this regiment - although he was from Preston in Lancashire - presumably he was drafted into whatever regiment needed men?

I have seen the War diary at the National Archives in Kew but it is quite difficult to read

Before I embark on such a task myself I wondered if it already exists

Many thanks for any information

Catherine

[geraint]

Hi Catherine

I'm not too sure about the 8th - but I think the archives would be at Brecon. They would probably have the War Diary there. Do a google on the regiement and you'll get the address. Welch is the archaic form of Welsh, and during the Great War they and the Royal Welch Fusiliers were formaly known as 'Welsh'. They reverted back to Welch in 1920.

Your grandfather may have chosen the Regiment on enlistment - depends when he joined. As the war progressed, especially during conscription days (later half 1916 onwards) - men had no choice and were, as you say, sent to battalions in urgent need of new drafts.

There are a few members on the Forum with a specific interest in The Welch Regiment - they may be able to help you with the diary.

Post your grandfather's full name, and details - it's easier then!

Geraint

[CKirkup]

Hi Catherine

I'm not too sure about the 8th - but I think the archives would be at Brecon. They would probably have the War Diary there. Do a google on the regiement and you'll get the address. Welch is the archaic form of Welsh, and during the Great War they and the Royal Welch Fusiliers were formaly known as 'Welsh'. They reverted back to Welch in 1920.

Your grandfather may have chosen the Regiment on enlistment - depends when he joined. As the war progressed, especially during conscription days (later half 1916 onwards) - men had no choice and were, as you say, sent to battalions in urgent need of new drafts.

There are a few members on the Forum with a specific interest in The Welch Regiment - they may be able to help you with the diary.

Post your grandfather's full name, and details - it's easier then!

Geraint

Thank you for your reply - my grandfather's name was Joseph Pitcher Reg number 43850 - he was just a private - as far as we know he joined in 1915 but don't know a date - no service records exist at Kew = presumably part of the burnt records - but he is in the medal rolls

We only found out his regiment recently having found a picture of him in his uniform in shorts and complete with pith helmet.

They have the handwritten war diary at Kew but I wondered if it had ever been typed up - would this be the sort of record they would have at Brecon?

[geraint]

Google Welsh Regiment, and you'll get the email address for the archives at Brecon. You could enquire there for relevant documents for your grandfather. You've tried The NA - and you say his records have gone.

Try these and see what comes up

swb@rrw.org.uk

www.rrw.org.uk

These are the contact points for the Regiment's museum at Cardiff Castle. I'm sure they'll cover Brecon as well.

Good luck

[larney]

Hi Catherine,

The War Diaries for the Welsh Regiment are held at the National Archives and at Cardiff Castle in the Welch Regiment Museum.

(Brecon is the South Wales Borderers Museum).

I don't know what the new Curator is like, but the old one, John Dart, allowed me to photograph all of the War Diary pages for a couple of the other Welsh Regiment battalions for free. They are all neatly copied in old leather bound volumes, much easier to read than the originals at the NA.

A lot of men from Lancashire were recruited into the Welsh Army Corps- about 250 men from Bolton and Farnworth joined the 15th Welsh for example, and a couple of hundred joined the 10th Welsh, so I would think it quite feasible that many would also have enlisted into the 8th Welsh.

I have a copy of the History of the Welsh Regiment- I can dig out some bits on the 8th Welsh if you want- any specific period?

Best Wishes,

SteveJ.

[CKirkup]

Many thanks to all of you for all your advice

I will follow up some of the leads you have suggested and hope to find out more about my grandfather

Like many men who served in the Great War, my mother. now in her 80s. tells me that he rarely spoke of his experiences and she didn't even know which regiment he had served in - only that he served in Mesopotamia.

It was only recently through researching my family history that I was contacted by a second cousin who I didn't know - his grandmother was my grandfather's sister.

He had lots of photographs including one of my grandfather in his WW1 uniform. I took it to Kew and it was identified as the Welsh Regiment and from the medal rolls I then discovered he was in the 8th.

Having looked at some of the history of the Galipoli / Mesopotamia campaigns on the Long Trail site I can well imagine why he did not want to talk about his experiences

Interestingly 2 years ago I visited the battlefield sites at Gallipoli as part of a tour of Turkey and i never knew that my grandfather may well have been there

Many thanks once again

[Dave W]

The original post was correct - the source for the 8th Bn Welsh Regiment War Diaries will be the Royal Welsh Regt. Museum Brecon (formerly the South Wales Borderers Museum). The redevelopment of Cardiff Castle by the City Council has forced the closure of the old Welch Regiment Museum archives which have been transferred to Brecon.

There will be a display gallery in the castle which will be an amalgam of a few artefacts from the Welch Regt museum and the QDG museum.

Dave

[Guest JaneCable]

Thanks too for the info on finding the Bn war diaries as my grandfather joined then right at the beginning of the war at Cardiff and as far as I know stayed with them for the whole war. He certainly lived through the Dardanelles but spoke little - if anything - of his war. I would love to find out more about him so now I know where to look.

[p j williams]

is this thread still active?

I work for the museum and would like to find out what detail you have on any 8th Bn member

[Guest]

Hi,

 

I am not Welsh but have joined because of a close Welsh friend (Tony Wonklyn) here in Gibraltar.    We were making inquiries about his grandfather and the gentleman as follows  =   Royal Welsh Museum <stephen-farish@btconnect.com>   =  was most helpful and actually traced the relevant diary entry from the 8th about his grandfather, LCpl John Mackintosh, for us.

 

Hope this helps.   He was very kind and I am certain that he would help with your inquiries.

 

Frank