30 May 1915 - 6th Welsh Battalion

[Moriaty]

Western Mail 3 June 1915:

"Canal Bank Tragedy - Fate of seven of the 6th Welsh.

There appears to be confirmation of this report that seven members of the 6th Welsh (Swansea) have been drowned accidentally in France, as the news has now been in two separate letters.

Mrs. Hooper of Cwmbrla has received a letter from her husband, Bandsman Albert A Hooper, of the 6th Welsh Regiment, who says “I am properly upset, as the news I have to give you is awful. Poor Dick Harris has been drowned, with six men of our regiment. A party of twenty odd were in a lorry going on a fatigue duty when the lorry ran into another one coming in the opposite direction. The two back wheels meeting resulted in the trolley, with our men, being pitched into the canal a little way out. All the men, except Harris and the six I mention were saved”.

Confirmation of the sad tidings is to hand in a note inserted in a letter sent home to Cwmbwrla. It reads as follows: - “I greatly regret to inform you that since writing this letter Bandsman Richard Harris has been drowned in an accident in which six others of his comrades also lost their lives. They were in a motor-lorry which collided with another and were thrown into the canal - (signed) L O Fisk, Lieutenant, 6th Welsh.” [?Frisby]

Private William Baird, aged 24

Private William Fisher, aged 27

Private Richard (Dick) Harris, aged 32

Private Thomas Edward Lewis, age unknown

Private William Edward Lovett, aged 19

Private Richard (Dick) Pugh, aged 37

Private Francis (Frank) Richards, aged 19

Buried Calais Southern Cemetery, France

[little bob]

Bob

[clive_hughes]

Remembered

Clive

[Rum Ration]

Lest We Forget.

[little bob]

A photograph of Pte., Richard (Dick) Harris appears in the 5thJune 1915 edition of the South Wales Weekly Post.

Bob

[Moriaty]

Thanks for that Bob.

The South Wales Weekly Post for Saturday 19 June 1915 reported on the memorial service held at St Luke's, Cwmbwria in memory of Bandsman Harris. The vicar, Rev D Thomas, conducted the service and the band of the 6th Welsh Regiment, stationed in Swansea, was also present. Over the pulpit a Union Jack was placed.

For his text the vicar took the words: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant". He said his first dealings with Dick Harris were when he was the secretary of the Waifs and Strays Society, for which he had done great work. The vicar remembered the last words Dick had said to him before departing for France "If I will not return, I am prepared to die". Dick had lived "a clean, honest and christian life .... Bandsman Harris was a cheery, breezy, good-natured fellow, and we will be the poorer for his piety and earnestness."

[Verrico2009]

RIP

[smilingsixth]

The graves at Calais Southern Cemetery

 

Simon

[Bernard_Lewis]

Thanks for posting.

 

Bernard

[Moriaty]

Still remembered after over 100 years.

Moriaty

[Guest]

Francis Richards was my great uncle. He was from Ethel Street, neath.  I remember him always and especially this year on the hundredth anniversary of the first world war.  I put his picture with his medals up in the window of our home along with a candle. I will remember all those who died with him.  May they all rest in peace.

Here he is

Ann

[smilingsixth]

Ann

 

A very fitting tribute.

 

Simon

[smilingsixth]

 From my research files.

 

CANAL BANK TRAGEDY

30th May 1915 - Back in France water was to play the role in taking of the lives of seven men of the 6th Welsh in one day. The accident happened while men were traveling back to camp form one of the railheads and are best described by a letter written by the bandmaster  (878, Albert Hooper) of the 6th Welsh band to the mother of one of the band members that was killed.

“I am properly upset, as the news I have to give you is awful. Poor Dick Harris has been drowned with six men of our regiment. A party of twenty odd was in a lorry form a fatigue party when the lorry ran into another one coming in the opposite direction. The two back wheels meeting resulted in the lorry with our men in being pitched into a canal, a little way out. All the men, except Harris and six other, were all saved.”

 

Lieutenant L. O. Fisk also wrote to Private Harris mother

 “I greatly regret to inform you that since writing this letter Bandsman Richards has been drowned in an accident which six others of his comrades also lost their lives. They were in a motor lorry which collided with another and was thrown into the canal”

 

The men drowned on the 30th May 1915 were: -

Private, 2090, William, Baird, from Swansea

Private, 2710, William Fisher, from Cocket (near Swansea)

Private, 317, Richard Thomas Harris, from Middle road, Cwmburla

Private, 2426, Thomas Edward Lewis, born in Llwynpia, lived in Cymmer

Private, 2549, William Edward Lovett, lived in Maesteg

Private, 2365, Richard Pugh, Son of Griffith and Ann Pugh of Tanyfron, Pennal, Merioneth,

Private, 1751, Frank Richards, born and lived in Neath

 

All the men of the battalion are buried at Calais Southern Cemetery, par de Calais. Their graves are all next to each other and the graves reference numbers are consecutive ref Plot A. Row I. Grave 1 - to 6. I can only assume that their comrades buried the men together so they could be together with their friends in their final resting place.

 

 

 

Simon

 

 

[smilingsixth]

The 6th Welsh Memorial at Christ Church, Richardson St , Swansea

[Bernard_Lewis]

Get that book finished, Smiling Sixth! 😉

 

Bernard