No diaries for the campaign in south west africa in 19141915 are included in this series because no british units participated. There is a very interesting book on the siege by john dixon, a clash of empires, the south wales borderers at tsingtao, 1914 with many photos from the regimental museum, and a nominal roll of the men who were at the siege of tsingtao. It was redesignated as 1st battalion south wales borderers in december 1942. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The south wales borderers was a line infantry regiment of the british army in existence for 280 years it came into existence in england in 1689, as sir edward derings regiment of foot, and afterwards had a variety of names and headquarters. Daniel idwal hopkins, south wales borderers holyhead war. We are currently researching francis henry slade, do you have any information to help us to complete his story. The 2nd battalion the south wales borderers was present throughout the whole campaign and was the only welsh battalion to take part in the amphibious assault on 25 april 1915. In 1782, it became the 24th regiment of foot, and had its depot in warwickshire based at brecon from 1873, the regiment recruited from the border.
The following is an extract from the 1st battalion, south wales borderers war diary on the day that james cadman was killed. The regimental museum of the royal welsh tells the long and proud story of the royal welsh, wales infantry regiment. The history of the south wales borderers, 19141918. Eight ampthill camp recruits are among the casualties this month.
First world war for a digital age the national archives. The commonwealth war graves commission has 1,531 recorded ww1 deaths for the 2nd battalion, south wales borderers. The south wales borderers was an infantry regiment of the british army. South wales borderers during the boer war 18991902. Casualties were suffered at the fighting at langemarck from 2124 october.
South wales borderers in the second world war 19391945. Welsh volunteers formed in 1967 from the territorial battalions of the welsh brigade. Large losses were suffered by both the 1st battalion south wales borderers and the 2nd battalion worcestershire regiment at gheluvelt on 31 october 1914. Many of these men had prior military experience, and had reenlisted at the outbreak of war. The records imply he joined up in stratford, and his address as shown on the bethnal green memorials roll of honour was 92 gosset street, bethnal green. James cadman south wales borderers orb works war memorial. The royal welsh was formed in 2006 when the royal regiment of wales merged with the royal welch fusiliers, but our regimental history has a much greater reach than this date suggests. This is an accurate and faithful transcription of the 2nd bn south wales borderers war diary during the gallipoli campaign. Since 1782, the regiment had been associated with the county of warwickshire. First world war silk postcard depicting the cloth hall at ypres in flames from german. South wales borderers in the great war the wartime memories. In the advances to bloemfontein and pretoria the south wales borderers had never very desperate fighting.
The regimental colours of the south wales borderers in. South wales borderers during ww1 since 1815 the balance of power in europe had been maintained by a series of treaties. These records are the unit war diaries of the british army in the first world war and are held by the national archives in record. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
If you dont know some of these just leave them blank. The 12 th south wales borderers war diary recorded, the battalion thus loses a very gallant officer and a chivalrous, generous and large minded gentleman. Hardcover first printing with dustjacket, since their birth as derings regiment in march 1689, the 24th which in 1881 became the south wales borderers have participated in nearly all the large and small wars of the past 279 years from cartagena in south america to narvik in arctic norway, 157 pages, illustrated throughout, book has a. It first came into existence, as the 24th regiment of foot, in 1689, but was not called the south wales borderers until 1881. South wales borderers pre ww1 armed forces page 1 rootschat. Get a daytoday look at what your ancestors unit was up to during the first world war with these war diaries. The commonwealth war graves commission has 1,291 recorded ww1 deaths for the 1st battalion, south wales borderers. Trenches near white house running east to morto bay. Paddy maher, 2nd south wales borderers, kia 4th april 1916. An extract from the london gazette, dated, 26th sept. Nov 22, 2010 welsh poet and language activist saunders lewis served in the south wales borderers during wold war i.
It is optimised for viewing online and is fully searchable. Embargoed until tuesday 14 january 2014, london, 00. We know that the 2nd bedfords were in the trenches at ypres. The south wales bordererspaperback online bookstore. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading gallipoli diary. Our vision is to lead and transform information management, guarantee the survival of todays information for tomorrow and bring history to life for everyone. A further four were killed in action on september 20. On april 6th 1916, barely three weeks before the easter rising, paddy maher a 35 year old british army veteran who had seen service in china and gallipoli from lower conaghy, county kilkenny, had just arrived at the front. Born in southgate, in middlesex, he joined the british army and served as a private in the 2nd battalion, 24th regiment of foot later the south wales borderers. The battle of the aisne, 1914 the long, long trail.
It was later announced that, had he survived, charlie would have been recommended for the distinguished service order for his bravery. The south wales borderers and its predecessor units were one of the most distinguished, as well as one of the most venerable, line regiments in the british army. First world war diaries go online to mark centenary. South wales borderers service records and medal cards world. It could be argued that this action halted the enemy break through to the channel ports and saved the war for the entente. The south wales borderers, which you can see in the attached pictures. South wales borderers archives page 4 of 5 ww1 roll of honour. The south wales borderers was formed on the 1st july 1881 from the 24th the 2nd warwickshire regiment of foot. Search the archive to find a document, enter keywords such as surname, forename and then use the select lists for war, area of conflict and regiment. Some brief details of the units of those men with prior military experience can be seen in the child subset here.
An annotated copy of the south wales borderers 7th battalions war diary, covering. Mehefin 1944 y glaniodd 2nd battalion the south wales borderers 2nd battalion the outh wales borderers landed at asnelles on 6th june 1944 le deuxieme bataillon the south wales borderers ont adorde asnelles le 6 juin 1944. He was a very clever young fellow, and was known as dan. The battalion has a memorial on the spot, right next to that of the worcesters. The history of the south wales borderers 1914 1918. Buy the history of the south wales borderers 1914 1918 by atkinson, c. South wales borderers 2nd warwickshire regiment battle honours. The war diary reports unexpectedly encountering a trench complex and machine guns that were concealed by the heavy undergrowth. The central fort at tsingtau is stormed and two hundred prisoners are taken. Thomas lovatt came from tunstall near stokeontrent, staffordshire, and saw service during the great war as a private later sergeant no. The 2nd battalion provided the only british contribution, a symbolic one, to the japanese invasion of tsingtao a german naval base in china that was the base of the east asiatic squadron. It forms part of a series of the gallipoli diaries. Grisly tales from trenches revealed as british officers. Find your heroes and veterans from the great war in this collection of medal and award rolls.
A vividly written, thoughtprovoking and engaging account. The newly formed regiment was established as the county regiment for brecknockshire, cardiganshire, monmouthshire, montgomeryshire and radnor and started numbering from 1 in 1881. Ww1 british army war diaries researching ww1 soldiers. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This was recognised during the 1881 army reforms, when it was renamed the south wales borderers and made the county regiment for monmouthshire, breconshire, radnorshire and montgomeryshire. Normandy 2nd bn the south wales borderers an extract from the regimental history as it grew light we were able to see the majestic sight of the whole armada steaming proudly in. The battalion was stationed here until september 19 when it redeployed to bordon camp, an offshoot of the armys presence at aldershot.
Text books and instructions war diaries facsimile reprints of official war office wo95 documents western front. Patersons diary is, rather unusually, included with the battalions war diary and covers the period in september 1914 as the battalion advanced from. Diaries from soldiers in the first battalion south wales borderers portray. This diary is an accurate and faithful transcription of the original war diary of the 1st bn kings own scottish borderers during the gallipoli campaign. This tag is allocated to all individuals details on this website who served in the south wales borderers. Uk, wwi war diaries gallipoli and dardanelles, 19141916. Down south by chris parry one mans astonishing diary of war in the falklandsa gripping account of heroism and chaos in the south atlantic mail on sundaycompelling, gripping. The commonwealth war graves commission has 6,012 recorded ww1 deaths for the south wales borderers. The newly formed regiment was established as the county regiment for brecknockshire, cardiganshire, monmouthshire, montgomeryshire and. In august 1914 the swb consisted of two regular battalions, the 1st in bordon with 3rd brigade 1st division, the 2nd in tientsin. The following is detail of his regiment and the battle of sahmaw chaung where bert gave his life. Do you know anything about francis henry slades military service or have any photos to add to this page. The original 1st battalion swb had been disbanded in august 1942 in cyprus, most of the unit having been taken prisoner or becoming casualties in north africa.
Borderers in battle the war story of the kings own scottish borderers, 19391945. To give you an example of how useful a war diary can be, below is a transcript from the war diary of the 2nd battalion, south wales borderers in gallipoli. The bedfords 2nd battalion saw action on 11 july at trones wood map. National archives release poignant world war one diaries. British army war diaries 19141922 the national archives. In 1934, the famous colours carried by the regiment during the 1879 zulu war were deposited in the chapel. Atkinson and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
A memorial to 2nd battalion the south wales borderers who landed at asnelles on the 6th june 1944. The south wales borderers was a line infantry regiment of the british army in existence for 280. Pattersons own neatly typewritten diary, recording the movements of the 1st battalion south wales borderers, comes to an abrupt end on october 25, 1914, when he. This book examines the uniforms, equipment, history and organisation of the south wales borderers, from marlboroughs wars through to world war 2. Feuchy chapel british cemetery, wancourt, pasdecalais, france. B ertrand jones went to war with the south wales borderers and made the ultimate sacrifice on august 5th 1944 fighting the japanese in burma. South wales borderers archives page 2 of 5 ww1 roll of honour. In 1888 wilhelm ii was crowned german emperor and king of prussia and moved from a policy of maintaining the status quo to a more aggressive position. Formed in 1689 as sir edward derings regiment of foot, in1782 it became the 24th the 2nd warwickshire regiment of foot. The history of the south wales borderers, 19141918, christopher thomas atkinson on. By 1910 the 2 nd battalion, south wales borderers swb, were stationed in post boer war south africa. Buy history of the south wales borderers, 191418 by c.
South wales borderers 2nd, 10th, 11th diaries unit war diaries. Record details for w r j coulson south wales borderers. Paterson of the 1st south wales borderers 3rd infantry brigade, 1st division, i corps. But in 1873, the regimental depot moved to brecon in south wales. South wales borderers enlistments upon the outbreak of war. Now got the war diaries for the south wales borderers 10th 1st.
Private james henry flynn vc served with the 4th battalion, south wales borderers and died, age 23, on the 30th march 1917. The 24th regiment south wales borderers established their regimental depot in brecon in 1873 and the havard chapel in brecon cathedral was dedicated as the regimental chapel in 1922. The south wales borderers, 24th regiment of foot south wales borderers white metal woodward bham. South wales borderers museum the national archives. Quiet day spent in improving trenches and making a. List of battalions of the south wales borderers wikipedia. The bedfordshire regiment 7th battalion war diary provides an account of what happened on 1 july 1916 more.
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries. Our library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, transcribed into plain text. He had previously served in the regiment, but in 1914 was a reservist. Below this page, there will be several subgroups of the men of the 2nd battalion who were in china at the outbreak of war in 1914. This book examines the uniforms, equipment, history and organisation of the south wales borderers, from marlboroughs wars 170217 through to world war ii. The regiments service in the napoleonic wars 17991815, the zulu war 1879and in india are all covered. I had assumed his previous time with swb would have been served in the same battalion, but i think i have now found him in the 1911 census with the second battalion in pretoria, south africa. Frederick hitch was illiterate, and when he joined the army he signed the official enlistment forms with a cross x. South wales borderers rugby historian gwyn prescott. Ww1 soldier diaries placed online by national archives bbc news. The history of the south wales borderers 19141918 by c. Commissioned as temporary second lieutenant on 3 june 1915, he arrived in france 6 september 1916, being posted to the 2nd battalion south wales borderers. Discover, explore and remember millions of personal stories from the first world war. History of the south wales borderers 1914 1918 naval.
The south wales borderers, 24th foot, 16891937, atkinson, christopher thomas on. Other historians give little credence to the success of the battalion on that day and this book sets out to redress the balance. South wales borderers in the great war the wartime. It consisted of four battalions drawn from garrisons in china, india and burma.
It was here that the battalion was mobilised upon the outbreak of war. South wales borderers in the second world war, the wartime memories project. South wales borderers 2nd, 10th, 11th diaries unit war. National archives release poignant world war one diaries on centenary of war. Francis henry slade south wales borderers orb works war. South wales borderers gallipoli diaries kindle edition by adjutant south wales borderers, martin gillott. Comprehensive regimental history that includes all twentyone battalions that existed during the war.
The 2nd battalion of the worcestershire regiment is often remembered for its gallant lone advance to recapture gheluvelt at the height of a crisis on 31 october 1914. Two of the boys private ralph and private ashwell died in turkey where they were serving with the 4th battalion, south wales borderers. Formed in 1689, the year of the glorious revolution the regiment played a major part in britains 18th century wars with france, and in colonial conflicts of the 19th century. Each unit in world war one was required to keep a diary of its daytoday activities. Jan 30, 2010 ive been trying to trace further details of a friends relative who was also in the first battalion, south wales borderers.
Captain dudley g johnson south wales borderers will be awarded the distinguished service order for conspicuous ability during the morning of these operations and for great gallantry in rescuing several wounded men while exposed to heavy machine gun fire. Specialised books for the serious student of conflict. South wales borderers for sale in uk view 21 bargains. Nov 11, 2014 the south wales borderers as a regiment no longer exists but the role it played in the early months of world war one is never forgotten by veterans. The battalion was sent to the far east in 1912, so at the outbreak of the war paddy is likely to have been at tientsin in northern china. The 10th and 11th battalions served with 38th welsh division in france from the. Dec 16, 2014 can anyone tell me where i can find the service records and medal cards for soldiers serving in ww1 in the south wales borderers, i have tried looking for my grandfather john selwyn taylor, he was invalided out in 1916 at mametz wood after being hit by several pieces of shrapnel, which left him in hospital for the next 3 years. It is much less wellknown that the 1st south wales borderers also played a part in this action. Ww1 soldier diaries placed online by national archives.
His medal card shows that he landed in france on 11th january 1915, just three months later, on 16th april 1915 james was killed in action. Diaries from british soldiers describing life on the frontline during world war. We cant guarantee you will unearth what you are looking for, but we can try to help you enjoy the process of finding out. Now got the war diaries for the south wales borderers 10th 1st gwent and 11th 2nd gwent battalions to go with the 2nd battalions diary. Uk, wwi war diaries france, belgium and germany, 19141920.
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