200
THE YPRES TIMES
All these were killed in the futile attacks on Morval on August 30th. In
addition, the same cross marked the graves of
L./Cpl. C. Coleman, of Sutton-in-Ashfield.
Pte. J. R. Jones, of Pont-y-cymmer.
The former fell earlier in the day at Delville Wood, and Pte. Jones on
August 27th. Two of the fallen the writer particularly remembers. Capt. T. C. H.
Berry was his own brother and had joined the 14th Welch Regiment only a few
days before. He had been severely wounded at Messines in June, 1917, when
serving with the ist/8th City of London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), and had
spent most of the year following in hospitals. He fell whilst gallantly leading
his company against the commanding stronghold of Morval. Lieut. Balsom
was another Territorial Officer (4th Welch Regiment), but recently attached to
the 14th Welch Regiment. G. Y. P. Jones impressed all who knew him, not less
by courage and cheerfulness than by the handsome charm of his youth.
Among others of the Welch Regiment who fell during these actions, and whose
graves are in Morval Cemetery, were:
Capt. C. J. Boulton, M.C., of Hanley, the brave and deservedly popular Adjutant of the
13th Welch Regiment, killed August 30th.
2/Lieut. E. Burtonwood, of Maesteg, also of the 13th Welch Regiment aged 23.
2/Lieut. C. H. Hughes, 14th Welch Regiment, killed September 1staged 22.
2/Lieut. H. J. Bladon, of Cardiff, who, like Graham (above), was attached to the 14th
Welch Regiment from the 4th (Territorial) Battalion killed September 1st aged 28.
2/Lieut. C. H. Hughes, of Morda, 14th Welch Regiment, killed August 30th aged 22.
Two other officers of the Welch Regiment who made the supreme sacrifice at
about the same time as those mentioned above were
Lieut. A. D. Morris, 13th Welch Regiment.
2/Lieut. E. V. Rowe, 13th Welch Regiment.
Their graves have never been identified and so their names are engraved on Panel 7 of the Memorial
to the Missing erected by the Imperial War Graves Commission* at Vis-en-Artois. Morris had served
continuously with the 13th Welch Regiment since 1915 and, as a result of fearless patrolling work,
none knew No Man's Land" from Weiltje to Boesinghe as he did. His duties as bombing officer
earned for him the affectionate name of Dai Bombs." Six other officers of the Welch Regiment
may also be mentioned as their deaths in action belong to this period, though immediately preceding
the attack on Morval2/Lieut. E. G. Jones and 2/Lieut. P. L. Leech, both of the 13th Welch Regi
ment, whose graves are at Gezaincourt and Longueval (Caterpillar Valley) respectively Lieut. C. T.
Osmond and 2/Lieut. W. H. Hazard, both of the 14th Welch Regiment, are buried at Gezaincourt
Bagneux) and Delville Wood respectively 2/Lieuts. R. C. Evans and W. Bowe are buried at Pozières
and Fienvillers.
So heavy were the losses among other ranks that it is impossible to refer to
them individually, though mention has been made above of those who, in the
equality of death, shared a common grave at Morval. During the whole of the
Second Battle of Bapaume, which lasted altogether less than a fortnight, i.e., from
August 21st to September 3rd, the three Service Battalions of the Welch Regiment
lost 15 officers killed and 28 woundedf. Among other ranks the casualties were
208 killed, 900 wounded and 55 missing. The total casualties (killed, wounded and
missing) for all ranks were thus 1,206.
The Secretary, Imperial War Graves Commission, has most kindly supplied me with this and
other information.
J I am indebted for these figures to the History of the Welch Regiment, Part II, by Major General
Sir Thomas O. Marden, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G. This splendid history is a unique source of information
for all matters relating to the history of that regiment. Reference may also be made to the brief
History of the 38th {Welsh) Division, by Lieut.-Colonel Rhys Price, C.M.G., D.S.O., and Lieut.-Colonel
J. E. Mumby, C.M.G., D.S.O.