198
THE YPRES TIMES
Divisioncasualties which occurred between August 31st and September 4th
inclusive. These graves have now been concentrated into the Sailly-Saillisel
British Cemetery, thirty-four being identified burials and five unidentified.
The assaults of the Welch Regiment on Morval on August 30th and September
1st and the eventual capture of the village were but incidents in the Second Battle
of Bapaume which had waged since August 21st, but they were marked by
unexampled (or, at least, unsurpassed) tenacity, courage and sacrifice. For several
days the 38th (Welsh) Division had fought its way eastward until, by the evening
of August 29th-30th, the 10th South Wales Borderers (115th Brigade) had taken
Lesbceufs. The 113th Brigade on their right were, however, arrested in their
advance before Morval by the unexpected strength of the enemy's forces in that
village. Although all along the German line the enemy had withdrawn all except
essential men and guns, Morval, which occupied a commanding position, was
found to be strongly held. Neither of the two divisions on our flanks could move
until Morval fell, so that the resistance of that stronghold held up the whole
advance. That same evening, therefore, the 113th Brigade (Royal Welch Fusiliers
made another valiant attempt to capture the village, but were again unsuccessful,
and during the night were relieved by the 114th Brigade (13th, 14th and 15th
Battalions, The Welch Regiment).
The next day, August 30th, was a tragic one for the Welch Regiment. The
enemy continued to offer a courageous and effective resistance to our onslaughts.
As Morval still held out, the 17th Division was prevented from reaching the clear
line in front of us which followed the PeronneBapaume Road. The enemy was
also still in possession of Beaulencourt, as our patrols found to their cost. All
day the reserve troops of the Welsh Division were mercilessly shelled. At 5 a.m.
the 13th and 14th Battalions, The Welch Regiment, attacked Morval with
disastrous results. Although the position was a commanding one and strongly
held, the Welch had to attack in broad daylight and entirely without the usual
and necessary artillery support. Naturally, little or no progress was made, while
heavy casualties were incurred. After this obvious lesson, a further attack by the
same battalions was ordered, preceded this time by a preliminary bombardment
and supported by an artillery barrage. Further heavy casualties resulted. The
13th Welch did not receive their orders until it was already too late for them to
reach their assembly positions. Thus it happened that the 14th Welch Regiment,
already twice depleted by heavy casualties, advanced entirely unsupported and found
the enemy in great strength with machine guns and well wired in. Morval still
remained uncaptured; and thus the day closed, the 14th Welch Regiment having
only four officers leftLieut.-Col. G. F. Brooke, D.S.O., Capt. R. D. Williams,
Lieut. I. Williams and 2/Lieut. L. O. Griffiths.
The whole of the following day, August 31st, was spent in bombarding Morval
preparatory to a further assault on that stubborn stronghold on September 1st.
Yet even that day brought its casualties, too. Lieut.-Col. T. Parkinson, D.S.O.,
who had commanded the 15th Welch Regiment since November, 1915, was wounded
by shrapnel, and Capt. J. Williams, M.C., took over the command of the Battalion.
The third and last day of the action against MorvalSeptember 1st,
1918was as successful as the first day was disastrous. According to the
plan of campaign, the 114th Brigade (13th, 14th and 15th Battalions,
The Welch Regiment) was to capture Morval at all costs; the 115th Brigade
(Royal Welch Fusiliers and South Wales Borderers) on their left were to
take Sailly-Saillisel, and the 113th Brigade (Royal Welch Fusiliers) to move
forward to support them. At 4.45 a.m. the three battalions of the Welch Regiment
or what was left of themattacked under cover of a creeping barrage and, after
desperate fighting, finally captured and held their important objective, the village
