01/07/2026
Helo pawb,
Today, the first of July, is the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, for this post I wanted to share the story of two local men that served in the 14th (Service) Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Private 21323 Evan Williams, Bragdy, and my own Great Great Grandfather, Private 20109 Henry Owen of Pen yr Allt Goch, both from the village of Dinas, Pen Llŷn.
This post mainly draws on the 14th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers War Diary, held under The National Archives reference WO 95/2555/2, with additional context from an article John Eric Williams wrote for our local paper “Llanw Llŷn” titled “O Madryn i Mametz” (From Madryn to Mametz), and some details from a fragile handwritten Welsh memorial poem written by a relative who is somehow related to my great grandfather’s brother (Samuel Owen, who also served but have no idea what regiment, battalion or theatre of war etc) titled “Penillion Coffa am y Bechgyn a syrthiasant yn y Frwydr Fawr ar Gyfandir Ewrop - Perthynol i Ardal y Dinas” - “Memorial Verses for the Boys who fell in the Great Battle on the European Continent - Pertaining to the Dinas Area”.
Sadly I have little info on these two men, but I have just enough to give some sort of story for this post, so please bare with me as I try to tell some sort of a story showing you what they went through leading up to the Somme.
According to the Llanw Llŷn article by John Eric Williams, Evan was one of four sons born to John and Elizabeth Williams of Bragdy, Dinas. His father John died young, aged only 32, leaving Elizabeth to raise the four boys: Thomas John, Evan, William and Sam. By August 1914, Evan was working at Gellidara farm, Penrhos, with William Hughes, son of Captain Hughes. The account describes Evan as being good with horses, “un da efo ceffylau”, and a favourite of William Hughes, who spoke highly of him.
The article says that Evan most likely went to Pwllheli, where there was a recruiting office, and was persuaded to enlist at the age of eighteen. I was also told by John Eric in person that there may have been soldiers marching around the town on market day when Evan was in town, which could have influenced his decision to join. Word was apparently sent back to Dinas and Evan’s Nain was rushed into town to try to stop him, but by then it was too late.
The article records that fifteen men from the Dinas area enlisted around this period. My own Great Great Grandfather, Private 20109 Henry Owen may well have been part of that same local wave of enlistment. It is easy to forget the pressure young men were under at the time. Recruiting meetings were held in these towns and villages, appeals were made from public platforms and pulpits, and Welsh-language posters encouraged men to come forward to serve. Sense of duty or an adventure for some? Away from the life of farming in Pen Llŷn? Who knows, but many left home, some never to return again.
My Great great grandfather was also one of 4 sons born to Richard and Mary Owen, Pen Yr Allt Goch farm. Richard and Mary raised Thomas, Henry, Samuel and Hugh, along with 2 daughters, Elizabeth and Julia Owen.
The article gives the wider background to the Battalion training around Llandudno, often with shortages of proper equipment, uniforms and instructors (info on this time period of the Battalion is not known to me so any further info would be deeply appreciated). Early uniforms were made from Welsh grey cloth, and mock wooden rifles or old sporting guns were used for drill and practice. They also trained in the hills above Conway and Llandudno. By the end of August 1915, the 38th Division had moved south and was camped at Wi******er.
14th BATTALION RWF WAR DIARY:
The war diary begins properly for the battalion in December 1915.
(With the war diary, a lot of it, for me personally, was very hard to read, so I’ve asked for some help from friends, hopefully the names and details have been copied correctly. If not, please do let us know in the comments or by messaging me and show what I’ve got wrong).
On 1st December 1915, the 14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers paraded at Wi******er, preparatory to marching to Southampton. The diary records that the battalion marched off at 7.00 a.m. On arrival at Southampton, they proceeded to the docks and loaded baggage. Two officers and 90 men, with the regimental transport, embarked on the S.S. Blackwell. The remainder of the battalion, with Battalion Headquarters, embarked on the S.S. Empress Queen.
The diary gives the total strength, including attached personnel, as 31 officers and 994 NCOs and men. They crossed to Havre during the night, the diary describing it as an “exceedingly rough passage” of six hours’ duration.
On 2nd December, they arrived at Havre early in the morning, disembarked, unloaded baggage and transport, and marched to a rest camp which the diary describes as being “under water”, presumably meaning flooded or waterlogged. They had dinner there, and in the evening marched to the railway station and entrained. Before departure, coffee and buns were supplied at a stall by English ladies. The train left at 11.00 p.m.
On 3rd December, the battalion proceeded via Abbeville, Boulogne and Calais to Aire, where they detrained. After unloading and having tea, they marched to Rebecq. This is where the war diary gives a very human detail: a guide sent by the 19th Division lost his way, causing the battalion to go badly off course. What should have been a march of about five miles became one of about fifteen miles! The battalion did not reach its destination until 6.30 a.m. on 4th December, after many halts and delays caused by transport getting stuck in mud and saddles on mules becoming loose and having to be adjusted. On arrival, the men were put into billets which the diary says were “not by any means good” and required much cleaning. This was their first taste of France, not yet the Somme, but already mud, poor billets, long marches, rough weather, and the reality of army life overseas.
The following days in December show the battalion settling into training and routine. The diary records divine service, route marches, musketry practice, machine-gun instruction, bayonet fighting, physical drill, bombing instruction, visual training, engineering work, lectures by the Medical Officer, night operations, and gas helmet instruction. It is a good reminder that the battalion did not arrive in France and go straight into a great battle; they first had to learn, adapt and prepare.
Their first real experience of the front line came later that month:
On 18th December 1915, the war diary records that the battalion paraded at Rebecq at 6.45 a.m. and later moved by motor lorries via Le Venaut and Merville to the Laventie area. There they were attached to the 1st Guards Brigade.
The attachments were as follows:
‘A’ Company to the 2nd Grenadier Guards
‘B’ Company to the 2nd Coldstream Guards
‘C’ Company to the 3rd Coldstream Guards
‘D’ Company to the 1st Irish Guards
On the same page, the diary records that ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies were sent up to the first-line trenches with the 2nd Grenadier Guards and 2nd Coldstream Guards, while ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies went into billets at Laventie with the 3rd Coldstream Guards and 1st Irish Guards.
On 19th December, the diary notes that a few German shells fell in the town. One burst in the garden of the Headquarters Mess of the 3rd Coldstream Guards, causing the cancellation of church parade. The same entry records that Private H. Hughes of ‘A’ Company was slightly wounded by a bullet wound. This appears to be one of the battalion’s earliest recorded casualties under enemy fire.
On 20th December, the diary notes that the 3rd Guards Brigade relieved the 1st Guards Brigade, and the 14th RWF companies were reattached to different Guards battalions. It also records the system being used at the time: each battalion was to spend 40 hours in the trenches and 48 hours in rest billets at Laventie.
On 21st December, each company was divided so that one platoon was attached to a Guards company, and one section to a Guards platoon. The diary states that this was done to ensure the fullest individual instruction possible, each Fusilier being looked after by a Guardsman.
On 23rd December, the diary simply records “usual routine in trenches”, with “desultory firing”.
On Christmas Eve, 24th December 1915, the battalion’s first harsh lessons continued. The diary records heavy bombardment by British artillery at night, followed by the relief of trenches. It then lists casualties among the battalion:
Private E. R. Jones of ‘B’ Company was severely wounded by a shell from one of their own batteries and later unofficially reported dead.
Private H. Y. Jones of ‘D’ Company was killed in a dugout by the collapse of the roof.
Private O. Griffiths of ‘B’ Company was slightly wounded in the hand.
On Christmas Day, 25th December 1915, the diary records attempts at fraternising by German and British troops, especially near the Coldstream Guards. It also states that severe measures were taken to stop it. The Headquarters of the 2nd Scots Guards was also shelled by the enemy.
So, while Mametz would later become the defining name associated with the 38th (Welsh) Division, the 14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers had already experienced the front line, shelling, casualties, poor billets, mud and trench routine months before July 1916. Just reading the war diary, after visiting the locations mentioned while I was in the Somme last year, really does put it into perspective a bit.
The war diary continues into January 1916 with more front-line experience which is worth covering:
On 10th January 1916, the battalion relieved the 13th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the second line and support trenches in the Rue du Bois sector, Neuve-Chapelle. The diary gives a very useful breakdown of positions:
‘A’ Company occupied the right sub-sector, including “20 islands”, with the balance in “Rope Keep”.
‘C’ Company occupied 12 islands, with the balance between “Lepinette North”.
‘B’ Company occupied “Tube Station”, with parties in “Dead Cow” and “Chocolate” Posts.
‘D’ Company occupied “Rue des Bergaux”, with parties in “Orchard Post”.
The entries around 10th-14th January show the battalion now dealing with the routine dangers of trench warfare. Enemy machine guns were active at night. Lewis gun positions were established. Enemy guns opened fire on Orchard Post and were silenced by British guns. Officers’ patrols went out to examine the left sector, while listening posts and parapets were improved and strengthened.
On 13th January, the diary records that a small party of Germans approached the wire and threw three bombs at the parapet. The Welshmen retaliated with Mills bombs, rifle and machine-gun fire. It is these little diary entries that show how quickly the battalion had moved from training into the daily reality of the front line.
By early February, the battalion was still in the line.
On 4th February 1916, the diary records that the 14th RWF relieved the 13th RWF in the front line and supports. The next day, 5th February, the diary gives a very interesting account near Ferme du Bois. A German working party was heard near Ferme du Bois, and at 7.30 p.m. a bright white incandescent light appeared in that direction, flashing like a signalling lamp. A machine gun was turned on it from Farm Corner.
Later that night, a patrol went out from the 14th RWF line to locate a sniper who had been troubling that part of the line. The patrol crossed an enemy parapet and threw Mills hand grenades, later reporting that they believed they had killed two Germans before retiring. Another patrol went out later to look for traces of wounded men, but was unsuccessful. This is a good example of the kind of active patrol work the battalion was carrying out before the Somme.
In April 1916, the war diary places the battalion at Givenchy.
On 6th April, the Second-in-Command, Adjutant, four Company Commanders and four Company Sergeant-Majors proceeded to reconnoitre the new sector of front line at Givenchy, which the battalion was due to occupy on the night of 9th April. On 9th April, the battalion relieved the 16th Welsh Regiment in the right sub-sector at Givenchy. The diary records enemy rifle grenades, machine-gun activity, patrols, working parties, trench work and wiring.
This matters because by the time Evan Williams and Henry Owen and the rest of the battalion reached the Somme, they were not completely inexperienced men. They had already been through Laventie, Neuve Chapelle, Ferme du Bois, Festubert/Givenchy, patrol work, shell fire, machine-gun fire, bombing, trench reliefs and loosing close friends from home and friends made while serving in the regiment.
LEADING UP TO THE SOMME:
By June 1916, the 38th (Welsh) Division was being moved south for the coming offensive.
The war diary shows that by 23rd June the battalion was at Tincques, where training was carried out. On 24th June, the battalion took part in brigade training. The diary records that the 13th and 16th Royal Welsh Fusiliers first attacked a representation of the German second-line system. Once that had been captured, the 14th and 15th Royal Welsh Fusiliers moved through them and attacked a third-line system, after which a conference took place.
On 26th June, the diary records packing up and preparation for departure by route march. On 27th June, after a medical inspection by the Medical Officer, the battalion marched off at 5.30 p.m. as part of a night column. The 14th and 16th Battalions moved from Ostreville through St Pol, Herlincourt, Flers and Monchel to Burre au Bois. The diary says they arrived very late, with the weather “terribly wet”, making the roads muddy and difficult to traverse. The rear guard did not reach its destination until 2.50 a.m.
On 28th June, the battalion moved again in night column, this time towards Beaumetz, via Auxi-le-Château, Maizicourt and Prouville, reaching the destination at 1.10 a.m. on 29th June. On 29th June the battalion rested at Beaumetz.
On 30th June, the battalion paraded at 2.30 p.m. and marched to a starting point near Bernaville, in rear of the 16th Royal Welsh Fusiliers. From there, the 113th Brigade marched to Puchevillers, arriving at midnight. The diary notes a long halt on route from 9.00 p.m. until 10.30 p.m. for refreshment.
THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME 1st JULY 1916:
The Battle of the Somme opened on 1st July 1916. The 14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers were not in the first wave on 1st July, but were now moving closer to Mametz.
On 1st July, the diary places the battalion on the move from Puchevillers to Arquèves. At Arquèves, the battalion paraded at 11.00 p.m. and carried out one hour of company training. On 3rd July, they moved from Arquèves to Ribemont by night. On 4th July, they were at Ribemont.
On 5th July, company officers left for the new line. The battalion then marched to Mametz and came under Captain Wheldon at Morlancourt. The diary records that they relieved the 91st Brigade in the front line, specifically naming Quadrangle Trench and supports in Shelter Wood.
On 6th July, the diary records that ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies came to Dantzig Alley, while the others went to bivouac near Carnoy.
This date is important because official casualty records give Private 21323 Evan Williams as killed in action on 6th July 1916, aged 19. The war diary does not name him or describe the circumstances of his death. What we can say, with care, is that he was killed during these opening days of the Mametz Wood operations, as the battalion moved into the forward area around Mametz, Dantzig Alley, Carnoy and the trenches facing the wood. This is something that is still being researched by members of the “North Wales Pals” re-enactment group.
On 7th July, the war diary records that ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies came to Dantzig Alley, and Battalion Headquarters moved up to an old German dugout in Pommiers Trench. The local article “O Madryn i Mametz” gives Evan’s date of death as 7th July and suggests he may have been among a small party sent forward around this time, but the official date I would use is 6th July. At present, without further evidence, the exact circumstances of Evan’s death remain uncertain.
On 8th July, the battalion moved down to bivouac at Minden Post.
On 9th July, the diary records that the battalion moved off at 1.00 a.m. to Mametz to take part in an attack, but received orders later to return to bivouac.
The main attack on Mametz Wood followed on 10th July.
The war diary entry for 10th July tells us one hell of a story and gives you an idea of what the boys from Dinas and thousands others that day went through:
10th July 1916: “Attack on MAMETZ WOOD. The 16th R.W.F moved off to attack at 4.12 a.m. and at that time our A & C Companies had formed up in four lines behind the 16th. R.W.F and followed up near them in the rear. At that time the 114th. Bde. on our right could not be seen but as the Battalion was moving into the Hollow by the Railway, some Battalions of the 114th Brigade crossed our front from the left. This caused some confusion but did not stop the advance. As soon as our line got within 200 yds of the front of the wood they were subjected to heavy rifle and Machine Gun fire, and suffered heavy casualties particularly in officers and Senior N.C.O’s. When within 150 yds of the wood with the main ride running N & S opposite our right, a number of men from the preceding lines retired back on us shouting “Retire”. At this stage Major GUNTHER commanding 14th R.W.F. was wounded and Major R.H. MILLS was killed. The pressure backwards was great and Capt. T. GLYNN JONES gave the order to reform in a hollow 150 yards from the front edge of the wood and dig in. This was done and a report sent to Bde. About an hour later some of our men were seen advancing on the left along the narrow strip of wood in which runs STRIP TRENCH. There were our B & D Companies and the 15th. R.W.F. At this time prisoners in some numbers were coming from the left and a white flag was shown up near the entrance to the main ride. These were investigated and it was found that the front of the wood was fairly clear and it was decided to move in. This was done and the front objective was reached. 2/Lt. STORK, C.S.M P. THOMPSON and Cpl PUDNER were sent out as a patrol to search the wood. They reported it clear for 200 yds except in the direction of WOOD SUPPORT. This was reported to the C.O. 15th R.W.F. and we received orders to dig in where we were. The line was very thick at this time and Battalions much mixed up & when enemy threatened a small counter attack from WOOD TRENCH much of our M.G. and rifle fire was masked and a great deal of effective fire was lost. The counter attack was however easily repulsed. The Battn was then reorganised but owing to casualties among officers and N.C.O’s this work was difficult. Some men were therefore moved back into the line into which we had dug in at about 5.0 a.m. We remained in this position during the night of the 10/11 July during which time stragglers were formed and attempts to relieve by men of other units were frustrated.
About noon the G.O.C. 113th Bde ordered us up as a reserve at 1st cross ride to an attack that was being organised that afternoon. About 4 p.m. we had orders to reinforce the 11th S.W.B. 200 yds to the North East of the second ride running E and W across the wood. At this time we were subjected to our own shrapnel fire. The 11th S.W.B. had pushed in to a point mentioned and our men were moved in file in parallel columns to re-inforce. The parties on the right met the 11th S.W.B’s retiring but they moved up to a line 50 yds from the front edge of the wood. There they dug themselves in and a line was held extending from main ride to the E for 300 yds, the flanks being protected by Lewis Guns. About half an hour later the Details, 14th R.W.F. under Capt WHELDON, who had been awaiting the order to reinforce just south of the wood came up and extended the line on the right and a few minutes later Capt. HARDWICK and men of the 13th R.W.F. arrived and held the line on the left & still further extended it on the left. A good supply of ammunition and bombs was brought up. About 10.0 p.m. Capt. T. GLYNN JONES reported the situation to G.O.C. 115th Bde. and he ordered the line to retire to the S. to the 1st crossride in the wood. This was done and we stayed there until relieved by the WARWICKS at midnight. During the whole period there was a heavy barrage on the S. of the wood by the enemy and on the N. of the wood by our Artillery.”
THE DINAS POEM - “Memorial Verses for the Boys who fell in the Great Battle on the European Continent - Pertaining to the Dinas Area”:
Alongside the war diary and the “O Madryn i Mametz” article, the handwritten memorial poem written by someone who lived in Dinas was shared with me during my first local exhibition at the memorial hall in my local village of Sarn Meyllteyrn. This gives another layer to their story and others who I was researching. It is a very powerful piece of local remembrance dedicated to the boys from Dinas who fell during the Great War. It is all in Welsh and I am trying my very best to get it copied down and then accurately translated. This of course takes time!
The poem included a verse for my own Great Great Grandfather, Henry Owen. Some of the handwriting is difficult to read, but here’s a section I have a rough translation of for you:
“When in the midst of the turmoil,
The sound of the artillery loud,
One of our gentle boys was struck down,
Henry Owen of Penrallt-goch;
He was able to return to Britain,
With wounds upon him,
He died in hospital,
In Dinas is his grave.”
From a relative who lives in South Wales and is related to Thomas Owen, I received a medical document describing Henry’s wounds. He received a head wound, a compound fracture to the skull, which when making his was through the casualty clearing stations got infected and he had meningitis and a cerebral abscess. On the 15th of November 1916, he died of wounds at Leeds Military Hospital, aged 27.
Another document, a medal card I think, lists Henry as being in 2nd Battalion RWF after his death, and it was suggested that Henry, after the 14th Battalion got mauled at Mametz, was transferred over to 2nd Battalion and took part in the fighting for High Wood.
CONCLUSION:
For me, this is why this local history matters. The Battle of Mametz Wood is often told in terms of divisions, brigades, battalions and casualty figures. But behind all of that were young men like Evan Williams: a farm worker from Dinas, good with horses, persuaded to enlist as a teenager, trained in North Wales, sent to France, hardened by months of trench warfare, and killed in the opening days of the Mametz Wood operations at the age of nineteen. And alongside him were men like my own Great Great Grandfather, Private 20109 Henry Owen of Pen yr Allt Goch, another farmer from Dinas, both remembered in the same local poem, on the war memorials and tied to the same Battalion story.
From Bragdy and Pen yr Allt Goch, Dinas, to France and the Somme...
Private 21323 Evan Williams
14th (Service) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 6th July 1916
Aged 19
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 4 A) & Dinas War Memorial
Private 20109 Henry Owen
14th (Service) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Pen yr Allt Goch, Dinas
Died of wounds, 15th November 1916
Buried at Dinas Calvinistic Methodist Chapelyard
Commemorated on the Dinas War Memorial
Cofiwch nhw - “O Dinas i'r gad dros heddwch dy wlad”
Morgan
Sources:
- 14th Battalion RWF War Diary WO 95/2555/2
- “O Madryn i Mametz” John Eric Williams & conversations in person with John himself November last year
- "Zero Hour Z Day: XIII Operations Between Maricourt and Mametz 1st July 1916 Battle of the Somme", Jonathan Porter (for detail on the Mametz area)
