1881 Private Joseph Gibson

Joseph shortly after WW1

No 2 Section B Company ~ 3rd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment

I have given this page to 1881 Pte Joseph Gibson because it is through him that I developed my interest in this regiment. Joseph Gibson was my grandfather and although he never really spoke to me about his service during the Great War I have through research and the help and kindness of other people found out a great deal not only about his war but what it was like for all his colleagues.

Joseph was born at 23 Meads Road, Eastbourne, on 10th August 1896. His father, James Gibson was a professional cricketer for Sussex. The family moved to Ebbw Vale sometime after, residing at Bleak House in Ebbw Vale. Joseph joined the battalion in July 1914 aged 18 years. On receiving orders to mobilize he went to Abergavenny before proudly parading though the town en-route to the railway station where they were to travel to Pembroke Dock. The first part of his journey that would take him from the Welsh countryside to France and Flanders.

War was declared on the 4th August 1914 and King's Proclamation mobilising the Territorial Force was issued on that same day. Orders to mobilise the battalion were received by Post Office Telegram on the evening of 4th August. Throughout the night of the 4th , the companies from the various towns and villages mustered and caught trains to Abergavenny and the whole battalion gathered outside the Market Hall at dawn on the 5 th August. Later that day they were marched to Bailey Park where they were given tea. The battalion colours were handed over to the custody of the Mayor and the corporation of Abergavenny. Private Joseph Gibson marched with the troops; they left the market square of the ancient Borough of Abergavenny to a rousing send off by flag waving citizens. Down the road, out of the Town, over the bridge of the Given River and up the rise to The Great Western railway station, still there today. Two troop trams were ready and waiting, the soldiers boarded bound for Pembroke Dock and what was to be for these Welshmen, a lifetime's adventure. But for many Monmouthshire men the surrounding mountains, the Blaring, the Skirred and the Dei, were the to be their last sight of home. The following day they joined the Welsh Border Brigade. It rained continuously for days as the Battalion settled under canvas, advanced parties had been sent to Oswestry where the Division was to assemble. The Brigade, including the 3rd Mons, were moved en masse to Oswestry, a prosperous, country town which welcomed the huge body of troops arriving at such short notice. The Battalion had simple fare, rested in local establishments and was in fine spirits. The Battalion's animals and vehicles were moved by road and arrived a few days later, the organisation being made by Lieutenant Martin the Purchasing Officer who had bought the horses in Monmouthshire County .

Joseph on the left circa Jul/Aug 1914 pictured in his parents garden at Badminton Grove,Ebbw Vale with his friend Tom Fowler

This phase came to an end on 30 th August when the battalion moved into billets at Northampton . Headquarters were set up at St James's Church Institute with the fields at the rear being used as their training ground. The Battalion stayed in Northampton until the end of October and in November moved to work on the East Coast Defensive System where trenches were dug and when finished they were equipped with shelters, barbed wire and machine -guns. At this time the threat of an invasion was considered to be real enough and the tedium of routine work was relieved by rumours of bombardments and attempted landings.

At this time the British Army in France was fighting against heavy odds, the advance of the German Army appeared to be only temporarily checked. This situation gave rise to great anxiety for all. So when orders were received that the Battalion were to return to Northampton to refit for service in India , the prospect of serving in India was not very well received. The Indian equipment soon arrived for the Battalion but to everyone's relief the orders for India were countermanded. As the arrangements were not completed for sending the Battalion anywhere overseas they were to return to the East Coast and continue working on the defence line in Suffolk . The Battalion stayed here until January 1915.

A vast amount of work was achieved while on the East Coast, miles of trenches dug, wire entanglements and shelters put in place and all in unfavourable weather conditions. The G.O.C.-in C. Central Force giving much praise to the Battalion for the accomplishment it had achieved issued a special order. Leaving the East Coast by train for Cambridge the soldiers had very happy memories for the grateful, local residents bestowed much kindness on the Officers and men helping to ease the discomfort of their duties and during the atrocious weather.

While the Battalion was in Cambridge it was reorganised into four double Companies, consisting of tried and tested soldiers and all who had volunteered for service. Drafts from the reserve Battalion were arriving to make up the force of the original Battalion, these were fit men who were able to replace those found unsuitable for overseas service, during the final selection.

They were issued with new service equipment, rifles and bayonets and their old equipment was passed on. For the rest of their stay in Cambridge they were subjected to rigorous courses of exercises in movements in this formation, and instructions and practice in bayonet fighting, all carried out on the famous area, Parker's Piece. Early in January the Battalion now assembled was in its final form.

Along with others, the Battalion was selected for overseas service and the final orders arrived for proceeding overseas to France , this news raised Welsh spirits.

On the 11 February His Majesty, King George V, inspected his First Welsh Division on Parker's Piece, before it left for the Flanders' battlefields, it was noted to be 'a fitting and historic conclusion to the period of preparation of gallant volunteers' Khaki-clad soldiers were assembled and as the Division presented arms, after a royal salute, it was a memorable sight of 'of shimmering steel'. 'Three cheers for the King' was called for and caps were raised aloft on bayonet tips, the roar was continually repeated as the Welsh warriors paid tribute to His Majesty. On a specially built low platform, covered in red cloth, the King and high - ranking Officers stood and received the salutes of the Division. Infantry wearing greatcoats, in double columns of four and accompanied by horses and guns marched passed the saluting base to military music. A very impressive spectacle.

A general order was issued expressing His Majesty's pleasure when observing the presence and the discipline of the Welsh Division, he sent his compliments on the polished manner in which the march past and movements had been accomplished. On the 11 th Feb 1915 the men of the 1/3 Mons had the honour of being inspected by His Majesty, King George the Fifth. A general order was issued the next day expressing His Majesty's pleasure of the Welsh Division. A fitting finale prior to leaving the shores for the fateful battlefields of France and Flanders , as there was many men that would not return.

In the cold, grey dawn of 13 February the Battalion was paraded for the last time in Britain and before the residents of Cambridge had awakened the troop trains had pulled out and left for Southampton , detailed to reinforce Regular Brigades in the field. Having arrived at the port the soldiers, horses, transport and baggage boarded the SS 'Chyabassa' and were ready to leave port for Le Havre .

It was evening before SS 'Chyabassa' sailed, throughout the voyage no lights were permitted while crossing the Channel, because of the fear of submarine activity. The waterway was full of ships similarly wending their way across to France , under the cover of darkness and the protection of the Royal Navy. It was a slow stealthy crossing, uneventful except for sudden changes of course, which distressed the horses. When the troopship docked in Le Havre at 8 a.m. on the morning of the 15 th February, thronging crowds lined the quayside waving flags, cheering, singing, welcoming the Welshmen, for these were early days of War, spirits and enthusiasm was high. After a cold night under canvas on the cliffs above Havre, the battalion marched to the railway station where after a leisurely journey they arrived at Bavinchove at 5p.m on February 17 th. They were then marched on to Cassel (then the G H Q of the French Northern Army) and there the soldiers were accommodated in public buildings.

The next morning the battalion moved to billets at Steenvorde, about 14 miles west of Ypres . They had their first experience of marching on the Pave , a road surface of uneven stone, which in wet weather became treacherous to the heavily loaded infantryman. Orders were issued during this period assigning the 3 rd Monmouth's to the 83 rd Infantry Brigade, which came under the 28 th Division, which was commanded at this time by Major General Bulfin.

WULVERGHEM

The battalion left Steenvoorde on the 28 th February and after marching a few miles to Caestre they were conveyed to Bailleul on a fleet of old London omnibuses; here they met up with the rest of the division. The battle zone was very close now, the flicker of flares was to be seen and the thunder of heavy guns was incessant. The smell of cordite and freshly turned, wet earth hung heavily in the cold air, so different from the peaceful Monmouthshire countryside they left some weeks ago. The residents of the town provided billets for the troops and this was a time of acclimatising them to their new environment. There were instruction courses for making and using bombs and grenades, and detailed advice for trench digging. All ranks were kept fit by field exercises and arduous route marches and always under the critical eye of the Higher Command of the Expeditionary Forces.By the end of February the ultimate destination of the Battalion had been decided.

The Welsh troops were taken by a fleet of old London buses to Bailleul, where they joined the 28th Division, commanded by Major General Bulfin and spent the night on the out-skirts the town, St Jans Capelle. On the 1 st March, St David's day, the first men were sent up to the front for instruction with the 1 st Welsh Regiment. In a letter to his parents Private G Norton of A Company wrote:

“ The firing line is not as bad as you would think, at least it is not so bad as we expected it to be. The trenches we have been in are dry ones, and the only thing is the cold nights. We were shelled rather heavily last Tuesday; but our guns gave them something after. The men we were in with didn't seem to mind much. They say, “Keep your napper down and you're alright!” ” (Dixon, With Rifle and Pick, 1990).

Private James B. Bowes, of Wargrave, writing home, gives some picturesque details of life at the front. The following are extract from his letter, which appeared in the Newton and Earlestown Guardian on 19 th March 1915 :-

"We do four days in the trenches, then come back for four days' rest. The firing line is about eight miles away. The other day we had our pay, and we are now spending it. I and two others go down to a small farm. French woman; eight children; husband a captain in the French army. There we have what we can get - café-au-lait, bread and butter, and eggs. As the eggs are 3d. each, there is, of course, more bread than eggs. Everything is very dear; penny chocolate is 2d. bread 8d. a loaf, butter 2s. per lb. At night we are able to get chips. Most of the houses and "pubs" or "estaminets" are wrecked, and so are the churches and farms, but the people are coming back to the places they left. Nearly every farmer here has two or three Belgian refugees employed. Dirty farms, very, compared with English. Sanitation is not considered here, anywhere. Good job it is winter and not summer.

I have moved my little bed from the loft with the battered roof down to the cow-shed, and I am sleeping with a long row of cows about three yards from me. It is better, as there was no roof over my head before. The socks will be very welcome, as my feet are always wet. Although my boots are good, they get sodden. For the trenches we have rubber jack boots, so they are alright.

The other night some of our chaps in getting to the trenches had to climb over an obstacle. One of them was holding up his hand in the dark to be pulled up by his mate, when he grasped what he found by the touch was the hand of a chap who had been covered up; - one who had "gone on". They are very plentiful, and you see different parts sticking out of the soil. The Germans, if you shoot one of them, will signal a "bull" with a spade and shortly afterwards will throw the body over. It acts as a sandbag, and helps stop bullets.

I am longing for the time when we will be coming back. Tell O. to fill the pantry, but she needn't get any jam in, or biscuits, at any rate not "Army No.4" 4 in. by 4 in. by ¾ in. "bullet proof". I am "in the pink", and could eat ten Germans - not to mention killing. Glad to hear Ernie is all right at Pembroke Dock. I expect he will be out here soon.

Private No. 2155 James B. Bowes,
3rd. Monmouthshire Regt.

The Territorials found themselves side by side with professional soldiers of the most highly trained army in the world. They were given help, encouragement and support and it was never forgotten that they were raw troops. The training rotation period came to an end on the 12 th March when they were assigned to trenches on the west slope of the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge, just outside the village of Wulverghem 5 miles south of Ypres . They were responsible for about a 1000yds of the trenches known as 10a and 10b. The trenches were on the West slope of Messines-Wytschsete Ridge. The line ran southeast to Pleogsteert and northwest to Kemmel and Wulverghem village lay in a depression behind. The village buildings gave some protection from rifle fire as the Welsh troops marched forward but the air was filled with stray bullets, whistling perilously close, as they approached the trenches. The Battalion's Headquarters were in the village of St Quentin Cabaret , and Companies were posted either side of the Wulverghem - Messines Road . This was the first experience of trench warfare for the 3rd Mons , Officers and men, the sector they were in reputedly was a quiet one but the enemy was continuously active. The lighter calibre guns directed fire against them throughout the day and the occasional trench mortar that was thrown caused effective damage.

To undertake repair work was a dangerous task, for enemy marksmen closely watched the breach and repeated rifle fire was non-stop. This persistent firing, disturbed the stability of the trenches, the unrelenting weather conditions and the continual flooding of the trenches made it necessary for constant maintenance in the most dangerous positions. The enemy had better equipment and continually fired from fixed rifles and machine guns at miscellaneous tactical positions and their trenches too were better defended too, with wire entanglement. So the Battalion's guns fell silent because of shortage of ammunition, particularly high explosive shells. The conditions for the Battalion were miserable, great caution was taken when lighting fires for curling smoke received enemy attention very quickly. Although food was satisfying and in good supply it was monotonous, rum and lime juice was dispensed in medicinal doses and cigarettes became the comfort but all this was supplemented by parcels from kind friends and families back home in Wales .

Unfortunately in the early days of being in the trenches the Battalion suffered many casualties, including an Officer and it was only by bitter experience that they learned; it was care and alertness in trench warfare that kept them safe. Soon enemy action became much more intense and the number of heavy German guns increased and by the end of March the village and the church of Wulverghem was completely destroyed.

The conditions of the line were extremely miserable, the least rainfall flooded the shelters in the trenches, and the close proximity of the enemy severely restricted movement. Fires could only be lit and tended with great care, as any sign of smoke would soon receive some enemy attention. After nearly a month of continuous fighting in the trenches the 3rd Mons Battalion's tour of duty was over in this area and on Good Friday, tired and weary Welshmen were relieved by the 5th South Staffords . Later that night they were withdrawn from the Wulvergham sector and moved out to Bailleul. The soldiers now had considerable knowledge of the conditions of war but they left behind many of their 'butties', in the little Wulvergham cemeteries. A lot of credit had been gamed for the manner in which they had conducted themselves in the trenches and with spirits still undaunted they were ready for rest in new billets. Here, on the 7 th April the whole brigade assembled for inspection by General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, their Army Commander. An early Easter came and went and after a few days rest and recreation, equipment was reissued and the Battalion were on the move again, marching to Boeschepe, two and half miles north-west of Westoutre. Once settled the Adjutant, Company Commanders reconnoitred the trenches east of Ypres , held by the French troops. Vigorous enemy action was anticipated and the Division had the responsibility of an important area, the immortal Ypres Salient. This area had a reputation for it was most vulnerable to attack being a salient. It could be likened roughly to a saucer with the German Army in the secure position on the rim. The territory lying behind the line could be clearly observed from Passchendaele and Messines Ridge, both of which lay at the rear of the enemy lines

YPRES

The battalion arrived on the morning of the 8 th April in the Grande Place at Ypres . The famous Cloth Hall and St Martins Cathedral were wrapped in a mysterious gloom. When the warring armies dug in during the winter of 1914-1915, the allied lines developed a large bulge around the ancient Belgian town of Ypres ; this was the infamous Ypres Salient.

They lay of the land meant that the German Armies surrounded the British forces on three sides

The orders were given to draw rations and go to the trenches. The battalion moved off through the Menin Gate, up the Zonnebeke Road to Frezenberg, on to Polygon Wood in the Southeast of the Ypres Salient. Before the War high pine trees grew in Polygon Wood, in a light soil with sandy patches, but when the Battalion arrived every big tree was down and underfoot was thick undergrowth and shrub.

The Battalion's Headquarters were dug-outs in a mound - the Butte de Polygon, the Australian War Memorial now stands on this site, the rest of the battalion took over the trenches from the their previous occupants, 2 nd Battalion of the 146 th Regiment of the French Army. The French appear to adopted the “Live and let live” attitude of trench warfare. The men of the Monmouth's were treated to the site of the Germans opposite cooking their breakfasts in braziers on top of the parapet. Action was instigated to stop this but it provoked a reply of rifle grenades and whizz bangs that knocked the trenches about. The dug-outs taken over from the French were not very deep, giving very little protection from rifle fire or the inclement weather, so what protection there was from the smaller pine trees was welcomed. At least they gave cover to the dugouts from the air when enemy aircraft were active. Polygon Wood was exposed to fire from the south and the east, and at the quarter to of every hour, throughout twenty-four hours, a German field-gun fired a shell in the general direction of the Headquarters, fortuitously they all crashed amongst the trees. The trenches were of irregular line and lay east and southeast of the Wood. The parapets were of poor construction and certainly not bullet-proof, the dugouts and traverses were few and in front were a few coils of light wire.

The enemy was 200 yards away to the right and within bombing distance to the left. The right trench was called Pall Mall and the left Whitehall , the 3rd Mons Battalion took over these trenches and began to settle in. Private Reg Pritchard wrote home to his sister:

“It is much worse fighting where we are now to what it was in the last place. One of the chaps out of the same section as I am got wounded in the leg yesterday morning as we were leaving the trenches. One man got killed in our company by a trench mortar shell, he was in the same platoon as dad”.

'Dad' was Sergeant William Pritchard both he and his son Private Reg Pritchard were killed on 2 nd May 1915 .

On the 12 th April the battalion was relieved by the 5 th King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (5th KOYLI) and went into billets in Ypres . This gave the men a chance to explore this famous old city, although seriously damaged by shelling there was still a thriving café trade and many shops that stock not only wine and cigars but also useful items such as batteries for electric torches and solidified fuel.

On the 17 April the news came to the resting soldiers that Hill 60 had been blown up and captured by the 13 th Brigade. Parties from the 1 st and 3 rd Monmouthshire Battalions had helped in this by virtue of their expertise in mining operations. A detachment of 40 men under Lieutenant Lancaster had been sent to join the new unit – the 171 st Tunnelling Company in February. As expert mineworkers, from the Valleys above Abergavenny, they had distinguished themselves and the Battalion was justly proud. But amongst the rejoicing they had to leave Ypres and return to the trenches. British guns were in action on both sides of the Zonnebeke Road and it was a relief for them all to turn off the cobbled road, go across country and reach Frezenberg before the Germans retaliated.

The battalion relieved the 5th King's Own and finding things much as before they carried on with their every day routine. But there they stayed without relief, for 17 days, the 5th Kings Own never came again and the Welshmen waited patiently for relief, amid rumour after rumour as to the war activities. They knew that heavy bombardment had started a few miles north of the 3rd Mons position and during the following days rumour after rumour began to circulated about what had happened on the fateful day of 22 April. They heard that 18,000 Canadians withstood the first Western Front poison gas attack and could scarcely believe the news. On the 22 April an event occurred that was a major event in the war, the first use of gas as a weapon of war. This attack caused widespread panic among French troops and German forces swept through the gaps, which opened up in the front line. Canadian and British troops struggled to hold back the attack but, after suffering constant shelling and very high casualties, they were forced to retreat to a new defensive line.

But on the 24 April authentic news was brought to the Battalion's trenches about what had being happening elsewhere in the battle zone; the first gas attack had indeed taken place. The French had retreated on the north point of the Salient; the enemy had broken the Allied Line along Pilckem Ridge; the 1st Division Canadians had won honour and fame by filling the vital gap in the Line and helped to save the town of Ypres . The British had repeated counter attacks and stemmed the advance of the enemy towards Ypres . History would record that day as the start of the bloody Battle of St Julien and it would continue until 24 May.

With the last days of April 1915 were slipping away the Battalion had only to stand by in the Polygon Line and it is recorded in the 3rd Mons War Diaries that '29 April, was, a very quiet day'. But even 'very quiet days' brought casualties, 2nd Lieutenant Onions, the son of the Welsh Miner's Leader, was killed as he marched his men back to the dug-outs behind the Wood. He was the first fatal casualty of the 3rd Mons Officers.

The general situation was worse than anyone knew. The gas attack had broken the line in the north of the Salient and the German guns were brought up to Pilckem Ridge. Polygon Wood was the most easterly position of the area and now it was developing into a bottle shaped zone, untenable for the 3rd Mons . To avoid the danger of being cut off at the neck of the zone and shorten the Line, the order was given to withdraw. The Line now ran just east of Hooge Chateau and Frezenberg, south of St Julien and converged onto the Yser Canal near Boesinghe and the trenches of the

GHQ line crossed the main road just east of the Potizje Chateau. The front Line was now shortened by 5,000 yards and the Wood evacuated.

The movement was started on the night of 1 May evacuating dumps and bringing back the guns. All ammunition and trench stores were removed as well. The whole operation was under the control of Welsh Officers, posted at the north west corner of the Wood and in telephone communication with the Brigade Headquarters.

On the 2 nd May the 83 rd Brigade (29 th Division) area was very heavily shelled by the Germans that many of the troops believed it impossible to get any worse. There were of course inevitable casualties after trenches and dugouts were hit. Sergeant A. Davies (3 rd Monmouths) writing home to friends gave the following details of the days bombardment:

"Our worst time started on May 2 nd , when they gave it to us a bit hot. It was on that day that L/Cpls Reg Rumsey and Taylor got buried by a shell bursting on top of their dugout. We managed to get them out after a bit of a struggle, and I think Rumsey acted splendidly. If it had not been for him Taylor would have been dead. After getting his head and arms clear he would not think of anything else but getting Taylor out; in fact he set to at releasing him, and it was rather a good job, for when we got Taylor out he was at his last gasp"

The 3 rd Mons evacuated Polygon Wood on the night of May 2nd/3 rd and reformed on the new GHQ line at Potizje. A Company under Captain Baker, C Company under Captain Steel, B Company under Captain Gattie was stationed in the front line while D Company under Major Lewis stayed in reserve at Potizje. The evacuation of Polygon Wood and the occupation of the new front line was completed during the night of 3 May and the success of the movement was proved when at 5 am the following morning the enemy still fired onto the empty trenches. Then the Officers controlling the operation left and declared that in spite of a very laborious task the evacuation had been a complete success. Once here the troops had very little to do, the weather was foul, there was very little to eat and heavy shells were flying overhead into the city of Ypres .

The evening of May 4 th saw the beginning of the battalion's hardest trial and greatest achievement. The strain and stress was all over within a week, but during that period the 3 rd Monmouth's were involved in some of the hardest fighting of the war. Suffering heavy casualties and though outnumbered by the enemy and without adequate artillery support held up the German attack at a crucial point of the line.

On this evening A company (Captain Baker) and C Company (Captain Steel) moved up into support trenches and dug-outs north of the road at the western foot of the Frezenberg Ridge. B Company (Captain Gattie) went up to reinforce the 1 st York and Lancs in the front line on the right of the Brigade; and D Company (Major Lewis) remained in reserve at Potizje.

The new front line, which had been hastily and poorly constructed, suffered severely from the bombardment. So bad did conditions become that both the 2 nd East Yorks and the 5 th KOYLI were compelled that night to dig a new line just behind the original one. Casualties had been heavy and the wounded were removed with great difficulty during the night, whilst the dead had to be buried where they fell.

May 5 th opened with a still more severe bombardment and the front line troops were reported as being in a very exhausted condition. Early in the morning C Company was called upon to reinforce the 2 nd East Yorks on the south of the road. Captain Steel led half of C Company up to reinforce the front line. As they topped the ridge they were caught by German machine gun fire and suffered terrible casualties. Captain Steel was a doctor in civilian life and he set about attending the wounded as well as leading the advance. For this action he was awarded the Military Cross. One of the men in his company, Private AM Mitchell, wrote home:

“Words utterly fail me to say what a hero Captain OWD Steel was during that fearful struggle. From every person I meet they tell me the same tale. Under heavy shell and maxim fire he went out and fetched in wounded, bandaging them and if he doesn't deserve the VC no man on earth ought to get it… “

An hour later A company (under Captain RA Lewis) also tried to reinforce the front line and again suffered terrible casualties. Private I Skidmore was awarded the DCM for attending to the casualties until he was so badly wounded himself that he could not carry on.

Next day, May 6 th , there was shelling, but less severe than on the 5 th , and no attempt at an attack by the enemy. May 7 th opened with a heavier bombardment, which caused many casualties. There was nothing but the 27 th and 28 th Divisions between the enemy and Ypres but the British soldier proverbially does not know when he is beaten. On the morning of 8 th May, the battalion had three companies in the front line and one in support. Half a mile to the north the 1 st Monmouth's were fighting with the 83 rd Brigade. The German bombardment began at 5.30 am followed by the first infantry attack at 8.30. In the words of Pte W.H. Badham:

"They started bombarding at the same time in the morning and….afterwards we could hear a long blast of a whistle, and the attack started. We were only a handful of men, and they came on in thousands, but we kept them at bay"

Private A.L. Devereux carried this story forward in a letter he wrote to his family a day or two after the battle:

"Hundreds of them were put of action with shells and it left very few men to man the trenches. After, the Huns shelled all the country for a couple of miles…stoping any reinforcements from being brought up and thousands of the rabble charged our trenches in their favourite massed formation. The few boys that were left in our trenches showed then the kind of stuff Britain can turn out and thousands of the Germans were put out of action"

Almost immediately, the shelling started again and at 09.00am the Germans attacked again and were again driven back. The Germans realised that their attack was making no progress, and they fell back so that the artillery could return to its task on the front line trenches. By 9.10 am the bombardment was as intense as at any time that morning and there was little that the soldiers could do except find what little cover they could.

Orders reached the 3 rd Monmouth's and 2 nd King's Own from Brigade HQ about 10am to evacuate the front line trenches. Captain Baker began withdrawing his Company, but immediately the enemy opened up an intense machine gun fire, followed by shrapnel, which practically swept away the few survivors of A and D Companies. Captain Baker was killed a few yards behind the front line. The order apparently never reached Lt Reed and he and few men of A Company, with some machine gunners held on gallantly and resisted to the last. Lt Reed was finally killed and no officer of A Company was left, and only 13 survivors amongst the men could be mustered.

D Company stuck it gallantly. They lost their only officer Captain J Lancaster. Every Sergeant in the company was killed and only 16 men answered the roll call next morning. Of the 500 men in A and D Companies only 29 were left. B Company (under Captain Gattie) throughout the battle was separated from the rest of the Battalion. They were in the front line in a wood near Red Lodge. They were shelled heavily all day throughout May 5 th 6 th and 7 th . Strangely, the battalion war diary records that:

“The nights were absolutely quiet and it was safe to walk about in the open behind the front line" .

Rations and letters came up regularly and one fortunate officer even received a tin of cooked sausages!” What the war diary does not record is that the new trenches had been hastily prepared and it was not as deep or as wide as had been hoped for by those men retiring to it. One member of the 3 rd Monmouths noted:

"….when we occupied this new line of trenches we found them very badly made and up to our knees in water, and the poor men had no chance of getting any sleep unless they wished to i.e. down in the water".

So dawned the most critical day of the great battle, the 8 th May , The 3 rd Monmouth's lay astride the Zonnebeke road, the apex of the Salient, two companies in the front line with one in support and the fourth company not far away to the south. Half a mile to the north was their sister battalion the 1 st Monmouthshire's in the 84 th Brigade. Holding the position with them were their comrades of the 83 rd Brigade, the 2 nd Kings Own to the north and to the south the 1 st KOYLI who relieved the 1 st York and Lancs and B Coy. 3 rd Monmouth's on the night of the 7 th May. The Brigade had been in the line without relief since April 17 th . Its numbers were greatly reduced, and the artillery behind were few in numbers and woefully short of ammunition. As indicating the desperate position of the British troops in respect to artillery support, it is now authoritatively stated that the heavy British guns during this period of the 2 nd Battle of Ypres were limited to:-

One 9.2 inch howitzer

Eight 60 pdrs.

Four old six inch howitzers

Twelve obsolete 4.7 inch guns.

Against them the Germans brought up at least 260 heavy guns and howitzers. There was nothing except the Division between the enemy and Ypres on that day and they got as far as Verlorenhoek, but the British soldier proverbially does not know when he is beaten and the Germans were kept back somehow till fresh troops were brought up in the evening to fill the many gaps. The enemy on their side were all out to push through. They had guns on the high ground enfilading the British position and smothering our artillery, they had field guns well forward, and they had innumerable machine guns, and six divisions of their best and freshest troops, against the depleted ranks of the war-worn and weary 27 th and 28 th Divisions. Their bombardment opened up at 5.30.a.m. and the trenches lying on the forward slope were badly damaged and almost untenable.

The wood came under heavy shelling and Lt Groves and Lt Palmer were killed by a direct hit on their dug out. After two German attacks on the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in the front trenches, B Company charged across open ground to reinforce them. A dip in the ground favoured the advance and casualties were few, but Capt. Gardner was shot through the heart as he entered the trench, a great loss. He was one of the finest looking and best soldiers in the Battalion. 2/Lt. Paul was wounded at about the same time.

The first enemy infantry attack took place at 8.30.a.m. and was driven off. The bombardment re-opened and at 9.a.m. the enemy again attacked and were driven back. After a further hours intense shelling the front line was practically obliterated and the enemy found few survivors to hold up the attack. In A Coy Capt Baker and C.S.M. were killed and Lt Reed with a few survivors of his company held gallantly on and resisted to the last. This party and the machine gun section took heavy toll of the advancing enemy, but were finally overwhelmed by numbers.

Lt. Reed was killed and no officer of “A” Coy was left and only 13 survivors amongst the men could be mustered. “D” Coy stuck it gallantly. They lost their only officer, Captain James Lancaster, beloved of all who knew him, and that fine type of Territorial soldier C.S.M. Lippiatt, who did such wonderful work training recruits almost single-handed at Abergavenny in August and September 1914. Every Sergeant in the company was killed and only 16 men answered the roll next morning. The machine-gun section were involved in this slaughter, and had one gun destroyed but one of the few survivors brought back the lock of the other.

Early in the day C Coy came into action in support, but little by little was forced back to Battalion HQ owing to the exposure of their flank from the north. Stragglers were coming down the road, so Col. Gough ordered Sergeant Jenkins to collect them in a trench in the rear, and for his fine services on this occasion coupled with the good work on the telephone; this old soldier received the DCM. This party and other remnants of the Battalion was led by Col. Gough in counter attack, but could only advance as far as the eastern edge of Frezenberg. In this advance R.S.M. Hatton was seriously wounded. He had accompanied the adjutant Capt. Ramsden, in many visits to the front line during the last terrible days and with him had often helped to stiffen the defence by cheery encouragement. He now refused to be carried back and was taken prisoner. His wounds were of such a nature that he was one of the first prisoners of war to be exchanged, but unhappily he died much regretted before the end of the war. He was a fine type of regular soldier from whom all ranks learnt much.

After hanging onto this position for some time and holding up the advance, orders came at about 11.a.m. from the Brigade to retire on the GHQ line near Potijze.

Lt. McLean, M.O., 3 rd Monmouth's and Lt.Marriott, M.O., 1 st Monmouth's had established a dressing station just east of Verlorenhoek; at 11.a.m. they received orders to retire their detachments, but after sending back the stretcher bearers they found a number of wounded still coming back and so decided to carry on, till the enemy were practically in the village and Lt. McLean was wounded.

Just before mid-day the 2 nd East Yorks were ordered to counter attack and after reaching VERLORENHOEK with heavy casualties had to fall back on the G.H.Q. line.

At 2.30.p.m. 1 st York and Lancaster and 3 rd Middlesex counter-attacked north and south of the railway, remnants of the 2 nd East Yorks, 1 st KOYLI, 2 nd Kings Own, 3 rd Monmouth's, 5 th Kings Own going up into support. At 3.30.p.m. 2 nd East Surreys , 3 rd Royal Fusiliers arrived and were sent up in support. The counter attack, practically unsupported by artillery, made slow progress and by 5.30.p.m. was held up at a line running from Verlorenhoek south over the railway. This line was consolidated with fresh troops during the night and eventually became the approximate position of the front line until the British advance in 1917.

In the meantime the Battalion with the exception of B Coy was withdrawn and marched back to huts at Vlamertinghe.

B Coy throughout the battle was separated from the rest of the battalion. On May 4 th it reinforced 1 st York and Lancs, coming under orders of the CO of that Battalion, and took over a trench on the extreme right of the Brigade and Division from a company of K.R.R.C. 27 th Division. The next unit on the right was the “Princess Pats”. The position was in front of the wood near Red Lodge, about 300 yards south of the Roulers railway. The trench was newly dug like the rest of the line and not deep. It was also on a forward slope and the only communication trench was full of mud and impassable. Further, it lay along a lane with a hedge on one side and a line of poplars on the other, so that it was an admirable mark for the enemy's artillery observing on Westhoek Ridge. On May 5 th and in a smaller degree on May 6 th and 7 th the enemy bombarded the trench, but it was so narrow and well traversed that the damage was comparatively slight and casualties not as heavy as might be expected from such a bombardment. Sgt. Nash, a Territorial with much service, was killed on the 6 th .

The attack in front was beaten off and the afternoon in the immediate neighbourhood proved quiet, but there was a great danger of the company being surrounded.. The P.P.C.L.I on the right were forced back to their support trench and on the left to the north of the wood there was a large gap and both flanks were more or less in the air. Accordingly Capt. Gattie went to the HQ of the Rifle Brigade, near Bellewaarde Lake , for reinforcements to protect the exposed flanks, especially to the north, and was able to guide them as far as the P.P.C.L.I. support trench, but machine gun fire prevented them from advancing further until dark. Meanwhile a party of the Monmouth's and KOYLI were in fact in advance of all other British troops with both flanks exposed. Towards the evening the bullets of our troops counter-attacking up the railway were beginning to take them in the rear, so that it was clearly impossible to hold on.

The party was now completely cut off from its own HQ, so Capt. Gattie proceeded to Brigade HQ for orders, leaving the remains of B Company under 2/Lt. Somerset .

Under cover of darkness the men of both units filed out of the right end of the trench and were sorted out, and the men in the wood were ordered to re-join. This party had received no orders to advance in the morning and had been left behind. The senior soldier, Cpl. Sketchley, had kept them together during the day and now led 30 men out to join the Company. The enemy attack up the railway on his left had come so near that his party had taken a prisoner and they now brought him with them. Cpl. Sketchley received the D.C.M. for his great initiative and pluck at this period. Capt. Mallinson was awarded the D.S.O., for his fine leadership in maintaining this position and finally in extracting his party from a very difficult position.

The enemy did not attempt to harass the withdrawal and the whole mixed party got safely back to Rifle Brigade HQ. After a halt there they proceeded across the railway to the Potijze road intending to rejoin the Brigade at Vlamertinghe.

At the GHQ line a Staff Officer ordered the party to the trenches again, so just as dawn was breaking on the 9 th they turned off the road, near the trench occupied on May 4 th and advanced across open fields to the front line. There was only room on their immediate front for the KOYLI so the Monmouthshire party occupied some little dugouts a hundred yards in rear.

Here the remains of B Coy spent the day, among them two N.C.O.s who later in the war made the supreme sacrifice, Sgt. Lewis and Sgt. T.Howells, that fine old soldier who won the D.C.M. in the South African War and a bar to it in the Great War. Sgt. Owen of C Coy joined the party during the day, also two men, who were shelled out of buildings on the left. The enemy paid no attention to B Coy., probably did not know of their existence, but fired heavy stuff overhead into YPRES all day. It was a day of inaction that tried the nerves far more than a day of hard fighting. Luckily it was not a day of starvation too, for early in the morning some foragers found a broken down water-cart and bread and tinned honey dumped in the road.

The casualties for the day had been enormous and the Brigade diary records these as being 128 Officers and 4379 men killed, wounded and missing.

Under cover of darkness, the remnants of the company began to withdraw to rejoin the rest of the battalion. Just as they got back to the GHQ line at dawn on May 9 th a staff officer ordered them back into the front line. They were finally withdrawn on the morning of May 10 th and marched back to Vlamertinghe where they rejoined what was left of the rest of the battalion. On May 11 th , the 3 rd Mons briefly moved back to the front line where the commanding officer Lt Col Gough was wounded. Major Bridge took command and the battalion moved out of the line to bivouacs at Poperinghe. Here they found piles of parcels from home, which it had not been possible to deliver during the battle – most of them were addressed, to men who could no longer receive them.

Edmonds in the Official History of the Great War describes the action of B Company 3 rd Monmouth'ss and D Company 1 st KOYLI in holding the frontline at Frezenberg as one of the greatest feat of arms of the whole war.

Casualties between April 22 nd - May 8 th had been horrendous. Of the 1020 soldiers of the 3 rd Battalion the Monmouthshire Regiment who had arrived in France in February 1915 only 134 were left alive on the morning of May 10 th . Stragglers reported over the next few days and the strength rose to about 250 in total. On May 14 th , what was left of the battalion was moved to the village of Winnezeele in France for a period of rest and reorganisation.

On the 21 st May during the battalions rest period at Winnezeele the GOC in C Sir John French, inspected the brigade and made the following speech, with which this chapter on the 3 rd Monmouth's time in Ypres may fittingly close.

“I came over to say a few words to you and to tell you how much I, as Commander-in-Chief of this Army, appreciate the splendid work that you have all done during the recent fighting. You have fought the Second Battle of Ypres , which will rank amongst the most desperate and hardest fights of the war. You may have thought because you were not attacking the enemy, that you were not helping to shorten the War. On the contrary, by your splendid endurance and bravery you have done a great deal to shorten it. In this the Second Battle of Ypres , the Germans tried by every means in their power to get possession of that unfortunate town. They concentrated large forces of troops and artillery, and further than this, they had recourse to the mean and dastardly practice, and hitherto unheard of in civilised warfare, namely the use of asphyxiating gases. You have performed the most difficult, arduous, and terrific task of withstanding a stupendous bombardment by heavy artillery, probably the fiercest artillery fire ever directed against troops, and warded off the enemy's attacks with magnificent bravery. By your steadiness and devotion both the German plans were frustrated. He was unable to get possession of Ypres-if he had done this, he would probably have succeeded in preventing neutral powers from intervening-and he was also unable to distract us from delivering our attack in conjunction with the French in the Arras-Armentieres district. Had you failed to repulse his attacks and made it necessary for more troops to be sent to your assistance, our operations in the south might not have been able to take place and would certainly not have been as successful as they have been. Your colours have many famous names emblazoned on them, but none will be more famous or more well deserved than that of the Second Battle of Ypres . I want you one and all to understand how thoroughly I realise and appreciate what you have done. I with to thank you, each officer, non-commissioned officer, and man for the services you have rendered by doing your duty so magnificently, and I am sure that your Country will thank you too”.

To act as a counterweight to the grandeur of French's speech the content of the following letter should be Ypres on the troops concerned. Captain O.W.D. Steel, then commanding C Company, 3rd Monmouths, who had suffered so badly during the fighting on Frezenberg Ridge, wrote the letter, published on 21st May 1915. It runs:

"I would be obliged if you would insert this short note in the next edition of your newspaper.

It is almost impossible to write to the relative of every man of my company who have suffered, partly because the losses have been so severe, and partly because it is difficult to trace all cases, but if anyone would care to write to me, I will endeavour to supply all available information.

May I express my deepest sympathy with all those who have suffered" .

This was the human effect of the war and of the Second Battle of Ypres and it was something that was to be felt well into the summer of 1915 as casualty lists continued to be published. Second Ypres had been a costly and grim battle for all those involved.

The Amalgamated Monmouthshire Battalions

After the heavy casualties of the 2 nd Battle of Ypres, the three Monmouthshire Battalions barely mustered the strength of one Battalion; on May 22 nd orders were received for the remains of the three battalions to amalgamate under the command of Major WS Bridge . May 23 rd the 3 Rd Mons left Winnezeele and joined the 1 st Mons that night in bivouacs in the Vlamertinghe Woods. On 24 th May the Germans launched a fresh bombardment and infantry attack on Ypres and the battalion again found itself in the front line – this time at the infamous “Hellfire Corner”. This marked the last serious attempt of the enemy to push through in the 2 nd Battle of Ypres. At about 8 p.m. a Highland Battalion relieved the Monmouthshire's.

The 2nd Monmouth's joined them on May 27 th and the official amalgamation of the battalions took place on May 28 th . Also the amalgamated battalions moved to Herzeele where the Brigadier (General Bols) who stated that the three battalions would be eventually reformed addressed them. It is interesting to note the strength of the three units forming the amalgamated Battalion on July 24 th , when they were still far below strength:

1 st Battalion 7 Officers 193 Other ranks

2 nd Battalion 12 Officers 476 Other ranks

3 rd Battalion 8 Officers 273 Other ranks

The period from May 29 th to June 10 th was busily spent in organising and re-equipping. It was in this period that the first real protection against gas was issued and considerable time was given to training in the use of the new gas helmet. A party from the Monmouth's had taken part in the initial tests which, owing to the shortage of gas, were carried out inside a motor omnibus. Since the surprise use of gas various temporary solutions had been adopted to help protect the troops against the effects. These new gas helmets, quickly produced, were remarkably simple and effective under the circumstances. They remained in service for about 9 months when new forms of protection were required due to the introduction of other forms of gas as a weapon of war.

During the course of researching Joseph's war I came across an interesting entry on his Medal Index Card. It states that on the 4th June 1915 Joseph received a ‘Self Inflicted Wound' now this is not as bad as it seems. There are many instances of soldiers being classed as having a self inflicted wound from such diverse activities as accidentally spilling boiling water on themselves, having fallen over and broken a leg. So we can only surmise that on this occasion that it was a sporting injury or maybe he was involved in the above training, we will never know.

On June 11 th the Monmouthshire's were on the move. 30 Officers and 999 other ranks marched south with the brigade to Reninghelst and bivouacked for the night in a wood on the Rozenhilbeek Brook. On the night of June 12 th they were back in the front line trenches taking them over from the 7 th KRR 14th Division. On the whole this part of the line was not unpleasant but not free from casualties. Before the Monmouth's were relieved they had lost 7 killed and 32 wounded. The Monmouth's had two more tours in the front before leaving the area, thankfully the causalities for these periods was lighter with only 2 killed and 8 wounded.

On July 5 th the first steps were taken to reform the three battalions. This lead to the 2 nd Monmouth's being detached away on July 24 th and subsequently the final partition between 1 st and 3 rd Monmouth's on August 11 th . The 3 rd Monmouth's were reattached to the 83 rd Brigade and reorganised into four Companies under Lt JM Jones, Captain HG Tyler, Lt LD Whitehead and Lt HA Hodges.

Orders were received on September 22 nd for the 3 rd Monmouth's to join the 49 th Division as one of the Pioneer Battalions. General Bulfin on his farewell address spoke as follows:

“I wish to say I am exceedingly sorry to lose you from the Division and would wish to thank you individually, one and all, for the help you have always given me whilst in the Division. At the beginning you had a very rough and unhappy time of it, but you came through it splendidly and have done excellent work. Your Colonel and all of you will look back one day with pride on the fine reputation, which the Regiment has made for itself during the time it has served with the 28 th Division. I wish you all the best of luck and a safe return to England at the end of the war, and I feel sure you will continue to make the history which you have begun for your Regiment”

Yser Canal

During 1915, it had become very clear that the digging of fire trenches and communication trenches and the construction of light railways and bridges required specialist skills and knowledge and that there was a need for specialised units to do this work who were also fully trained infantrymen. It was soon recognised that units raised in mining areas had all the necessary experience and skill to fulfil this role and so the idea of the Pioneer Battalions took shape. All three battalions of the Monmouthshire Regiment become the pioneer battalions for their respective divisions.

At the beginning of September 1915 the 3 rd Mons were sent to the Yser canal front just north of Ypres . Here they set up their battalion headquarters in Elverdinghe Chateau, which stood among a largely undamaged forest of “splendid oaks”. The canal and the front line were below sea level in this are and flooding and mud was a constant problem. The battalion set about the construction of a series of drainage ditches to ease the problem. On September 21 st , B and D companies moved out from the chateau ground to “Dunbarton Dug-outs” on the west bank of the canal and started work. A and C companies remained at Elverdinghe and the two groups relieved each other every six days.

Work was carried out at night and the conditions were terrible. The Germans occupied Pilckem Ridge to the each and the whole area was constantly shelled and swept by machine gun fire. To cross the canal soldiers had to use small temporary footbridges described by the battalion's historians as “very unhealthy as they were open to enfilading machine gun and shell fire from the German positions”. A considerable amount of useful work was carried out on the main communication trenches; one of these was called Barnsley Road . It is ironic then that when Joseph moved to Sheffield in later life, he lived on Barnsley Road , a constant reminder of his service in Ypres . There was a constant stream of casualties. Added to this, the ground was boggy; men often sank up to their waists in mud and had to spend weeks in wet clothing in bitter cold without hot food. On Dec 19 th the chateau and canal came under heavy shellfire followed closely by a gas attack. All four companies moved into the trenches to reinforce the front line against the expected German attack. The attack never came but the battalion was shelled all day and all the following night and had 40 men killed or wounded.

The battalion War Diary records the following entry for that day: -

About 5.30 am, message received that enemy was making gas attack. The Elverdinghe detachment had orders to move to Canal Bank. At 8.30 am the Battalion was in position; the Canal Bank detachment manning the reserve fire trenches, the Elverdinghe detachment at Canal bank dugouts. One machine gun and team in emplacement on ELVERDINGHE-BOESINGHE road, and another at MILL MOUND in Elverdinghe. Enemy bombarded heavily all day and night. During the morning 8- 17”shells fell in the grounds of Elverdinghe Chateau, where the QM branch had been left. The following message was received from 49 th Division.

“The divisional Commander is very pleased with the behaviour of all ranks, and the promptitude with which all necessary steps was taken this morning”

There follows a list of casualties suffered by the battalion that day. One name stands out, 1881 Pte Gibson, who was one of a number of men who were gassed. Ironically being gassed could have saved his life as on Dec 27th the battalion was taken out of the front line and received orders to leave the Yser canal. At 2.30 p.m. on Dec 29 th , the whole battalion paraded in the grounds of Elverdinghe Chateau prior to moving out. As the men fell in, “an ominous sound was heard, like an oncoming railway train” and 17-inch shells began to burst among the ranks. In a few seconds 39 men were killed and 30 wounded. Among the dead were many of the men who had survived the slaughter of Ypres . The dead were all buried in the adjoining cemetery of Ferme Olivier . It was a ghastly send off from the Salient, which they were not to see again as a Battalion.

The Somme

For most of January 1916 the 49th Division was at rest before proceeding to the Somme, and the battalion after leaving Elverdinghe, marched by stages to Rietveld, a little hamlet on the Cassel-Wormhoudt Road where the companies were billeted in farms within easy walking distance of each other. The battalion historians record this time as “four pleasant weeks, the training was not strenuous, only sufficient being done to keep all ranks fit, and the afternoons were spent in games”.

On February 3 rd the Battalion entrained at Esquelbecq for the south, and the next day detrained at Longueau near Amiens . A march to Ailly-su-Somme from which point they bussed to Saisseval, a small village about 14 kilometres to the west of Amiens . After a few days spent in training the battalion moved on Feb 13 th to the line just north of Albert, with the Battalion Headquarters at Bouzincourt. The various companies set about their new tasks. A company repairing roads near Bouzincourt, B Company building a light railway through Aveluy Wood across the Ancre marshes and on to Theipval Wood and C and D Companies working on “ Northumberland Avenue ” a new road running from Bouzincourt to Martinsart. Although the 49 th Division was relieved on March 5 th , the 3 rd Mons were left to carry on their pioneer work in the “forward area”. They were split up to work on various engineering schemes throughout April and May. D Company began construction of new road from Forceville to Englebeimer, which become known as “ Monmouth Road ”. It was completed on June 20 th . By this time, tension was running high, as the opening for the Battle of the Somme had been set for the July 1 st 1916. On June 24 th the 3 rd Mons were re-united as a battalion and ordered to rejoin the 49 th Division. They were marched back to Bouzincourt and reached their destination at 2 o'clock on the morning of 1 st July. When the British attack began, the battalion was in support of the 36 th ( Ulster ) Division who were attacking the Schwaben Redoubt – a formidable Germany strongpoint – through the Thiepval Wood. By July 3 rd , the battalion was digging the new British front line at the Schwaben Redoubt and Ancre. Here they came across the dead and wounded of the terrible fighting that had taken place over this ground. They also came under heavy shelling and German grenade attacks. The Ulster Memorial Tower now marks the site of these trenches.

On July 6 th, A Company came under attack while digging trenches near the German lines captured by the 49 th Division. The pioneers had to become infantrymen again and were ordered to hold the line until the next morning. 14 men were killed or wounded. On July 9 th , A and D Companies helped hold off another German attack and four men were awarded gallantry cards. On July 16 th , B Company came under heavy shellfire while repairing an ammunition dump and lost 19 killed and wounded.

The battalion spent the whole of July under battle conditions and suffered heavy casualties. On August 5 th , after more than a month under these conditions, the Battalion received, instead of drafts to replace their heavy casualties, the disheartening news that it was impossible to reinforce the three active service Battalions of the Regiment. And in consequence the 3 rd Battalion, the junior Battalion, would be broken up to provide drafts for the other Battalions. The Battalion moved back to Forceville on August 8 th , where Major-General Perceval, GOC the 49 th Division, made them a farewell speech. The following day the Monmouth's entrained at Acheux for Hesdin, and went into billets at Capelle. On the 14 th August 200 NCO's and men left for the 2 nd Monmouthshire's and on 24 th August 252 NCO's and men, Joseph included, for the 9 th Entrenching Battalion. Of these 252 men 200 were transferred on September 20 th from the 9 th Entrenching Battalion into the 9 th Welsh Regiment and the remainder into the 9 th Welsh Fusiliers. Joseph's war now continued with the 9th Welsh Regiment, a new service number and promotion to the rank of Corporal would soon follow.

Joseph survived the war and was discharged from the Welsh Regiment on 29th January 1919. On the 7th August 1922 at St Mary's Chapel, Tredegar Road, Ebbw Vale Joseph married Leah Williams daughter of John Williams a coal hewer, who was also from Ebbw Vale. In the 1930's they moved to Sheffield, he was working in the steel industry and moved north to follow the work. After retiring he worked briefly in a cinema at Southy Green in Sheffield.

In 1972 Joseph and Leah celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary and all the family went to Ebbw Vale to celebrate. A year later I joined the forces and grandad offered the following advice "Never volunteer for anything" and "I hope you achieve a higher rank than I did". I never did volunteer for anything and I did reach a higher rank.

Joseph died on the 5th January 1975 at home in Sheffield. His ashes were scattered in the Winter section at the Sheffield Crematorium.

Compiled with thanks to 'On the Western Front with 1/3 Monmouthshire Regiment" & "With Rifle and Pick"