As we enter the start of the week that commemorates the start of the Great War, I will post photographs and stories of local men who gave their lives in that terrible conflict. A host of people, including many from this group have come forward with photographs and information for the Memorial Volume for Neath and District that I will hopefully publish next year. Im appealing to everyone to get in touch with me if you have photographs, letters, diaries or other information on relatives on the Gnoll, Briton Ferry and other local memorials. Thomas, Francis John. Lance Corporal 17595 Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Francis John Thomas was born in 1895, the youngest son of James and Annie Thomas of 16 Grandison Street, Briton Ferry. He worked in the Briton Ferry Steel Works before volunteering for military service at Neath in October 1914. Thomas was posted to the 13th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llandudno. He spent several months there training before moving down to Winchester in August 1915. He embarked for France on 1st December 1915. The 13th RWF formed part of 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. Following a period in the trenches in the Laventie sector the division was moved south in preparation for the upcoming offensive on the Somme. Between 7th and 12th July 1916 the 38th Welsh Division attacked Mametz Wood, the largest wood on the Somme battlefield. The principal and ultimately successful attack was launched on 10th July. The 14th and 16th RWF attacked on the on the left of the line, with Francis’ battalion the 13th in support. Around 5am the first two companies of the 13th entered the wood in support of the assaulting battalions with the rest of the battalion engaging soon after. There was bitter fighting in the wood with units becoming intermixed in the confusion. Casualties were very heavy as they fought their way slowly but surely towards the northern fringe of the wood. Francis was severely wounded in the attack and died of his wounds the same day age 21. His body was subsequently lost and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Pier and Face 4 A. https://facebook/groups/1379546812284877/?fref=ts
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 19:36:04 +0000
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