Cardiff Pals: The Welsh Regiment in World War I

1. Press ‘ESC’ at any time to stop the presentation I Joined Up! “You may have broken your mother’s hearts, but you won’t break mine!” “You may be wearing a toff’s hat, but I’ve got three stripes!” Quotes taken from Cardiff (Pals) Commercial: The Welsh Regiment, edited by K. Cooper and J.E. Evans.Image provided by M. Williams Des Quinn and Martin Williams

2. “Men of Wales, leave to your children the richest of all inheritances – the memory of fathers who in a great cause put self-sacrifice before ease, and honour before life itself.” The Prime Minister, H. Asquith, speaking in Wales, October 2nd, 1914. When the Prime Minister and many other great men, such as David Lloyd George, had implored men to join the armed services, many Welsh men, as we have seen, answered the call. 750 Cardiff Pals marched through Cardiff on September 14th 1914 on their way to their first camp at Lewes in Sussex. But, when they got there they had no uniforms, one drill rifle per platoon and only one meal a day and a “few scraps”.

3. “After a few months ‘training’ at Winchester which, because of the shortage of ammunition and weapons, included only about six practice rifle shots, the hour came to leave for France, and the trenches. We were cooped up in the ship’s hold until dawn, when we were allowed on deck and saw the French coast gradually loom into view. It did not look at all inviting in that cold and foggy daybreak.” W.A. Tucker, 38th (Welsh), Divisional Cyclist Company, quoted in Wales and the First World War, by Keith Strange Even though the call had gone out to men around the U.K. to join up, does it seem that the forces were ready for the actual number of men who entered the armed services?

4. Men joined up in 1914 from all over Cardiff: Workers at James Howells StoreTeachersWorkers with the Cardiff Gas CompanyJournalists (many from the Western Mail)Clerks from Spillers the Flour MillersNearly all of the Cardiff Corinthians Soccer Team… The story was the same in many areas within Wales. Men answered the call to arms. But, why did they do it? We now know that the conditions and dangers endured (tolerated) by men during the Great War are almost too many and too terrible to comprehend.

5. “When some of my oppos and me set out for Birkenhead we were miners in our late teens, and we were set to join the new Tunnelling Companies that were being formed. An agent had come to the pit and told us we could work as Army Moles, digging under the German lines, and be paid as much as five shillings a day. That was big wages in those days, so we set off to make our fortunes!” Albert Lewis quoted in Wales and the First World War, by Keith Strange “My very dearest mum. At last I have a little news for you – I’ve changed my underclothing. After all, it’s done yeoman service for the last two months.” A young man of 18 ½ in the Cardiff Pals quoted in Cardiff (Pals) Commercial: The Welsh Regiment Why do you think that many young men joined up?

6. September 13th, 1914 Officer CommandingFullwood BarracksPreston Dear Sir I have received a communication from 20 recruits sent from this town to the barracks at Preston, and a pitiful letter that I have received from them. It is astounding to think that men could be treated in such a manner when volunteering their lives for their country. I presided at a meeting in this town and pledged my word that they and their families would be well cared for if they enlisted for service, and then to receive the letter that I have received makes it very annoying to me and certainly it is going to have a bad effect for further recruiting.

7. I am sending a copy of this letter to Col. Vaughan who attested the men and shall be glad to hear that by that time the matter will be put in order. We have had a great deal of difficulty in Neath with men sent from here. I am billeting 66 men in the town who were returned from barracks in which the regiment had been filled up. I am sorry to have to make any complaint but this is not altogether a town matter, it is a National Blot, and an impediment to the strengthening of our British Army. May I ask you to be good enough to let me know if everything is alright or otherwise. Yours faithfully,

8. The following extract is from a letter sent from Rhyl dated 29.01.15. This letter and the table of ‘articles’ issued should give you some idea of the scale of trying to equip a Battalion during training, before they even set off to fight in the war. To: - Secretary, Welsh Army Corps. With reference to your letter…I am enclosing the list of Clothing and Necessaries that has been issued to the men of this Battalion (10th, 1st Rhondda) since its formation in October 1914…I can only be held responsible for Clothing and Necessaries received by the Battalion from 30th October 1914. ColonelCommanding 10th (Service) Bn. Welsh Regt. 1st Rhondda

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11. The following extract is from a letter sent from Cardiff to the 1st Rhondda Battalion. It was received on the 5th of January 1915. Welsh Army Corps January 4th 1915 Dear Sir I have your wire of today’s date with reference to supplies. I have wired…for the delivery of 183 pairs of Drawers. The 507 Towels have already been despatched to you by Messers Howells. I have also wired Samuel Bros. to despatch the Blue suits as quickly as possible. There may be a little delay sending you the Puttees as they are difficult to procure at the present time. In regard to Razors, we have a contract for 5000 but delivery does not take place until the beginning of February. They are very difficult to obtain. R.B. Brown and Sons are doing their utmost to hasten delivery of uniforms.

12. The War Office paid an allowance of 10s to each man for the loan of his clothing which had to be returned to his home at the government’s expense once uniforms were issued. The 16th Cardiff City Battalion was clothed in a mixture of civilian and military garb. The Rhondda and Swansea battalions wore the distinctive uniform of old Welsh grey homespun cloth known as ‘Brethryn Llwyd Cymru’. The 11th Cardiff Pals wore a uniform of Brethryn Llwyd which was a little browner than khaki, hence their nickname the ‘Chocolate Soldiers’. New Battalions always lacked equipment. In 1915 the Rhondda Battalion had no straw, rope, spun yarn and posts and crossbars for bayonet fighting. The Cardiff Battalion was equipped with 60 unserviceable rifles. It took well into 1915 before the War Office was able to supply and equip the New Army properly. END