Lives of the First World War

4th August 1914 - 5th May 1915

The weather was so severe in their first month on trench duty it hospitalized more of the Battalion than the Germans. The 2nd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment by virtue of having all of its companies in the lines on the 21 and 22 November 1914 became one of the few Territorial Battalions that were entitled to wear the clasp on their 1914 service stars. The clasp has the inscription 5 Aug – 22 Nov 1914. Trench training finished on 2nd December 1914 and the Batallion went and relieved the area held by the 2nd Essex Regiment in front of Le Gheer between the Railway line and Warnave Stream approximately 3 miles North East of Armentieres. Christmas Day 1914 was spent in the front line and the 2nd Monmouthshire Battalion became a part of history in a sequence of events known as the ‘Christmas Truce’. Along the Western front troops from both sides went into ‘no-mans land’ to exchange soveniers with the Germans and celebrate Christmas. The German troops opposite the 2nd Monmouths were the 7th Bavarians. For this first Christmas of the war there was an Official Christmas present given to every serving soldier by Princess Mary who sent a brass metal box containing cigarettes or tobacco and chocolate. The day to day duty in the trenches continued unabated and each tour in the trenches produced more and more casualties. After failing to take Ypres in the first battle of 1914 the Germans decided that Ypres must fall and on 22 April 1915 they launched a ferocious artillery attack and for the first time in the war the Germans used poisoned gas in the attack which was to become known as the 2nd Battle of Ypres. At the start of the battle the 2nd Monmouths were in reserve with the rest of 12 Brigade and were stationed at Elverdinge a few miles from the fighting. As the fighting increased the Brigade moved up and the 2nd Monmouths took up positions in the area of La Brique on 24 April 1915. There the Battalion remained in readiness for the next 6 days before being called upon to take part in the action. On 2 May 1915 the Germans began the day with a heavy bombardment which was so intense that it was considered to be the most ferocious of the war to that date. This bombardment was then followed by a gas attack in the area of 12 Brigade. The 2nd Monmouths were called upon to provide support to the 2nd Essex Regiment and 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers. ‘B’ and ‘C’ companies of the Monmouths were ordered to move forward into the Support trenches. The battle raged fiercely and did not die down until 9.45PM on that night of 2 May 1915 and instructions were then issued for a staged withdrawal to begin which was safely completed in the hours of darkness. It was a long day for the men remaining in the front line on the 3rd May 1915. The Germans started their bombardment again and continued shelling the trench lines and made determined bayonet attacks and used poison gas. The relief with which the front line soldiers of 12 Brigade and the 2nd Monmouths who were still in the trenches would have greeted darkness on the 3rd May 1915 can only be imagined. The final evacuation of the line was a staged withdrawal with 2 Companies of front line Battalions being withdrawn at 9pm and the remainder at 10.30pm leaving only small parties to cover the evacuation and maintain a pretence of normal trench activity until they too withdrew at midnight. On the morning of 4 May 1915 the Germans began the day by methodically shelling the evacuated trench positions which indicated how successful the complete withdrawal of the Monmouths had been. It is not known how Private Herbert Watkins was killed in action. His date of death has been recorded at the 3rd May 1915 which was some of the heaviest shelling and fighting recorded in the second battle of Ypres which is referred to as the ‘Battle of St Julien’. Private Herbert James Watkins 2385 is recorded in the books:- • THEY FOUGHT WITH PRIDE. First World War experiences of the 2nd Battalion • The Monmouthshire Regiment. Written by David Nicholas. This book has the photo above of Herbert Watkins. • OUT SINCE 14. • A History of the 1/2nd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment’ 1914 - 1919 by John Dixon. • Private H.J Watkins is recorded on the Memorial Plaque at the Pontypool Park Gates. • The South Wales Borderers and Monmouthshire Regiment Museum at Brecon in South Wales has photos and histories of the Regiment.

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