Early 1916
Most people tend to associate WW1 soldiers as being killed during major battles, such as the Battles of Loos,Somme,Arras etc. However, the truth is much less obvious. Many soldiers actually died of various diseases,accidents and ordinary ailments whilst on active service.On 9th January 1916 two Porthcawl men died in different circumstances,in different places but from non-battle related incidents.
Private Albert Edward Farrow
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Private Harry James Eglington Maxwell
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In February 1915 Albert enlisted in the 19th (Service) Battalion Welsh Regiment ( Glamorgan Pioneers).Evidence suggests that, possibly due to feeling unwell, when the regiment was posted to France in December 1915 , Albert was sent home and transferred to the newly formed 21st (Reserve) Battalion. A fortnight prior to his death he was taken seriously ill and died in hospital in Cardiff . He died on 9th January 1916 the day before he was supposed to return to training at Kinmel Park.
NB. Kinmel Park Camp was built by McAlpine in 1915 and was the largest camp in Wales at the time. A narrow-gauge railway ran from the camp into Rhyl. The camp functioned to train soldiers for active service. However, it is interesting to note that in 1919 it was the scene of The infamous Kinmel Park Riots. click here for more information
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Harry applied to join and was successfully enlisted into the Royal Engineers 33rd Company , Motor Cyclist Corps, Service No 100517, in Tottenham,London on 15th June 1915. His attestation paper signifies that he was a motorcyclist by profession, had at sometime broken his nose and wore a tattoo on his right arm. His own motorcycle, however, was not accepted as fit for purpose.
Harry’s regiment left for France with the B.E.F on 11th November 1915. Harry’s death on 9th January 1916 led to a court inquiry. “Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry assembled in the field on the 26th January 1916 by order of Col .F.E.G. Skey, C.R.E. 33rd Division, for the purpose of enquiring into the death of Motor Cyclist Corporal Maxwell,H.J.E No 100517.” Various witnesses reported that Corporal Maxwell had arrived at the Signal Office –Rue Victor Hugo- with dispatches for the 19th Brigade at 11.15pm on 8th January 1916.Cpl Maxwell had stated that his motorcycle was running badly and the engine needed time to cool. He did not think it serious enough to hand it over to the Artificer for repair. He left at 11.40pm. At 4.00am an ambulance carrying the body of Cpl Maxwell arrived at the Signal Office. It was claimed that his body had been found on the Beuvry-Cambrin Road. Reports led the inquiry to assume that his motorcycle had broken down and that, despite the lack of an eye-witness, he had been knocked down by one of three lorries whilst trying to attract attention. It was emphasized that this section of the road surface was “very indifferent as a result of shelling” and that “no lights are allowed on this section of the road.” Medical reports state that he died from broken ribs puncturing his lungs. Elizabeth received a war widow's pension of 25/- a week. She remained in Porthcawl for the rest of her life and died in December 1954.
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Lance Corporal Edward Dunster
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Lt Colonel Frank Gaskell
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In 1900 he joined the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, Welsh Regiment in which he was promoted to Honorary Lieutenant. As Lieutenant in the 1st Volunteer Service Company, Welsh Regiment he served in the 2nd Boer War 1900- 1902, where he was awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with bars, one for each state campaign, and the King’s South African medal for performing over 18months service abroad.
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Once home he remained in the Volunteer Battalion but returned to his work as a solicitor. In 1913 he was active in the recruitment of men for the National Reserve, in readiness for mobilization in the event of war.
Following the outbreak of war he was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1st September 1914 and his regiment, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, part of the B.E.F, was posted to France on 19th September 1914. Wounded in action he returned home to recuperate. On 25th November 1914 he was promoted to the rank of Major and asked to raise the 16th Welsh Regiment (Cardiff City Battalion). Although this regiment was raised in Cardiff it was actually formed in Porthcawl.
On 25th November 1914 he was promoted, once again, to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant Colonel and officially appointed as Commanding Officer to the 16th Welsh.
Towards the end of December, 1914 the battalion was moved from Porthcawl to Colwyn Bay, North Wales. The next eight months were spent there training before they were moved to Winchester in August 1915 with other units of the 38th (Welsh) Division. They visited Cardiff in the November before embarking to France on the 4th of December, 1915.
Following the outbreak of war he was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1st September 1914 and his regiment, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, part of the B.E.F, was posted to France on 19th September 1914. Wounded in action he returned home to recuperate. On 25th November 1914 he was promoted to the rank of Major and asked to raise the 16th Welsh Regiment (Cardiff City Battalion). Although this regiment was raised in Cardiff it was actually formed in Porthcawl.
On 25th November 1914 he was promoted, once again, to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant Colonel and officially appointed as Commanding Officer to the 16th Welsh.
Towards the end of December, 1914 the battalion was moved from Porthcawl to Colwyn Bay, North Wales. The next eight months were spent there training before they were moved to Winchester in August 1915 with other units of the 38th (Welsh) Division. They visited Cardiff in the November before embarking to France on the 4th of December, 1915.
Once in France the regiment moved around continuously but whilst patrolling in the Moated Grange/ Riez Bailleul Sector, Lt Col Frank Gaskell was shot by a sniper on 15th May 1916. The bullet hit his ammunition pouches causing them to explode. He died of his wounds at Merville Hospital,on 17th May 1916 .His body was buried at Merville Cemetery.
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The battalion were later to experience major losses in the Battle for Mametz Wood. Most of these casualties occurred on the 7th of July, 1916 when the battalion came under heavy machine gun fire from Flatrion Copse and Sabot Copse.
Although best remembered in Cardiff, Frank had forged strong ties with Porthcawl. In 1913,during his National Reserve recruitment drive, along with Captain John L Lambert, he had his son, Reginald christened at the local Catholic Church in New Road. In the year after his death his wife, Violet and his 2 sons (Francis Henry being born 1st January 1916) moved to 3 Esplanade Avenue, Porthcawl.
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