The Somme

The Somme Offensive began on 1st July and continued until 18th November 1916. It took place along a thirty-mile strip around the Somme River. During the offensive the furthest the Allies  advanced was 5 miles.

Approximate Casualties – Britain 420,000 (58,000 on the first day) including men from Empire forces.France 200,000  Germany 500,000 

The horrific number of casualties, horrendous conditions in the trenches and intense criticism of the Generals’ tactics led to the Somme Offensive being best remembered for epitomising the futility of trench warfare.                                         

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Porthcawl Men

Sergeant Curwen Margam Lewis
3rd South African Expeditionary Force
K.I.A 16th July 1916
Delville Wood

Curwen was born in Maesteg in July 1878 to Thomas and Elizabeth Lewis. Leaving his job as a draper, on 27th April 1897 he joined the Grenadier Guards in Cardiff. His first posting was to Gibraltar from 28th September 1897 – 18th July 1898. From Gibraltar, he was sent to serve with Lord Kitchener in Khartoum until 17th October 1898.

On 4th June 1901 he transferred to the South African Constabulary where he remains until his service ends in 1909. During his time in the force he, also , enters into local politics with the Government of Pretoria.

At the outbreak of the First World War he joins the South African Expeditionary Force.  

Porthcawl News 1st April 1915

On 9 July 1915 the German forces in South-West Africa (now Namibia) surrendered to the Union Defence Forces under the command of the prime minister of the Union of the South Africa, General Louis Botha. (left ).

Curwen is promoted to Sergeant on 29th August 1915.

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In December 1915 the 1st South African Brigade, including Curwen’s regiment, was sent to Egypt to help subdue and capture Gaafer Pasha who was leading an insurrection of the Senussi tribe against the British Government. On 26th February 1916 this mission was accomplished. The brigade then left for France and landed on 23rd April 1916. On 31st May 1916 the brigade made its way to the Somme area.

At 0500 on the 15thJuly, 1916 the 2nd,3rd and 4th Regiments of the South African Infantry Brigade attacked Delville Wood near Longueval on the Somme battlefront. They became trapped in the wood and the Germans counter-attacked at 1500 that day but were driven back by rifle and machine-gun fire.



Sergeant Lewis was killed on the 16th July when the entire Brigade was ordered to clear the North-Western sector of the wood. The advance started at 1000 but failed totally as the German opposition was too strong. The Brigade fell back to their trenches and held out against further heavy attacks until they were relieved on 20th July.

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2nd Lieutenant Reginald Nicholls
3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment
K.I.A 18th July 1916
Fromelles

Reginald M Nicholls, one of seven children was born in Aberkenfig March 1886. His parents, Frederick and Sarah owned and ran a Bakery and Confectioners on Wyndham Street, Bridgend. Sometime before the 1911 Census, they moved to Porthcawl to manage the Pier Hotel, whilst their children continued to run the shop in Bridgend.
Before joining his siblings in the business, Reginald attended Wallingscote Rd, College in Weston-Super-Mare. It would have been here that he was trained in the Officer’s Training Corps, which would have been part of the school syllabus in all English Public Schools of the period.
At the outbreak of war Reginald joined the 11th Hussars before being commissioned to the 3rd Welsh Battalion (Special Reserve) as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant on 14th April 1915 . For a time he was stationed at the Newton Camp, Porthcawl. On 3rd November 1915 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment for active service in France.
2nd Lieutenant Reginald M Nicholls died on 18th July 1916 in No 38 Casualty Clearing Station, Heilly, Somme, France. He was 31years old.

Evidence of his death has been recounted in different ways:

'The Hungry One" by C.P. Clayton M.C., edited by Michael Clayton, Gomer Press 1978 (Page 146 (killed).

"During the afternoon young Nicholls comes along from 'C' Company. He is usually a quiet fellow, but he is very cheery now for he is off to England envied by all. It is not often that anyone gets away from the middle of active fighting. We cheer him along with the messages for London, and he hurries happily down the trench. He is no sooner out of sight than a few shells come screaming along. It is as if they have seen him. "Mr. Nicholls is hit, sir." Shouts one of the men. "Poor fellow, right in the face it caught him." "Oh God, I'm killed." That was all he said, then collapsed and died. I find it is true. It seems piercingly tragic, actually to be off with his leave ticket in his pocket, to be hit and know that he was dying. So many have died before they know."

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A brother-officer, Victor Dart, writes to his parents:-
Dear Mrs Nicholls,

It is my sad duty to inform you of the death of your son Reginald. He had done excellent work in severe attacks on the Germans, but while in the trenches on the morning of the 18th inst. About 3.30 o’clock, the enemy was shelling us rather badly, and he was hit in the face and right wrist by a piece of shell. I happened to be near him at the time and helped to dress his wounds. When I shouted and asked him if he was hit, he exclaimed,  ”Is that you, Dart? I’m dying!” Later he said, “Write tell my mother.” He then asked for morphia, which I gave him. He was conscious until carried from the trench, and although suffering considerably he did not once complain when he was taken from the trench. I did not know how serious his wounds were and was very grieved to hear later in the day that he had died at a clearing station about 6.30am. I personally miss him very much, as does every officer in the battalion and every man in the platoon. We all beg you to accept our sincere sympathy in your bereavement.

                                               Yours Sincerely,
                                                             Victor Dart

                Lieutenant Reginald Mortimer Nicholls is buried at                             Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe.

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Corporal Frederick Walter Nicholls

Later that year in October 1916, his parents received news that his brother Corporal Frederick Walter Nicholls, 3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on patrol. Corporal Nicholls, 19 years old, was the first Porthcawlian to receive such an honour during the war.

“He has gained this distinction through showing great bravery and presence of mind during the Somme Battle. His company was ordered out of the trenches for the purpose of taking a German trench. The enemy repulsed them three times, and all his officers having been killed, Corporal Nicholls and his men rushed the trench for the fourth time, securing their goal, and killing all the Germans therein. Shortly afterwards a reinforcement of Germans endeavoured to retake the trench, but with the assistance of some Australians who came up just in the nick of time, they held their position.”
(Porthcawl News 20th October 1916)

Corporal Nicholls who was at the time a lance corporal was immediately promoted in the field.
Corporal Nicholls survived the war and returned home to Cardiff , where the family had moved, to take up his job as a clerk with Messrs.’ Badcock and Co, Docks, Cardiff. He died in Essex in 1971.

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