WORLD WAR I

At 5 am Brigadier Evans (115th Brigade) took over the command of all the troops in Mametz Wood establishing his HQ on the junction of the central ride with the first cross ride. He brought up into the Wood the 16th Welsh and the remaining companies of the 11th SWB to replace some of the tired units of 113th Brigade and 114th Brigade. He was expected to complete the capture of the Wood with the remaining tired troops at his disposal. He established a line, from the left, as follows:

16th RWF - 16th Welsh -  17th RWF - 11th SWB - 10th SWB

An attack was planned for 3 p.m. with the 16th Welsh, 17th RWF and 11th SWB taking the lead. The centre left was expected to meet with the greatest difficulties. Evans had planned the attack without artillery support but at 2.45 p.m. an artillery barrage was opened up. The barrage could not be stopped and Evans’ infantry units began to suffer from the drop shorts of 18 ponders firing on the limit of their range. This bombardment carried on until 3.30 p.m.

As soon as the bombardment stopped the battalions moved in to action. The 11th SWB reached the north east corner of the Wood by 5.40 p.m. but the other two attacking units had much less luck and were held up. The attack was not a success though there was fierce fighting throughout the rest of the day. By 9.20 p.m. all the troops were back in their starting positions. The German reaction to the attack that they had halted was to realise that to continue to defend the Wood was fruitless and costly and at 8 p.m. orders were issued for their withdrawal. The evacuation began as darkness fell leaving only a few patrols within the boundary of the Wood. As dawn broke on the 12th July the units of the 62nd Brigade (21st Div.) entered the Wood to relieve the tired troops of the 38th Welsh Division and in no time at all they had moved through the Wood - hardly surprising since the Germans had already left the area.

The fighting for Mametz Wood was over. It had cost the 38th (Welsh) division 4,000 casualties - about a third of the infantry strength. The Division was relieved to a quiet part of the line for in spite of the effort that had been expended in the capture of the Wood it was to get no credit for the work. The Division was considered by some to have been inferior for a number of reasons and all neglected the fact that the Wood had fallen to them in a relatively short time. Another year was to pass before the Division was given the opportunity to show its worth and at Pilckem Ridge near Ypres. Their honour was restored but not before many more men of the Division had fallen.

Whitesmith