The word 'hero' has been used rather loosely over the past few years. Real heroes make a difference to the people around them. Denbigh has such heroes.
The Great War drained the town of all its menfolk of serviceable age. These Denbigh's heroes came from every street within the town. They left the safety and shelter of their homes and family, and many of them were destined never to return.
As men all over Britain rushed to join the forces in August 1914, so did the men of Denbigh. One group was already in formation and already looking like the real thing. They were the Denbigh Terriers - sometimes called 'Saturday Soldiers' - and they were destined to be thrown into the worst of battles and conditions that the Western Front could throw in the early years of the War.
The Terriers belonged to the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (the spelling 'Welch' was returned to the Regiment in 1917). D Company, of about 200 men, came from the town of Denbigh. Whilst other young men were parading in 'civvies', the Terriers were sent down to Northampton and at 9am on August 31 they were the first soldiers to parade in full uniform in the Market Square, Northampton.
They were housed in the Liberal Club in the town. Two months of hard slog, parades, musketry, P.T. and church services (the locals loved to hear the Welsh singing) was followed by orders to make ready for France. Though not the first Territorial Battalion to enter France, they had the distinction of being one of the first over as they were up to strength and fit. They went by train to Southampton and for the first time in their lives left British shores. Few had even left Wales.
More training followed. They were now in earshot of the guns, which seemed to roar continuously. On December 1 they underwent extreme training in the mud and snow, route marching for hours, and bayonet charging through quagmires. It was not in vain. Now really fit, orders came to march to meet the enemy. This order came on December 20, and in the worst that the weather could throw at them, they marched without pause for 25 miles to the front line, ready to repulse an attack by crack German troops near to the village of Gorre. It was their first real experience of war.
They witnessed dozens of ambulances bringing back the wounded from the battle and were told to prepare to charge the enemy at any moment. A bunch of lads, including a boy from Llanrhaeadr Post Office, David T Edwards, were told to take boxes of ammunition up to the front line. The bullets and bombs were exploding around them but they did their job and, according to David, "were well praised for it."
Midnight on the 21st saw them eating the contents of their food parcel in a ruined farm house, with shells and bombs all around them. On Christmas Day there was to be no truce or games of football in their locality. William D Evans (Hennessey Terrace) stated that his "dinner was a few biscuits and water so you may bet that I was happy with the bullets flying around my head." They stayed in trenches for 17 days, some up to their waists in water and many succumbing to frost bite.
A short period of rest in a town called Bethune was followed by more fighting on January 24. Their trenches were shelled all that day, then early next moring the Germans went 'over the top' and charged the Terriers' trenches. The crafty Terriers had withdrawn and allowed the Germans to take one trench which was taken back within an hour following a counter attack.
Unfortunately, Jack Price Thomas, of Denbigh Post Office, was killed along with Thomas Roberts, of Henllan Street, who was sniped after the fighting had died down. Some Terriers along with a member of the Black Watch sought out the sniper who had also potted three of the Scotsmen. He was shown little mercy. Another trench was charged five times by the Germans but on each occasion the enemy were driven off by withering rapid fire. The fighting ended with death all around and many German prisoners taken, most of whom were happy to be out of the conflict and to share a fag. This fight was part of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle.
The Terriers remained in that area and were retained as Infantry Soldiers up to the Battles of Aubers Ridge and Festubert in May 1915. These battles were bloody affairs that cost the British Army 16,000 casualties in a matter of days.
The German trenches were bombarded continually for three days before the whistles blew on the sunny morning on May 10 and everyone went 'over the top.' German machine guns were unharmed by the bombardment and the order was given to 'fire until the barrells burst' at the wall of khaki soldiers walking towards them. The Colonel of the 4th Battalion was killed immediately as he stepped out into No Man's Land waving his men forward. The Medical Officer, Dr Pern, was mown down treating casualties, devoid of cover.
Denbigh men did their duty along with the rest and paid a heavy price. WD Evans was killed outright and was never found, Ted Myddleton, of Coppy Farm, died of wounds and was buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, and Sammy Corke, of Love Lane, also was killed on the charge. Very few escaped without a wound. Warren Lewis was awared the Military Medal for repeatedly going out under machine gun fire to rescue wounded men. He was searching for his brother Reg who, amazingly, had reached the German wire and stormed into a trench, only to suffer severe wounds in a bayonet fight. Every inch a soldier, he made his way back to the British lines but his war was over.
This battle saw the end of the Terriers as a fighting Infantry unit. They were subsequently attached to a London Division (47th) as Pioneers, with responsibility for digging trenches, labouring and consolidating gains with the spade rather than with the gun. There were to be very many more hair-raising experiences of note right up until the end of the war on 11 November 1918.
They were all heroes and little mention is made of them. You cannot ask more of someone than to leave his home, go to a foreign land and risk life and limb for home and country. These men did that and willingly. They were not, as Territorials, obliged to do this.
The youngest casualty of the 4th Battalion was only 17 years old. He went along with his mates as he felt it would be letting them down if he didn't go. Warren Lewis said, after the great slaughter of Aubers Ridge, "I thought it was my duty, so I did it." 
The author can be contacted on Glynnpeters@aol.com
your comments
Emlyn from Wrexham
Hi Peter, My father was in the fusiliers. What battalion I am not sure, but him and his cousin from Llandurnog were fighting in Palestine. My father, Ernest Foulkes, was wounded but my dad's cousin, John, was killed. My dad's brother, Thom, was killed in action in Belgium. He got the VC.
Thu Mar 6 09:17:30 2008
Ian Beavan (Buckley)
Private David T Edwards referred to was my Taid and he survived the war. He passed away in 1972 at the age of 76. A letter he sent to his parents from the front was published in the Free Press on 10th April 1915 where he refers to fatalities in his Company (A). I quote "We lost about six men and among them were two of my best mates, one was Harold Jones (Llandyrnog). The other fellow was R O Hughes, he was woking at Bryn Goleu, Saron. Poor lad, he was always sleeping next to me since he came out."
I would highly recommend Peter Glynn's book 'All that we had, we gave' which gives a wonderful account of the Denbigh Terriers. We should be very proud of those young lads who fought and died in France & Belgium.
Fri Feb 15 08:33:03 2008
Peter Glynn
Clive, please email me using the address above. Anyone who has relatives from WW1 on the War Memorial, I do have info on each one of the names thereon. So please contact me. Cheers, Peter.
Fri Feb 1 15:53:19 2008
Clive Griffiths [Staines]
I found the story really interesting. I would like to find out more about my great uncle Will Barrnett (Taid's brother) of Love Lane, who was serving in the Kings Own Liverpool although the war memorial in Denbigh says the RWF.
Mon Jan 28 08:45:46 2008
Alan Peters, Germany
Hi I am looking for information on my Taid Merfyn "Pick" Peters of Denbigh. I have found details from the records office about his receiving the silver star for bravery for General Eisenhower after the Second World War but I heard from somewhere he had returned on the train to Denbigh to a hero's welcome. Does anyone have any further information? Thank you.
Fri Dec 21 16:10:12 2007
Tom Green, Canterbury, Kent.
Well Done Peter. An excellent piece of research and writing. Please can you give me details of your book. I am a "Taff" who once lived in Denbigh but now live in the South East and will be moving soon to live in France (on the Somme). I have great interest in WW1 hence my choice of location and welcome any information on Welsh divisions and regiments and where they served, casualties etc.Regards and Best Wishes,Tom Green
Tue May 29 11:07:29 2007
Peter Glynn, Denbigh
I have information on all First World War casualties from Denbigh, so if you need to contact me, email me direct. Thanks to everyone for their comments.
Tue May 8 10:21:30 2007
Bob Jackson of Newport
Message for Sadie of Nottingham
Join www.familysearch.org the LDS Mormon IGI search engine. Completely free and without obligation. I have found hundreds of relatives this way. My great grand father walked from Glasgow to Denbigh in the 1880's, married twice, had three children and learnt Welsh along the way. My taid & father as well as myself and my brother both born the the DRI on Ruthin Rd. I am sure you will be able to find out quite a lot about them.
Mon Mar 5 07:49:35 2007
Mary-Leigh from Denbighshire (hello mam and dad!)
Hello! I'm really interested in the history of Denbighshire and I would like 2 no more about Post Office Lane, Denbighshire, and Middle Lane, Denbighshire, please I would be very grateful if you would thank you.
Mon Aug 14 09:18:36 2006
Alan from Denbigh
Well done on that. It makes you think what our taids and fathers went through and how much we owe to all these people, makes you feel quite humble, thank you Peter.
Wed Mar 22 21:01:32 2006
Dylan Davies, Llansannan
A very intresting history of the brave Denbigh Soldiers. A relative of mine, James Lloyd of 34, Park Street, Denbigh was a soldier in the Great War. He survived but died later in 1926 in a motor cycle accident. I do not know in which Regiment he served with, the RWF ?
I have a picture of James but he does not were his cap and badge. I think he has a white string on his left sholder. Can any one help me find more info on James. Thanks. Dylan Davies, Bryn Eithin, Llansannan, Denbigh LL16 5HL
Tue Sep 27 23:20:22 2005
Keith Nurse, Orpington, Kent, formerly Wrexham
Again, a first class piece of research from Peter Glynn to follow up his excellent book, All That We Had, We Gave.
This is a fitting tribute to the young men who fought and died in that nightmare conflict. But I wonder how many people fully appreciate the amount of time and effort that went into this rewarding and deeply moving account. Well done, Peter...
Tue Jun 28 19:25:16 2005
Alun Salisbury - Cardiff
Excellent account. This is the standard I have come to expect from Peter. I realise however that this was written to appear on the Denbigh Town page. A stranger reading this could be forgiven for thinking that men of the 4th Battalion R.W.F. all originated from Denbigh Town as opposed to the County of Denbighshire. It’s worth mentioning that Companies A, B and C were men recruited from specific areas of the county e.g. Wrexham, Rhosllanerchrugog, Ruabon, Llangollen, Chirk, Acrefair, etc. My Taid, John Bartley served with the 4th Battalion R.W.F. throughout the campaign and survived. He embarked, with the Battalion at Southampton for Le Havre, France, arriving on the 6th November 1914. When in the Terriers he lived at Tref-y-Nant, Acrefair.
Fri Jun 17 14:33:06 2005
Steven Lea from Australia
Stories like this really bring war to life. This was a great account and helps us to appreciate what so many lost for us so long ago. Well done.
Sat May 14 01:49:22 2005
Jason McDowell, Lake Ozark, Missouri USA
Heart warming and yet very sobering piece of writing that whole heartedly brings home the meaning of "Lest We Forget". As a Brit in exile in a foreign land - this type of writing reminds me as to why I cling so passionately to my "Britishness"!
Sat Apr 23 19:26:05 2005
Ian McDonald. Bolton Lancs.
A very moving account Pete, worth all the hard work. I find that what you acheive with your writing is to make me think about the lives and situations of people from an era that I can only imagine and that thankfuly, I didn't have to live through. This is worth keeping alive in everyones minds.
Wed Mar 30 17:41:48 2005
Robert Lea from Australia
A sad story that has to be told so that people will forever remember the ultimate price that has been paid for our freedom today! Thank you for your hard work Peter.
Mon Mar 14 10:29:00 2005
Meg Mullock - Denbigh
Thanks Peter, once again you have researched and recorded aspects of Denbigh's WW1 history for posterity in a very warm and readable way.
Meg
Wed Mar 9 18:43:13 2005
Tom from Penrith
You continue to amaze me, Peter, many congratulations on a outstanding piece of research and writing.I am trying to write,myself, and I know just how difficult it can be, so keep up the good work.Well done, buddy.
Wed Mar 9 18:29:07 2005
Ken Lea from New Zealand
A very good read thank you, the same story can be repeated over and over from all parts of the world i am sure,
I have been told that two brother members of my family changed surnames so they could fight together in the 1914-18 war one was Lea the other called himself Lee, both survived.
Wed Mar 9 10:55:39 2005
Holly and Sjay (Manchester with Nic)
Its a really interesting account and nice to know people still remember and respect people that fought for Britain. Way to go Mr Glynn!
Mon Mar 7 16:27:44 2005
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