Gallery

Photographs appeared in the local Bedfordshire papers and also in local newspapers in Wales. Families have photographs of their own,  such as the album compiled by Rees John Williams of the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade, and a particularly rich source of pictures are the many postcards that were produced during the course of the war not only of soldiers but covering many aspects of the war.

There are examples in the Gallery of posters that were issued by the Government to inform, encourage and inspire the people of Wales; and of posters issued across the country as part of the Government’s extensive and wide ranging poster campaign.

Soldiers of the Monmouthshire Regiment

A photograph from the Aberdare Leader of 24 July 1915 of three boys of the 5th Welsh then stationed at Bedford but taken during their earlier posting at Burntisland, Fifeshire – they are Bugler Gwilym John Lloyd, left; Lance-Corporal Hamments, centre; Private E Goddard, right. The little chap was a regimental pet during their stay in Burntisland.

Haynes Park, near Bedford, during the Great War when there was an army camp in the grounds

Soldiers of the 1/5th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, in Bedford in June 1915

Soldiers of the 1/5th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, in Bedford in June 1915, including the mascot dog

Artillery at Cardington, Bedford

The goat presented by the King to the 7th Battalion (Reserve) Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Welsh Fusiliers had always had a white goat as a mascot, drawn from the famous herd of Cashmere goats which also supplied the King’s gift. On the left in the photograph in Newtown are Lady Magdalen Herbert, sister of the Earl of Powis, and the Earl’s young daughter, Lady Hermione Herbert. On the right are Captains J H Addie and Oswald Davies (from The Illustrated War News, 18 November 1914)

The 1/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, with their mascot, the regimental goat ‘Billy’ with gilded horns

Soldiers of the 1/1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment

A Christmas postcard

British troops attacking at Gallipoli

Suvla Bay

Troops dug in at Chocolate Hill, Suvla Bay

British troops at Suvla Bay

From the heights above Gallipoli the Turks had an open field of fire

Allied and Turkish troops collecting the dead for burial whilst the guns had stopped firing

Soldiers of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

2nd Welsh Field Ambulance 1915

Both sides of a postcard sent in May 1915 by Second Lieutenant William John Ackland, 3rd Welsh Field Ambulance, to his seven-year old daughter, Vera, in Glamorgan (kindly submitted by a visitor to the site)

Members of the Divisional RAMC enjoying a boat trip: undated, probably from the 68th (2nd Welsh) Division

Come with me boys
Immediately after the call to the front a smile was on every face
Sign up today

Independence calls for the bravest of men

Army boys of Wales
Despicable is the man who does not hate his country’s enemies
Wales Forever