The Welsh at Mametz Wood

The Somme 1916

Jonathan Hicks

A new interpretation of the First World War battle for Mametz Wood in July 1916, telling the story of those terrible days from the viewpoint of soldiers on both sides. It uses primary sources, including personal accounts and photographs published for the first time.

ISBN: 9781784612382

Price: £12.99

Department: History, Welsh History, Military

Format: Paperback

Language: English

No. of pages: 384

More information

Reviews

One of the most moving features of Jonathan Hicks's book is the large number of thumbnail portraits of officers and men who fought at Mametz. They appear on almost every page, staring out at you, nearly all of them appallingly young – 18, 19, 20 years old – most of them killed in the fighting, and very many of them with no known grave. - John Barnie, Gwales

Dr Jonathan Hicks tells the story from the viewpoint of the soldiers on both sides. The author allows the survivors to speak for themselves, adding occasional historical perspectives. The result is an immediacy, a freshness to the storytelling. - Planet Magazine

A valuable addition to the history of the fighting on the Somme, the Welsh at Mametz is valuable for 'Sommistas' and those with specific interest in the important Welsh contribution to victory in the Great War alike. - David Filsell, Stand to! magazine

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: Raising the 38th (Welsh) Division

Chapter 2: Mametz Wood – The Overture

Chapter 3: 7 July – The First Movement

Chapter 4: 8 and 9 July – The Interlude

Chapter 5: 10 July – The Second Movement

Chapter 6: 11 July – The Third Movement

Chapter 7: 12 July – Coda

Chapter 8: The Aftermath

Chapter 9: The Survivors' Accounts

Chapter 10: The German Perspective

Chapter 11: How the Press Reported the Battle

Chapter 12: The Medal Winners

Chapter 13: Conclusion

Epilogue

Endnotes

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

Blurb

The Battle for Mametz Wood – by those who were there.

The 38th (Welsh) Division began the attack on Mametz Wood on 7 July 1916. After days of ferocious hand-to-hand fighting and terrible loss of life, it finally succeeded in capturing the largest wood on the Somme.

Drawing extensively on previously unpublished accounts and original photographs, the author allows the survivors to speak for themselves and tell the full story of those dark days.

In the words of one soldier: "Hell cannot be much worse."

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