WWI REMEMBERED Brothers in arms who fell while serving their country with honour

THE German third offensive, which had come to a halt on June 4, 1918, had reached Belleau Wood, dangerously close to the Metz to Paris road.

During the spring, one million Parisians had already moved out, their fear exacerbated by Germany’s longrange “Paris” gun which had been battering the city since March 21.

By June, French politicians were beginning to fear the worst and had discussed plans to move the government to Bordeaux.

Yet the German divisions were exhausted, Ludendorff’s tactics lacked strategic focus, resulting in a number of “salients” being punched into the Allied lines, which overstretched their supply lines and left them open to counter-attacks.

On June 6, under the command of General Omar Bundy, the US 2nd Division enforced an attack at the Battle of Belleau Wood, and by June 26, had successfully recaptured the wood.

The battle, which was the first major battle fought by the US Army, is probably best remembered for Captain Lloyd William’s quote.

On being advised to retreat by a French soldier, he retorted: “Retreat? Hell, we just got here.”

The Americans suffered 9,777 casualties, including 1,811 dead – at the time, the highest number against a foreign enemy in American history.

Although it is not clear how many German casualties there were, 1,600 German prisoners were taken during the fighting.

In an attempt to straighten their frontline, the Germans launched a fourth offensive on June 9 – known as The Battle of Matz.

Initial gains were met by a French/ American counter-attack resulting in the end of any German advance on June 13.

In the days that followed, German artillery bombarded the British lines.

One area that suffered was Bois de Courton, south of Rheims.

Defending the area was the 58th British Division, which included the 9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Serving with the battalion were Private Arthur Richard Kingdon and Private Emlyn James Rowe.

Both young men lived in Newton, Porthcawl, attended New Road School and, sadly, died on the same day as a result of persistent enemy shellfire.

They are remembered on the Soissons Memorial, Aisne, France, and the Porthcawl War Memorial.

Private Kingdon, who to his family was known as Richard, was born in 1898 in Chestnut Cottage, Church Street, to John, a greengrocer, and Mary Kingdon.

Robert was one of six children, the youngest of four boys who all served in the war.

Older brothers Phillip and Albert had emigrated to Montreal, Canada, in May 1913 in search of new opportunities.

Yet by 1916, both had enlisted into the 226th Canadian Infantry Division, on February 26, and on December 13 that same year, and sailed for England on the SS Olympic, a sister ship of the RMS Titanic.

Although wounded, both men survived the war and returned to Porthcawl.

Albert died in 1963 and Phillip in 1960.

Their brother, Eustace, who served with the 14th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, was wounded in action on September 18, 1918, at the Battle of Ephey.

In 1923 he married Mary Hartery, set up home in Holmesdene Place, worked as a butcher and, in 1933, their son, David, was born. Eustace died in 1987. Richard was drafted to France in May 1918, where he died a month later, on June 14, 1918, at the age of 20.

Private Emlyn Rowe was the only son of four children, born in 1898 to Albert and Catherine Rowe, of Glenfield Cottage.

Albert, a stonemason who served with the 5th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, was one of nine family members who rallied to the colours during the war.

Albert’s brothers, John, of Railway Terrace, served with the Devonshires, William with the 12th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, while Gilbert had enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Nephew Private Stanley Rowe, and nephew-in-law Corporal Harry Batters, had both served with the Glamorgan Yeomanry, while another nephew, Edgar, served with the 1st Battalion, Gloucester Regiment.

Emlyn has two other cousins who