The following letter has been received from Lance-Corpl. W. T. Williams. Garnant, of the Welsh : —
“France,
“July 17, 1916.
“Dear Ellis, — Glad to say I received your paper letter safely, though this time last week I never thought I would live through to write this.
However, I am one of the lucky ones. About this time last week we had orders to take a famous wood, which you have read an account of in the papers, though our regiment was not mentioned.
Well on the 10th of July, at 10 a.m. in the morning, we charged into the wood, and were received with a perfect hail of machine gun bullets. Several of our chaps were hit, and the shelling on both sides was terrible.
Poor Jim Chapman was soon down with a bullet through the head, and died instantaneously and like a hero. It was a terrible sight, one that cannot be described. We then dug ourselves in the ground while the Germans unsuccessfully counter attacked.
That night in the wood under terrible machine gun and shell fire will never be forgotten by those who went through it. In the morning we charged, and coming up to the Germans, who now could not use their machine guns, we gave them the bayonet, and throwing down their rifles and equipment, they screamed for mercy; and they had it – if they call it mercy. They were offering money and other things so that they would be taken prisoners.
We captured hundreds, and after desperate fighting, eventually cleared the wood, which we held until relief came. It was a stirring sight to witness, our captain, with a rifle and bayonet in his hand, leading the company in the charge. We gave them hell, and they will never forget the Welshmen in that wood.
We lost a good many fine officers and men, but the Germans were absolutely slaughtered. . . . I shall have a lot to tell you if my luck will keep, and I get out of this safely.
Tell Mock that there is some fighting going on here, too. Give my respects to all from you old pal Bill. I met Twm Griffiths and Phil Jones, who were with the division reliving us.”
