WORLD War One soldiers have been aptly described as "lions led by donkeys". Nowhere was that label more deserved than during the third Ypres campaign of 1917.
The plan was to sweep north and destroy submarine bases on the Belgian coast. But the top brass got it badly wrong. The Germans raked no-man's land with murderous machine-gun fire and, in that one action alone, the Allies suffered some 32,000 casualties, killed, wounded or missing — all for the gain of about 2,000 yards. But while we may shake our heads in disbelief at the scale of the carnage and the incompetence of the generals who brought it about, we should not lose sight of the incredible bravery of men out on the battlefield.
One such man was Sgt Ivor Rees, a 23-year-old former crane driver with the South Wales steelworks in Llanelli, who lived for many years in Craddock Street, Tyisha. His act of supreme heroism would see the Victoria Cross pinned to his proud chest.
Sgt Rees, at the head of a platoon, led his men forward in a series of rushes, working around to the rear of the stronghold.
With about 20 yards to go, he ran forward on his own and captured one of the guns by killing one gunner and bayoneting another. Quickly, he launched a grenade attack on the blockhouse, killing five of the occupants. The survivors — two officers and 30 men — came out and surrendered to the brave Welshman.
Recognition of Ivor Rees's bravery was swift in coming. He wrote to his mother, "I am very pleased to say that I came out of the last 'push' quite safe and sound, and I have been recommended for the VC. I hope I shall get it mother. It will mean some weeks' leave for me, and possibly a commission in the Army. How would you like to see me an officer?"
Ivor Rees was promoted to Company Sergeant-Major and transferred to the 53rd SWB where he saw out the war training recruits.
On September 26, 1917, he was at Buckingham Palace to receive his VC from King George V. Four days later he was back in Llanelli to marry Mattie Jenkins at Triniti Chapel in New Dock. 20,000 people lined the streets of Llanelli to watch Sgt Rees pass by in a cavalcade, flanked by civic dignitaries. The wedding ceremony, a day or so later, gave many people another chance to see their hero. The chapel was filled to overflowing. He was presented with cheques for �156, raised by the townspeople, and �100, pledged by South Wales Works to the first employee to win a VC.
Pwll, where he had been educated, threw a party, where he was greeted by the village male voice choir and given an inscribed gold watch.
Ivor Rees was born in Felinfoel to David and Ann Rees and educated in Pwll, but he and Mattie lived at Craddock Street, Tyisha. He died there on March 11, 1966, aged 73, leaving Mattie, two sons and three daughters.
 |  |
The far right St Lucia Sunderland Simon Cowell Regulators North-west
No comments:
Post a Comment