To stop the presentation press ‘esc’ at any time.
By Des Quinn and Martin Williams
For Teachers
General
Introduction
Initial Stimulus Material
German soldiers
WWI Period
German Field Guns
1916
Lesson Materials
Information, Questions
and Tasks
Image courtesy of M. Williams
What does the photograph show?
What does this indicate about German preparation for ‘wood warfare’?
Images courtesy of M. Williams
German Field Guns - 1916.
A patrol from the 7th Division had entered Mametz Wood, killed a
party of German soldiers and taken the breech blocks out of two
German field guns on the 3rd of July.
The accompanying Word Document gives details of the Battle of Mametz Wood
and should help teachers to put together a series of lessons based upon the
events of 7th - 12th July. These PowerPoint slides are therefore aimed at
supplementing this information, while providing the link between the battle and
the fate of Edward Clement.
It may be a good idea for pupils to visit the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission website towards the end of this study (Slide 18). Alternatively
teachers could present this to the class using an internet connection and
projector. Here pupils can find out where Edward Clement was finally buried
and the day on which he died.
The following information was mainly gathered from a number of sources, but
primarily from the Welsh Regiment Museum, Cardiff, and from Robert Phillips’
excellent The Battle of Mametz Wood, 1916, which was commissioned with
assistance from ACCAC and published by CAA in 2003.
Robert Phillips’ The Battle of
Mametz Wood, 1916 (CAA, 2003) is
an excellent text for illustrating
the Bigger Picture surrounding the
Battle for Mametz Wood.
The text follows a number of
individuals experiences of war,
Edward Clement among them, and
tries to piece together what
happened to these people.
The text also explores different
interpretations of the Battle of
Mametz Wood, asking the question:
Why does the Battle of Mametz
Wood still cause argument?
So when was Edward sent into battle at Mametz Wood?
When Edward Clement was sent to France his regiment joined the
38th (Welsh) Division. On the 5th of July he was one of 20,000
soldiers who were sent to assemble along the front line opposite
Mametz Wood.
The first attack on Mametz Wood took place on the 7th July, but
Edward’s Battalion did not go into action on this day. In fact, the
14th (Swansea) Battalion did not go into action until the 10th July.
The 14th Battalion were involved in a full frontal assault on the
woods and suffered heavy casualties as they made their advance.
The assault was accompanied by a creeping barrage.
Click on the screen to play the animation
(XP, PowerPoint 2003)
Describe how a creeping barrage works? What is its purpose?
If there was poor communication between the artillery and the
infantry, then a creeping barrage could cause devastation amongst its
own Battalions. If it was well coordinated however, it provided good
cover for the advancing troops, clearing the ground just ahead of them
and disrupting the enemies defences.
The creeping barrage was devised just before the Battle of the Somme
and so was a new concept for the soldiers. Many groups of men did not
understand how it worked and wandered into their own exploding shells.
On top of this the Royal Artillery sometimes fired their howitzer’s at
too short, or too long a range.
According to the accounts of those involved in this assault on the wood,
the noise of the barrage was terrifying in itself. It was difficult to
shout out orders and many men, although advancing in an orderly
fashion, were moving in all directions to avoid shell bursts and the
ferocious machine-gun fire that was raking the ground ahead of them.
The barrage put up on the 10th July was successful however and helped
the men of the 10th, 13th and 14th Welch advance towards Mametz Wood,
despite the German machine-guns which caused a great many casualties.
“Machine guns and rifles began to rattle, and there was a
general state of pandemonium, little of which I can
remember except that I myself was moving down the
slope at a rapid rate, with bullet-holes in my pocket and
yelling a certain amount. I noticed…that the men in
advance of us were thoroughly demoralised. Out of the
most terrible ‘mix-up’ I have ever seen I collected all of
the men I could see and ordered them into the cutting.”
Captain Glynn Jones, quoted in Robert Phillips’, The Battle of Mametz Wood, 1916, (CAA, 2003)
Discuss: What does the word pandemonium mean?
What does the source tell you about the assault on
Mametz Wood that took place on the morning of 10th July?
The next obstacle, once the wood was reached, was the thickness of
the undergrowth and fallen trees and branches.
“I could not push a way through it; years of neglect had
turned the wood into a formidable barrier, a mile deep.”
Captain Glynn Jones, quoted in Robert Phillips’, The Battle of Mametz Wood, 1916, (CAA, 2003)
Describe what you believe would have been some of the dangers
faced by men fighting within a wooden area.
Click here if you need some help
The next obstacle, once the wood was reached, was the thickness of
the undergrowth and fallen trees and branches.
“I could not push a way through it; years of neglect had
turned the wood into a formidable barrier, a mile deep.”
Captain Glynn Jones, quoted in Robert Phillips’, The Battle of Mametz Wood, 1916, (CAA, 2003)
Describe what you believe would have been some of the dangers
faced by men fighting within a wooden area.
Think:
Could you move forward at the same pace as the creeping barrage?
Was it easy to see the enemy?
Could you get casualties out of the wood easily?
Could you use the same ‘mass assault’ tactics when storming enemy positions?
Did you always know where you were, or where you were going?
Based upon the information that you have now been given, discuss and note
down the ways in which Edward Clement could have been fatally wounded
on the morning of the 10th July, 1916.
Edward Clement.
Possible Injuries
The assault on Mametz Wood in which the 14th Welch were involved
occurred on the 10th July, 1916. Yet, according to official records
Edward did not die on this day, but later on….
The 14th Welch were withdrawn from the battle on the 11th July.
Why do you think that the 14th Welch were withdrawn from the battle
early on the morning of the 11th July?
How do you account for Edward dying after the 10th July, although the
14th Welch were involved directly in the battle on this one day?
Click below to read a letter that Edward’s brother sent home upon
hearing of his death. This may provide some clues.
A letter from Will Clement to his father
Transcript
B Ex F
France
July 23 rd _ 16
Dear Father and Sister
Just a line in reply to your very sad letter which I received yesterday.
Well father I never dreamt that Eddie had been in action because I received a letter from
him dated the 25th June from the Base stating that he was alright.
Well father and sister I do trust that God will give you strength to bear this heavy blow
which is heartbreaking to me as I see so many young lads go the same way nearly every
day. But father I am very glad to know that he died at the hospital because I know now
that he was buried respectable. Father and sister for my sake do try and bear the awful
blow as it makes me worry thinking of you at home. I am doing my utmost to bear it.
When writing to Mary tell her that I am very sorry that I can’t write to her. So no more
at present but give my kind love to Maggie and Evan not forgetting yourselves. I
remain your loving son - Will.
P.S. You can tell Mrs. Lamluck that Charlie’s watch have been sent home by registered
post and that I am very sorry that I can’t write to her at present, but one of his friends
will write to her as soon as possible.
Will.
(I received cigarettes).
i) Where was Edward’s brother when he received the news of his
brothers death?
ii) What does Will mean when he says “I see so many young lads go
the same way”?
iii) What do you think Will means when he says “I am very glad to
know that he died at the hospital because I know now that he
was buried respectable”?
What does this tell us about the burial of many other soldiers
at the Front?
iv) What do you think Mr.Clement wrote in the letter to his son
Will, when informing him of Edward’s death?
Consider: Will is in the trenches himself and may be involved in a battle at any time,
Edward was Will’s only brother, Mr. Clement is on his own at home…
This was the first action that Edward had seen since arriving in
France. Like all of the soldiers in France, his chance of survival was
extremely low. The mixture of bombardments, gas, machine-guns
and mines, as well as rifle fire and grenades was devastating. It
must have taken a lot of courage for any man to have gone
‘over the top’.
Now that you have read the letter, log on to the Commonwealth War
Graves website and find out when Edward died and where he is
buried.
www.cwgc.org
Explain why Edward died days after the battle on the 10th July.
include where he died and how this is significant in the story of
Edward Clement’s fate.
Information taken from the Ministry of Pensions 1914-1919
Document held at the Museum of the Royal Regiment of Wales
Find the ‘Town or Place’ where Edward was taken once wounded.
What information does this document give you about that place?
In Memory of
Private E Clement
44283, 14th Battalion, Welch Regiment
who died age 21 on 12th July, 1916.
Son of David and Ann Clement of Hafod, Swansea.
Remembered with honour.
Buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe
www.webmatters.net/france/ww1_mametz_wd2.htm
www.s4c.co.uk/cerddedyllinell/e_mametz.shtml
www.powell76.freeserve.co.uk/mametz.htm
www.1914-1918.net/bat15.htm
END