Dick Thomas, Johnnie Williams, David Watts and Charlie Pritchard all lost their lives in the space of 39 days on the Somme. Thomas and Williams made their Welsh debuts against the 1906 Springboks in a game in which Pritchard also played. Thomas became a Company Sergeant Major in the Welch Regiment and was killed leading a bayonet charge with the 16th Battalion at Mametz Wood on 7 July, 1916, aged 32. Williams scored 17 tries in a 17 cap career that saw him help Wales win three Grand Slams. A Captain in the Welch Regiment, he was fatally wounded at Mametz Wood and died on 12 July, 1916, aged 34. Watts was the first player to be capped from Maesteg, playing five times for his country. He became a Corporal in 7th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry and fell fighting on the Somme on 14 July, 1916, aged 30 Pritchard was one of the heroes of the Welsh pack when they beat New Zealand in 1905. He was a Captain in the 12th Battalion South Wales Borderers when he died on the Western Front on 14 August, 1916, aged 33. He was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery under fire as he led his men on a daring raid in enemy territory.
Charlie Pritchard. Before dawn broke on August 13, 1916, a 33-year-old captain in the 12th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, was brought into No.1 Casualty Clearing Station in France badly wounded. He had been carried back after taking part in a raid on the German trenches, which had achieved its objective of taking prisoners. He had been at the Western Front for just over two months. His last reported words were as follows: Captain: 'Have they got the Hun?' Reply: 'Yes, he's all right ; Captain: 'Well, I have done my bit; He died without leaving the Station on the following day. It sounds like a film script but it is not. It is the official record of the death of 'Charlie' Pritchard. For his part in the action he was mentioned in dispatches. His death was seen to epitomise the glorious sacrifice of the 'best sort' of young British manhood in the Great War. The descriptions of him in life bear out the manner of his dying. He was like a lion on the field, off it he was extremely gentle, tender and lovable. In his play he was an untiring worker with almost inexhaustible energy. Although not a specialist, he more often than not played in the back row. He played with great fire and exuberance and was a very difficult player to stop. He had an excellent swerve in open play and always seemed to sustain a resolute forward momentum in the mauls and tight play. His passing was excellent while he could scrummage and dribble as well as any player. But his most important asset was his deadly tackling. George Travers said of his performance against the 1905 All Blacks -'he sent 'em down like ninepins. He stood an inch or so under six feet and was about 13st. 10lb. He made his first-class debut for Newport against Swansea in January, 1902, at the tender age of 19. At the time Swansea were undefeated and had been Welsh club champions for the previous three seasons. In front of 12,000 people at St. Helens, Pritchard and Newport triumphed. In the following season Pritchard was a regular and his club toppled Swansea from their position of Welsh champions. Pritchard made his international debut against Ireland in 1904 after being third reserve! The 1904/5 season was a miserable one on the club front for Pritchard but Wales won the Triple Crown for the fourth time. However, Pritchard was unlucky to miss the deciding match against Ireland through injury. But he was back to full fitness and in tremendous individual form during 1905/6. He had to take over the club captaincy from early on in the season, and led his club against the touring All Blacks. But it was at Cardiff that Pritchard had his finest hour in the red jersey. The seven Welsh forwards battled hard all the way against the All Blacks and many felt that Pritchard was the best forward on the field. He tackled and played with grim determination, besides which he, to quote one report, 'took his gruelling like a man; A week later Pritchard, despite brilliant Newport forward play, had to concede defeat to the All Blacks by 3 -6. In the following season Pritchard played the best rugby of his career and was one of only three who played up to form and reputation for Wales in the tragic defeat by the Springboks at Swansea in December, 1906. But earlier Pritchard had captained Newport against the tourists and, after conceding two early scores, severely shook the Springboks, only to lose 0 -8. Pritchard was a popular Newport captain but he was not very successful in terms of results. He suffered serious injury early in 1908 and did not return until the 1909/10 season, when he recaptured his form splendidly. He played twice more for Wales, his last being the opening match at Twickenham. He then withdrew from the Scottish match apparently in order to give club-mate Jenkins a cap. He retired at the end of 1911
Thomas, Edward John Richard (‘Dick’) played for Wales Internationals: 4 : 1906 SA- ; 1908 F+ I+ ; 1909 S+ Edward Thomas was born in 1881, son of Thomas Thomas of Swansea. Played as a Forward for: Ferndale Board School, Ferndale, Penygraig, Mountain Ash, Bridgend, Glamorgan Police, Glamorgan Profession: Police Remarks: A forward named ‘D Thomas’ played for Glamorgan County (3-16) and an ‘R Thomas’ from Mountain Ash played for Glamorgan League (3-11) v the 1908-1909 Wallabies. War service: 24093, Company Sergeant Major in 16th Battalion, The Welsh Regiment (The Cardiff City Battalion), 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh Division), XV Corps. The battalion wore a special “Arms of Cardiff” collar badge. ‘The [38th] Division attacked Mametz Wood at 8.30 am, 115 Brigade advancing north-west from the line of Marlboro’ Wood to the west end of Caterpillar Wood, supported by machine-gun and trench mortar fire. The 16th Welsh Regiment and 11th SWB were soon held up by machine-gun fire, but tried again at 10.15 am. At 3.15 pm, reinforced by 10th SWB, they tried once more but could not get within 250 yards of the Wood because of enfilading machine-gun fire from further up the valley.’ He was killed in action on 7 July 1916, at Mametz Wood, during the Battle of the Somme, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France [Pier and Face 7 A and 10 A].
Williams, John Lewisplayed for Wales and the Anglo-Welsh Internationals: 17: 1906 SA- ; 1907 E+ (2t) S- I+ (3t) ; 1908 E+ S+ (1t) I+ (2t) A+ ; 1909 E+ (1t) S+ F+ (2t) I+ ; 1910 I+ (3t) ; 1911 E+ S+ (2t) F+ (1t) I+ ; Anglo-Welsh Internationals: 2 : 1908 NZ- NZ= John Williams was born on 3 January 1882 at Whitchurch, the son of Edward and Mary Williams; later husband of Mabel Williams. Played as a Wing for: Cowbridge Grammar School, Cardiff, Whitchurch, London Welsh Profession: Clerk in Cardiff Coal Exchange Remarks: In the 1904-1905 season he scored 35 tries for Cardiff. When playing for Cardiff v the 1906 Springboks, he became the only player on the tour to beat Springbok Fullback Arthur Marsberg’s tackle. Marsberg was so impressed with Williams’ swerve that he shook the Welshman’s hand after he had scored. The top try scorer of the 1908 Anglo-Welsh team in New Zealand. He played in 14 consecutive victories 1907-1911. Captained Wales v France in 1911 because he could speak French. 150 tries for Cardiff 1903-1914. War service: Captain, ‘C’ Company, 16th Battalion, The Welsh Regiment (The Cardiff City Battalion), 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The battalion wore a special “Arms of Cardiff” collar badge. On 12 July 1916, Capt Williams died from leg wounds received during the 16th Battalion’s attack at Mametz Wood on 7 July, and he is buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France [Plot 1. Row C. Grave 31].
Watts, David played for Wales Internationals: 4: 1914 E- S+ F+ I+ David Watts was born on 14 March 1886 Played as a Lock for: Maesteg Remarks: Member of the Welsh pack known as the ‘Terrible Eight’. On 17 April 1915 he played for a Welsh XV v The Barbarians at Cardiff Arms Park in what was termed a ‘Military International’ between Wales and England, designed to boost recruiting for the newly-formed Welsh Guards and to raise money. Wales fielded a near International team with only one uncapped player (Dan Callan of the Royal Munster Fusiliers). The Barbarian side has 12 Englishmen, 2 Irishmen and 1 Welshman (South African International Joseph Partridge). The match, won by the Barbarians 26-10, raised £200. War service: 13793, Corporal, 7th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 8th Brigade, 3rd Division. The 3rd Division took part in the dawn attack on Bazentin Ridge on 14 July 1916; in front of the 8th Brigade “the wire was uncut, and held up the attack until the 2nd Royal Scots broke through and bombed along the front line.” The Division then took Bazentin-le-Grand. Cpl Watts was killed in action on 14 July 1916, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France [Pier and Face 12 A and 12D.
Pritchard, Charles Meyrick played for Wales Internationals: 14 : 1904 I- ; 1905 E+ S+ NZ+ ; 1906 E+ (1t) S+ I- SA- ; 1907 E+ S- I+ ; 1908 E= ; 1910 F+ E- Remarks: He was just under 6 feet tall and weighed about 13 stone 10 pounds. A powerful runner, with an excellent swerve. He made his first class debut for Newport v [the previously undefeated] Swansea when aged 19, in front of 12000 spectators. He played for Newport (3-6) v the 1905 All Blacks, and was rated as the best Welsh forward in the International v New Zealand, fellow International George Travers said, “He sent ‘em down like ninepins”. He played for Newport (0-8) v the Springboks in 1906. Although selected to play v Scotland in 1910, he withdrew to allow clubmate E Jenkins to play. War service: Temporary Second Lieutenant from 31 May 1915, Lieutenant from 28 July 1915, later Captain from 31 October 1915, 12th Battalion (3rd Gwent), South Wales Borderers, 119th Brigade, 40th Division; Mentioned in Despatches. Within two months of arriving on the Western Front, he was mortally wounded in a prisoner-taking raid on enemy trenches. “Have they got the Hun?” he asked as they bore him to a treatment post. “Yes,” someone told him. “Then I have done my bit,” were his last words. Illustrated London News. He died of wounds the next day, on 14 August 1916, at No 1 Casualty Clearing Station, Chocques, and is buried in Chocques Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France [Grave I. F. 17.].
