1RWF Officers Complete, 1941 - Photo

[ap1]

The Colonel of the Regiment and Officers, 1st Battalion, The Royal Welch Fusiliers. November 1941
Hightown Bks Wrexham

Back Row
2Lt JDN Graves(MID KIA) 2 Lt GV Dill 2Lt WJ Cunning(MID) 2LT GVR Davies(KIA) 2Lt KER Lewis 2Lt OJ French(KIA) 2Lt LP Coulson 2Lt DW Cooke 2Lt HM Reid
3rd Row
2Lt MA Demetriadi(MID W) 2Lt JE Jones 2Lt H Griffiths Lt(QM) TWJ Grinham(MID) 2Lt AW Watkins(KIA) Lt GA Wilson(W) 2Lt DE Littler(MC) 2Lt DP Drew 2Lt HC Chapman(W)
2nd Row
2Lt M Campbell(W) 2Lt FE Smith(KIA) Lt HA Curtis(KIA) 2Lt JN Rostron(DSO KIA) Capt PS Fitch(KIA) Capt EGR Parish Capt WD Rees(MID W) Capt NF Goldman Lt CW Sparrow(MID)
Lt COL Hilditch Lt PH Blagg(KIA)
Front Row
Capt AC Dolby-Jones Capt R Gendall Maj OH Owen(KIA) Capt MH Lloyd-Davies (Adjt MID) Lt Col BH Hopkins (CO MID) Brig EO Skaife (A/Col of Regt CB OBE) Maj AH Williams (2i/c DSO OBE MID) Maj NRG Bosanquet(MID) Capt (QM) AG Bent(MBE MM MID) Capt PCR Carrington(W) Capt JK Evans

From this photo of 40 officers taken in Nov 1941, 25% were killed fighting the Japanese in 1943 onwards. Its also important to remember that many of these pictured were replacements for those 1st Bn Officers killed or captured at Dunkirk in 1940, a small number were survivors of that action.

The gentleman shown rear left, is David Graves; the son of Robert Graves the WW1 poet. Older LOF members will remember with much fondness David's Platoon Sgt, Rueban Jones, whom I had the priviledge of sharing a beer with in 2000 shortly before he died.

The Bn 2 i/c Maj AH Williams, eventually commanded the 1st Bn and led them into battle at Donbaik in March 1943, winning the DSO

Jim McFarlane has extensively improved this picture, if any researchers require a copy, or individual head shots of specific officers. PM Me

[LES BENT]

Thanks for presenting the photo and list of Officers. My great uncle was A. G Bent seated first row, third from the right. He was one of the small number of survivors from Dunkirk. I've got a post up asking for any information regarding the battle at St. Venant and the subsequent withdrawl to Dunkirk.

Many thanks again

Les Bent