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Battalions of the regular army

1st Battalion:

August 1914 : in Chakrata, India, part of Dehra Dun Brigade in Meerut Division.
Returned to England, landing at Plymouth on 22 December 1914. Moved to Hursley Park.
Then attached to and remained with 84th Brigade, 28th Division.

Landed at Le Havre 18 January 1915. Embarked at Marseilles for Egypt and eventually Salonika, 24 November 1915.

2nd Battalion:

August 1914 : in Bordon. Part of 3rd Brigade, 1st Division.

Landed at Le Havre 13 August 1914.
Extract from battalion war diary here

3rd (Reserve) Battalion:
August 1914 : in Cardiff. A training unit, it remained in UK throughout the war. Moved to Barry in August 1914, thence to Kinmel Park (June 1916) and in May 1917 to Redcar where it remained as part of Tees Garrison.

Battalions of the Territorial Force

1/4th Battalion:

August 1914 : in Carmarthen. Part of South Wales Brigade, which were Army Troops, unallocated to a Division.

Moved to Tunbridge Wells in November 1914 and in February 1915 to the Forth and Tay defences in Scotland.
17 April 1915 : attached to 159th Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. Moved to Bedford.
Sailed from devonport 19 July 1915. Landed at Suvla Bay 9 August 1915.
8 October 1915 : amalgamated with 1/5th Bn, forming 4th Welsh Composite Bn.
Resumed original identity 10 February 1916.
On 3 July 1917, the two Bns formed the 4/5th Bn.

2/4th Battalion:
Formed at Carmarthen, October 1914.
Absorbed by the 2/4th KSLI at Bedford in November 1915.

3/4th Battalion:
Formed in Carmarthen in March 1915. Moved to Milford Haven.
8 April 1916 : became 4th (Reserve) Bn.
1 September 1916 : absorbed the 5th and 6th (Reserve) Bns.

1/5th Battalion:

August 1914 : in Pontypridd. Part of South Wales Brigade, which were Army Troops, unallocated to a Division.
Moved to Tunbridge Wells in November 1914 and in February 1915 to the Forth and Tay defences in Scotland.
17 April 1915 : attached to 159th Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. Moved to Bedford.
Sailed from devonport 19 July 1915. Landed at Suvla Bay 9 August 1915.
8 October 1915 : amalgamated with 1/5th Bn, forming 4th Welsh Composite Bn.
Resumed original identity 10 February 1916.
On 3 July 1917, the two Bns formed the 4/5th Bn.

2/5th Battalion:

Formed at Pontypridd, November 1914.
Absorbed by the 2/6th Cheshires at Bedford in November 1915 and ceased to exist.

3/5th Battalion:
Formed in Pontypridd in March 1915. Moved to Milford Haven.
8 April 1916 : became 5th (Reserve) Bn.
1 September 1916 : absorbed into the 4th (Reserve) Bn and ceased to exist.

1/6th (Glamorgan) Battalion:

August 1914 : in Swansea. Part of South Wales Brigade, which were Army Troops, unallocated to a Division.
29 October 1914 : landed at Le Havre and moved to Lines of Communication.
5 July 1915 : attached to 84th Brigade, 28th Division.
23 October 1915 : transferred to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division.
15 May 1916 : became Pioneer Bn to 1st Division with which it then remained.

2/6th (Glamorgan) Battalion:
Formed at Swansea, December 1914.
Absorbed by the 2/5th Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Bedford in November 1915 and ceased to exist.

3/6th Battalion:
Formed in Swansea in March 1915. Moved to Milford Haven.
8 April 1916 : became 5th (Reserve) Bn.
1 September 1916 : absorbed into the 4th (Reserve) Bn and ceased to exist.

1/7th (Cyclist) Battalion:

August 1914 : in Cardiff, unallocated to a Brigade or Division. Remained in UK throughout the war. Moved to Berwick and Montrose in 1914, thence to Saltburn (1915), Seaton Carew (early 1917) and Middlesbrough fromm id 1917 where it formed part of the Tees Garrison.

2/7th (Cyclist) Battalion:

Formed in Cardiff in September 1914, unallocated to a Brigade or Division. Remained in UK throughout the war. Was at Holt by July 1916, then moved to Fakenham (early 1917). By mid 1918 was at Melton Constable.

3/7th (Cyclist) Battalion:

Formed in Cardiff in spring 1915. Possibly moved to Milford Haven.Disbanded in March 1916.

24th (Pembroke and Glamorgan Yeomanry) Battalion:

Formed in Egypt on 2 February 1917 from two dismounted Yeomanry units.
2 March 1917 : attached to 231st Brigade, 74th Division with which it then remained.

Landed at Marseilles on 7 May 1918.

Battalions of the New Armies

8th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers):

Formed at Cardiff in August 1914 as part of K1. Attached to 40th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division.

Moved to Salisbury Plian and was at Chisleon in October 1914. Went into billets in Bournemouth in December.
January 1915 : became Pioneer Bn to 13th (Western) Division and then remained so. Moved to Aldershot in February 1915. Embarked at Avonmouth on 15 June 1915 and landed at ANZAC cove on 5 August 1915.

9th (Service) Battalion:

Formed at Cardiff on 9 September 1914 as part of K2. Attached to 58th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. Moved to Salisbury Plain but went into billets in Basingstoke in November 1914. Moved to Weston super mare in January 1915 and on to Perham Down in May 1915. Landed at Le Havre in July 1915.

10th (Service) Battalion (1st Rhondda):

Formed in the Rhondda Valley in September 1914 by D. Watts Morgan, MP. as a unit of K3.
Moved to Codford St Mary, where attached to 76th Brigade, 25th Division.
30 September 1914 : left K3 and transferred to 129th Brigade, 43rd Division at Rhyl.
On 29 April 1915, this formation was renamed 114th Brigade, 38th Division. Moved to Winchester in August 1915.
Landed at Le Havre in December 1915.
6 February 1918 : disbanded in France.

11th (Service) Battalion:

Formed at Cardiff in September 1914 as part of K3. Moved to South Downs and attached to 67th Brigade, 22nd Division. Moved to Hastings in December 1914 and on to Seaford in April 1915. Went to Aldershot in May.

LAnded at Boulogne on 6 September 1915. Sailed from Marseilles on 30 October 1915, eventually to Salonika.

12th (Reserve) Battalion:

Formed in Cardiff on 23 October 1914 as a Service battalion, part of K4. Attached to 104th Brigade, original 35th Division.
10 April 1915 : became a Reserve battalion at Kinmel Park.
1 September 1916 : became 58th Training Reserve Battalion of 13th Reserve Brigade and lost its connection to the regiment.

13th (Service) Battalion (2nd Rhondda):

Formed at Cardiff on 23 October 1914. Moved to Rhyl and attached to 129th Brigade, 43rd Division.
28 April 1915 : formation became the 114th Brigade, 38th Division. Moved to Winchester in August 1915.

Landed at Le Havre in December 1915.

14th (Service) Battalion (Swansea):

Formed at Swansea in October 1914 by the Mayor and Corporation and the Swansea Football and Cricket Club. November 1914 : moved to Rhyl and attached to 129th Brigade, 43rd Division.
28 April 1915 : formation became the 114th Brigade, 38th Division. Moved to Winchester in August 1915.

Landed at Le Havre in December 1915.

Review of published battalion history

15th (Service) Battalion (Carmarthenshire):

Formed at Swansea in October 1914 by the Carmarthenshire County Committee. Moved to Rhyl and attached to 129th Brigade, 43rd Division.
28 April 1915 : formation became the 114th Brigade, 38th Division. Moved to Winchester in August 1915.

Landed at Le Havre in December 1915.

16th (Service) Battalion (Cardiff City):

Formed at Cardiff in November 1914 by the Lord Mayor and Corporation.
November 1914 : attached to 130th Brigade, 43rd Division. Was at Colwyn Bay in December.
28 April 1915 : formation became the 115th Brigade, 38th Division.

Moved to Winchester in August 1915.

Landed at Le Havre in December 1915.

7 February 1918 : disbanded in France.

17th (Service) Battalion (1st Glamorgan):

Formed at Cardiff in December 1914 as a Bantam Bn.
December 1914 : moved to Rhyl and attached to 43rd Division. Moved to Rhos in February 1915 and in July went on to Prees Heath.
July 1915 : transferred to 119th Brigade, 40th Division. Moved to Aldershot in September.

Landed in France in June 1916.
9 February 1918 : disbanded in France.

18th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glamorgan):

Formed at Cardiff in January 1915 as a Bantam Bn.
January 1915: attached to 43rd Division.
July 1915 : transferred to 119th Brigade, 40th Division. Moved to to Prees Heath and on to Aldershot in September.

Landed in France in June 1916.
5 May 1918 : reduced to cadre strength after suffering heavy casualties.
18 June 1918 : transferred to 47th Brigade, 16th Division in England. Went to North Walsham.
20 June 1918 : fully reconstituted by absorbing 25th Bn. Moved to Aldershot.

Landed in France again 29 July 1918.

19th (Service) Battalion (Glamorgan Pioneers):
Formed at Colwyn Bay in February 1915 as a Pioneer Bn.
February 1915 : attached to 43rd Division.
28 April 1915 : formation became the 38th Division.

Landed at Le Havre in December 1915.

20th (3rd Rhondda), 21st and 22nd (Reserve) Battalions:

Formed in Wales in July and September 1915 as local Reserve Bns. Moved to Kinmel Park.
1 September 1916 : 20th Bn became 60th Training Reserve Battalion and the 21st the 61st Training Reserve Battalion, in the 13th Reserve Brigade of the new Training Reserve. The 22nd formed the 66th Training Reserve Battalion in the 14th Reserve Brigade. All three lost their connection to the regiment at this time.

23rd (Service) Battalion (Welsh Pioneers):

Other battalions raised by the regiment

25th Battalion:

Formed at North Walsham on 1 June 1918 but absorbed by 18th Bn on 20 June 1918.

This page is dedicated to the memory of young John Vodden, killed in action with 1st Battalion on 18 August 1915; Thomas Hicks, who also served with the battalion but was transferred to the Tank Corps; John Eastman of the 2nd Rhondda who died on 25 September 1918 after a period of service with 77th Sanitary Section RAMC; Robert Jones who joined the 13th Battalion as an officer just before the Armistice and went on to see service in WW2; Thomas Davies, commissioned into 11th Battalion in 1914; and finally Thomas Evans of 2nd Battalion, a member of the Aldershot Branch of the Old Contemptibles Association.

All these men and more were researched for private clients by fourteeneighteen|research

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