Soldier Record
John Noyes
Contributed by: Robin Mellor, on 2008-11-06
| Rank | |
|---|---|
| First Name | John |
| Surname | Noyes |
| Year of Birth | Unknown |
| Year of Death | 1916 |
| Regiment | Welch Regiment |
| Place of Wartime Residence | Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff |
John's Story
John Robert Noyes was born in Pontypridd, South Wales. At the time of the 1901 census he was 7 years old. He was the youngest of four brothers, the oldest brother being my great grandfather, William Rhys Noyes. When WWI started John Robert Noyes joined the 15th (Carmarthenshire) Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. This was part of the 38th (Welsh) Division.
John Robert Noyes, 15th Welsh. Born in Pontypridd, killed in Mametz Wood, 11th July 1916.
On 4th December 1915 the battalion sailed to France. The next few months were spent at various front line positions on the western front such as Richebourg and Laventie. The men saw very little action, though several of them were killed by enemy shelling and snipers. On 9th July 1916 the battalion moved to the Pommiers Redoubt near Mametz Wood ready to attack the wood the next day as part of the Somme offensive.
The 38th Division had been attacking Mametz Wood since 7th July. However, due to stiff German resistance and the woods very dense undergrowth, capturing the wood had proved very difficult, and on 10th July it was still in German hands.
On the morning of 10th July the 15th Welsh were sent in to the wood to assist other battalions from the 38th Division with clearing it of Germans. This was the first time the battalion had gone "over the top" in to battle. Despite strong opposition the division managed to clear most of the wood. However, later that evening the Germans resistance stiffened and the Welsh advance was called to a halt for the night. The 15th Welsh were then pulled out of the front line and sent back to Pommiers Redoubt.
On the afternoon of 11th July the 15th Welsh were sent back in to Mametz Wood to help clear out the last of the German defenders. Sadly, John Robert Noyes did not survive this last attack and was killed in action that day. How he died is unknown. The battalion did come under heavy German artillery fire on the 11th July, but also two platoons from the 15th Welsh were sent to assist the 11th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers. Many men from these two platoons were killed. By the 12th July the wood was in British hands.
John Robert Noyes' body has never been identified and he has no known grave. He is remembered at the Thiepval memorial in France and in the Welsh Regiment book of remembrance in Llandaff Cathedral.
No additional memories have been submitted