Headstone of Private A.C. Thomas of the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France. Thomas died July 20, 1916, aged 23. © 2014 John M. Shea
12285 PrivateA.C. ThomasRoyal Welch Fusiliers20th July 1916 Age 23In Loving MemoryMother and Maude
"March 1st, St. David's Day.—We awoke to St. David's Day 1916 in Montmorency Barracks, Béthune. The Bugles sounded Long Réveillé, the Drums played 'Old Mother Riley' and, after Salute, marched round the Barrack Square, and through the adjoining streets where the officers were billeted, to the air of 'The Staffordshire Knot.' Yates had a leek for everyone's cap, and the Drums had gilded each officer's leek—a compliment and an investment. . . . The inhabitants of the town saw that there was something unusual in the day, so rows of civilians and others lined the streets when we marched out to Le Quesnoy, headed by the Drums as far as Beuvry. . . ."
Entries from the writings — diaries, letters, and memoirs — of Captain J.C. Dunn, Medical Officer of the Second Battalion His Majesty's Twenty-Third Foot, The Royal Welch Fusiliers and dozens of his comrades. St. David, who died March 1, 589, is the patron saint of Wales. Before a battle against the English, he advised the Welsh to wear leeks for ready identification.
The War the Infantry Knew 1914-1919 by Captain J.C. Dunn, page 183, copyright © The Royal Welch Fusiliers 1987, publisher: Abacus (Little, Brown and Company, UK), publication date: 1994
1916-03-01, 1916, March, St. David's Day, Béthune
