Tamplin Holmes

.. FROM THE FREE PRESS OF MONMOUTHSHIRE DATED FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25th 1916 ..

.. ROLL OF HONOUR ..

Two Cwmbran soldiers killed in action

Private Josiah Tamplin

10th (Gwent) Battalion

South Wales Borderers

Private Josiah Tamplin, known by everyone in Cwmbran as "Joey" of the 10th (Gwent) Battalion South Wales Borderers, was killed in the trenches on Monday Jan. 24th, shot through the head by a German sniper, as described in an interesting letter received from his friend, Private George Holmes, who was himself killed in action, twelve days later on February 6th.

Writing to Private Tamplin's brother, Mr Jack Tamplin. 53 Two Locks Road, Cwmbran, on January 26th. Private Holmes said: "I am sorry to tell you that Joe got killed in action on Monday last about half past 3 o'clock. He was shot in the head by a sniper. I was talking to him about five minutes before it happened. I came past him in the trench, and he was washing his hands. I was getting ready to go out and I said to him "Have you finished?" He replied that he wasn't going to do any more, when the chap who was on the look out called him and said he could see a German through the glass. So as Joe was a sniper for us, he picked up his rifle and fired two shots at him, and was about to fire again, when a bullet hit him right in the forehead, and he died in the course of a few minutes. He never spoke after he got hit. Dear Jack, he died doing his duty. He was always so willing to have a go at one of the German snipers when ever there was one to be seen at that job, When you fire your first shot it isn't safe to put your head up again in the same place, as they are hot at sniping.

When you look over you can hear the bullets flying into the sandbags in front of you. But Joe didn't seem to have any fear, although you never know when you are going to get one. We had bad luck in our platoon this time. We got three killed. We were in the trenches Saturday night, and got one of our pals killed about 1 o'clock. Then Sunday night, poor little Nip, they call him, got killed in the same place. Liz and Annie know him. His sister is married to Jack Watts. Then Joe was taken on the Monday. We only had about an hour to go in the trenches when Joe got it.

When I received our ......... ? I had your letter, so I showed it to our Officer, and he wrote a letter for me, as I thought you could break the sad news to your mother and father, better than them to have it themselves. We buried him today, about 11 o'clock - me and our Alf, Ned Capper and his mate that did the sniping with him, and our officer with the Chaplain, in a little cemetery. The three of them are buried next to one another. We have left that place now and gone about -----away. I hope we will have better luck next time, as to go away and come back to the barn with three of our mates left behind makes you feel a bit. I think I have told you all now. I hope mother will take it the best she can, as I know it is a hard blow for her and all of you. Tell her not to fret. Good-bye and goodnight Jack. I am sorry for your trouble. Write back soon."

The officer commanding the platoon also sent a letter to Mr John Tamplin conveying the sympathy and condolence to the bereaved mother. "Your son" said the writer "had always been a noble and dutiful soldier, and I extend to you the full sympathy of all officers and men of the Battalion in your sad loss and sorrow. Still, you will always have the satisfaction and consolation that he died as he lived doing his duty manfully as a patriot and a Christian, faithful unto death in the service of his country.

You will, as a mother, miss him sadly from amongst you, but you must not regard him as dead, but departed into a more glorious life, there to join the large band of England's gallant sons, who have preferred the thorny and rugged path of sacrifice to the inglorious avenue of indifference. And we may be sure that those who have struggled for this ideal have not died in vain, but have fulfilled a mission in life, which will be an abject lesson for the generations of all time. I pray God that he may comfort, console and guide you in your sorrow and bereavement and may He lead you to understand that even in the valley of the shadow of death. He is still God of love and pity, who looks down in compassion on the mothers and fathers of those who have yielded their all in sacrifice.

"We laid your son to rest on the following morning in the military cemetery just behind the firing line, in the presence of his sorrowing comrades and platoon officer. A wooden cross, suitably inscribed, is already in position on the grave".

Private Tamplin was well known in Cwmbran, and was for several years a forward in the Rugby football team. He was also a prominent member of the local Conservative Club. A fine old Army veteran, he had over 20 years service to his credit- 14 years spent in the Monmouthshire Royal Engineers, then in the local Volunteers, and later in the Territorials. He enlisted for active service in January, 1915 and after a period of training at Colwyn Bay and Winchester, crossed to France last November. Previous to enlisting he was at the Foundry (Messrs Guest Keen and Nettlefold Limited). His bereaved parents live at 53 Two Locks Road, Cwrnbran.

PRIVATE GEORGE HOLMES

10th Battalion (Gwent)

South Wales Borderers

Private George Holmes (20128), 10th Battalion (Gwent) South Wales Borderers, whose wife and two children reside in Wesley Street, Cwrnbran, was killed in action in the trenches "Somewhere in France" on February 6th 1916.

In a letter written on the following day, The Rev W. T. Havard, Church of England Chaplain to the Battalion conveyed the sad news to Mrs Holmes. During an enemy artillery fire the trench was badly breached and Private Holmes was seriously wounded, and died almost immediately. The letter adds " In the presence of his officer, his two brothers, his brother in law from the l l th South Wales Borderers, and some of his comrades, we laid him to rest in the military cemetery, just behind the firing line. As an officer's orderly I had known him very well and found him personally to be a man of great sense of duty and conscience. It will be some consolation for you to learn that he died, as he lived, at his post on duty, and I can assure you that the sympathy of all the officers and men of the 10th South Wales Borderers goes out to you and your little children in your sad bereavement and loss. And although there will be a vacant chair in the home, yet in the hope and faith which we have through Christ our Master, you may with joy contemplate the re-union that will again take place in the glorious beyond. May God grant you this comfort and consolation, and may He give you strength and grace to carry your suffering and sorrow.

"PS - A cross will be put in position immediately, suitably inscribed".

Private Holmes platoon commander has also written a letter of sympathy and condolence to the widow. "He had" says the writer "been a faithful and trustworthy servant to me for nearly a year, and I feel it my duty to write to you and say how much I feel for you and your little girl in your great sorrow. I pray God to comfort you. His brother and a friend, Private Doolan were at the funeral".

A comrade and close personal fiend of Private Holmes, also serving in the Battalion, in a letter dated February 12th, says:- "We had a rough time that afternoon, and we were fortunate to get off with only two killed. I wasn't near George when he got hit, but I am told he died instantly. I am afraid it is poor consolation to you, but yet, it is well to know, he died doing his duty. His pals from home wish to convey their deep sympathy to you, and I can add, I never saw men more upset than when they heard that he had died, his brother Alf especially, who wishes me to send you his deep sympathy.He is buried in the cemetery here, and a cross has been erected at the head, showing that another British hero has fallen".

Private Holmes's last letter to his wife was written on February 5th, in the trenches, just one day before his death in action. In this, he told Mrs Ho1rnes:- "I am in a 'dug out' and the Germans aren't half shelling our lines. They have just knocked the next 'dug out' down, but that is the only cover you have got to get into in this warm corner. We have got to stop in the trenches until next Tuesday night. That will seem a long time to be here. I don't care so long as no-one gets hit.

I had a letter from Jack Tamplin, and I had the parcel you sent me. Thank you very much. Alf and I are going to have a taste of it just now. This is a place to be in on a Saturday evening. But I don't think it will last long, as our artillery do knock lumps out of them when they do start. Alf and I went to bury Joe the day after he got killed. The three were buried next to one another. I was going for some water this morning, and I got these flowers from the garden of a cottage that had been blown down by the Germans. They are right out of the trenches you can say, so I could reach them without going out of the trench. How are they all at home? Let me know how you and the baby are when you write. I hear our Illren is getting on allright. I would like to see her now. I expect she has forgotten me now. Well dear, I haven't much more to tell you now, but I hope this will find you allright. Me and Jack (Park) (Pask) is in here now. I am just going to shift as it is coming a bit warm, so I will now close with love to you and the baby".

Private Holmes, who was well known and respected in Cwmbran, enlisted on January 3rd 1915, and after training in Colwyn Bay and Winchester, crossed to France in November last. Previous to enlisting he was employed at the Forge (Guest Keen & Nettlefolds). His two brothers Frank and Alfred Holmes, also joined the Army. Private Holmes and several other Cwmbran men in the Battalion took part in the burial of his chum, Private J Tamplin, and advised the family of their loss. It is particularly sad that he himself should also have made the supreme sacrifice within a few days.

HOLMES, GEORGE - Private 20128 - 10th Battalion South Wales Borderers - died 6th February 1916 - born in Llanfrechfa; enlisted at Pontnewydd; resident of Wesley Street, Cwrnbran - buried at St. Vaast Post Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue, Pas-de-Calais, France - memorial reference:- 11 0 7 also.commemorated on the Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds (Cwmbran Works) Memorial and Cwmbran Cross, Cocker Avenue Park, Cwmbran also commemorated on the Rood Screen Memorial, St. Gabriel's Church, Clomendy Road, Cwmbran.

George's brother also died in service:- HOLMES, FRANK - Private T/384710 - H. T. Royal Army Service Corps - died 17th January 1921 - age 34 - son of Henry and Julia Holmes of Cwmbran - buried at Cwmbran Cemetery, Llantarnam Road, Cwmbran - memorial reference:- D 3 6

TAMPLIN, JOSEPH/JOSIAH -Private 20156 -10th Battalion South Wales Borderers -died 24th January 1916 - born in Tinlin, enlisted at Pontnewydd; resident of 53 Two Locks Road, Cwmbran - buried at Rue-du-Bacquerot No1 Military Cemetery: Laventie, Pas-de-CaIais, France - memorial reference:- 11 E 19 also commemorated on the Rood Screen Memorial, St. Gabriel's Church, Clomendy Road, Cwmbran also commemorated on the Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds (Cwmbran Works) Memorial and Cwmbran Cross, Cocker Avenue Park, Cwmbran

.. Cwmbran Rugby Team 1895-6 ..

.. This photograph appears in a publication entitled `In those days...` published in 1976 by the Community Projects Centre ..

T. Slade G. Smith W. Gillum

L. Lloyd A. Powell W. G. Jones A. W. Sadler D. Sutton A. E. Jones

J. Sawtell J. Poulton J. Prosser (Capt.) J. Fitzgibbons W. Watkins.

F. F. Tooze J. Tamplin F. L. Jones W. H. Lewis