Current Information:

Born-Acton

At the outbreak of war in 1914, the 1st Welsh battalion were in India but they soon returned home where they joined 84 Brigade of 28th Division. In late January, 1915, 28th Division arrived in France and being a regular division they were quickly put into the trenches in water-logged positions south of Ypres near St. Eloi and Oosthoek. It was a far cry from the warmth of India and there were many cases of sickness and frostbite.

1st Welsh went into the trenches for the first time on 5th February, 1915, to the north of the Ypres-Lille railway. They were relieved on 7th February but on the following night they were back in the front line at Zillebeke for another two days. Henry Chuter was killed on 9th February but the battalion diary has no information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.