03/07/2026
July 1st 1916 saw the start of one of the biggest offensive in British Military history. The battle of the Somme would begin on a hot sunny July morning and end 5 months later in a snowy blizzard, the battlefield becoming the final resting place for so many Llanrwst lads, lad's who's names remain on our towns war memorial to this day.
Cadwaladr G Roberts, was a Lieutenant serving with the 9th Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers, and today marks 110 anniversary of Cadwaladr making the ultimate sacrifice at the tender age of just 21.
Son of the Rev P Jones-Roberts and Mrs SE Jones-Roberts, of Glynawel, College Road, Bangor, the Rev P Jones-Roberts being a minister here in Llanrwst at Horeb Chapel on Station Road.
The Battle Begins.
The village of La Boisselle sits astride the Albert to Bapaume Road in the centre of the Somme battlefield. On 1st July 1916 it was a key objective to secure the way forward to Bapaume. The assault failed with very heavy losses. The attack was renewed over the following days. These were partially successful but it would be 2 weeks before the German defences were finally overcome.
With the failure to take La Boisselle during the daytime it was now planned that the village be taken by 57 and 58 Brigades during a night attack at 10.00pm on the 1 July.
Orders were that La Boisselle was to be captured ‘this afternoon without fail, and regardless of losses’, the decision to attack was made late in the afternoon. At that time 9th Bn RWF were located in the Tara Unsa line on the ridge line on the road back to Albert and it was not until 6.00pm that they started to move forward, the communication and support trenches were crowded and congested with wounded and dying troops; there had also been much damage by shellfire. It was impossible for the battalion to get forward in time – by 5.30am the next morning they were still struggling through the support and communications trenches. The attack was postponed until the trenches could be cleared and was re-scheduled for 4.00pm 2 July.
The 9th Bn RWF and 6th Bn Wiltshire Rgt. would lead the assault on La Boisselle village, there would be a 30 minute bombardment of Ovillers, the next village to the left, to draw enemy fire.
The tactic worked and the 2 battalions were able to cross no mans land with few losses and, after a short hard bombing fight, they captured the enemy front line trenches. They pushed forward but strong enemy resistance by bombers and snipers caused many casualties. By 9.00pm, as darkness fell, they had established themselves in the western part of the village.
The advance would continue the next morning, 3rd July. They were tasked with capturing the trenches to the south and east of the village and then continue forward, at 2.45am the battalion moved into the village. There was close quarter fighting, house to house and shell hole to shell hole with bombing and sniping. By late morning they had reached the eastern edge of the village when the enemy counterattacked. They were forced back. As they retreated back through the village they came under fire from snipers who had remained behind hidden in the ruins. They retreated back to their start line on the west of the village, here they took a stand and stopped the enemy advance. They were relieved that evening and moved back to bivouac in the Tara Unsa Line.
Casualties for the 1-4 July were: Officers, 3 KIA and 5 wounded: Other Ranks 32 KIA, 128 wounded and 18 missing.
Cadwaladr was one of the 3 Officers to be killed and the first of many Llanrwst lads to be lost over the coming months.
Cadwaladr is buried at Ovillers Military Cemetery, France.
Lest We Forget.
