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Lieutenant Colonel Harold Echalaz WELCH DSO and Bar
6th (Service) Battalion King’s Own Shropshire Light Infantry Date of birth: 8th March 1879 Date of death: 29th March 1918 Killed in action aged 39 Buried at Bouchoir New British Cemetery Plot I Row C Grave 78
Harold Echalaz Welch was born at Husborn Crawley in Bedfordshire on the 8th of March 1879 the only son of Alfred Wood Welch, a gentleman, and Ellen Charlotte (nee Sworder) Welch of 14 East Castle Street, Bridgnorth in Shropshire. He was educated at Lancing College where he was in School House from September 1891 to April 1898. He was a member of the Football XI in 1897/8 and was appointed as a Prefect in 1897. He went on to Oriel College Oxford, where he was admitted as a commoner on the 19th of October 1898 and left the following year. He played cricket for the OLs. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 4th Battalion Cheshire Regiment (Militia) on the 2nd of May 1898 and was seconded for service in the South African War on the 18th of April 1900 serving with the 2nd Battalion Middlesex Regiment. He was awarded the Queen's Medal with three claps and the King's Medal with two clasps. He was promoted to Captain on the 4th of June 1904 which was antedated to the 4th of May. Following the outbreak of war he rejoined the army, was appointed to the rank of Captain on the 19th of September 1914 and was attached to the 6th Battalion King’s Own Shropshire Light Infantry. He was promoted to Major on the 18th of October 1914 and was given command of D Company. He embarked for France with his battalion from Folkestone at 11pm on the 22nd of July 1915 and after a rough passage on board a small channel steamer they landed at Boulogne at 12.50am the following morning. He saw action at the Battle of Loos on the 25th of September 1915 where his Company took the German front line trench but were forced back to their own trench by 2pm. On the 6th of October 1915 he was appointed as second in command of the battalion replacing Major Cotton who was taken ill and sent home. On the 7th of September 1916 he took command of the battalion when his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel E.A. Wood, was gassed at Arrowhead Copse on the Somme and had to be evacuated; he commanded the battalion throughout the rest of their campaign on the Somme. He was promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel while in command of his battalion on the 12th of September 1917 while Colonel Wood was again absent through sickness. On the 19th of September 1917 he led the battalion during the Battle of the Menin Road part of the Third Battle of Ypres, constantly going forward to reconnoiter the ground personally. For his actions during this battle he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order which was announced by the War Office on the 19th of November 1917. On the 5th of November 1917 Colonel Wood was promoted to command the 55th Infantry Brigade and Harold Welch was given command of the battalion. As a result he was confirmed as a Temporary Lieutenant Colonel on the 9th of November 1917 with seniority backdated to the 12th of September 1917. In November 1917 the battalion took part in the Battle of Cambrai, where he again made several journeys up to the fighting line for which he was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Order which was announced by the War Office on the 18th of February 1918 and the citation read:- "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His battalion was in immediate support to an attack which was held up by machine-gun fire from concrete posts, and it was found impossible to continue the advance without further artillery preparation. His battalion meanwhile was held up in a most exposed position. During the hours which elapsed before the advance could continue he moved about under fire regardless of danger, reconnoitring the situation, visiting his companies, and issuing orders. Owing to his efforts his battalion was eventually able to continue the advance successfully. His leadership and courage set a magnificent example to all ranks." He was mentioned in despatches twice. On the 21st of March 1918 the Germans launched their long expected spring offensive with massive infantry attacks along the British front line. At this time the 6th Battalion Shropshire Light Infantry were billeted at Cugny where they received orders at noon to move to positions in quarries around Bray St Christophe. They moved out at 3.15pm and were in their new positions by midnight. The morning of the 22nd of March was very misty and at 1.30pm the mist cleared and the Germans attacked, driving back the battalions holding the line in front of the Shropshires and forcing them out of their positions. Orders were received to withdraw but they were verbal and the A Company commander did not like verbal orders. As the three front companies withdrew, A Company stayed and as a result caught a large group of Germans by surprise causing a large number of casualties among them before the Shropshire men withdrew into the mist. By 8.30pm on the night of the 22nd the battalion was in new positions between Bray St Christophe and Aubigny. At midnight a large group of German assault troops used the mist to creep up to the British trenches and rushed part of the Brigade's line forcing gaps in the British defences. Harold Welch had organised his battalion headquarters staff for the defence of Aubigny and led them to counter attack the Germans but was forced back by overwhelming numbers. By dawn Welch was trying to locate the men of his battalion from who had become separated and found them at Lannoy Farm. At 3pm on the 26th of March the battalion took up positions in front of the village of Arvillers where they spent a quiet time although British troops were falling back through their positions during the following day. At 7.30am on the 28th of March the battalion was advised that they would be relieved by the French but at 9am the enemy commenced a heavy bombardment of the battalion's line which was followed by a massed infantry attack at 9.45am. The Germans were driven back with very heavy losses but the battalion had also suffered very badly. At this time Harold Welch sent a message to 60th Brigade Headquarters saying that he could not continue to hold his position without reinforcement but that he and his men would hold on to the last. The order to retire was received at 11am and the men withdrew, spending the night at Rifle Wood. At 11am on the morning of the 29th of March 1918 the battalion received orders to stand to and at 1.15pm they marched in support of 59th Brigade who were under attack at Mezieres. They moved towards Mezieres in artillery formation through enemy artillery fire and at 2.30pm Harold Welch was wounded by a piece of shrapnel. He died fifteen minutes later near Villers-aux-Erables. The regimental history records:- "A more gallant officer and true gentleman never wore the King's uniform." He was married to Eliza Marie "Zoo" (nee Maude) at St Paul's Church at Sandgate, Folkestone in Kent on the 20th of January 1916 during a short leave. She later lived at "Cantreyn", Bridgnorth in Shropshire. He is commemorated on the war memorial at Bridgnorth and on the memorial at Oriel College Oxford.

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