| Other Info | Company Sergeant Major E. Welch, D.C.M., of 2nd Battalion from 1893 to 1920. He was the perfect type of a fighting soldier, thorough and painstaking in all he undertook ; either at war or on the playing fields Welch always excelled.
During the South African War of 1900-02 he was acknowledged to be the Battalion's best scout; he caught his own Boer pony, and the saddle, etc., was provided by the Regiment. He was fearless and an expert rifle shot; he could unsaddle a Boer at a 1000 yards. He had a miraculous escape from death during one of these excursions when scouting, a bullet passing clean round his forehead, from which he all but died from loss of blood. He was always happy when in danger—cool, calm and collected. In India, 1906-13, he qualified as Instructor with a Special Certificate at the Mounted Infantry School, and surprised the Cavalry by winning all mounted competitions. He also qualified 'D' at Satara Musketry. During the 1914-18 War he went out as Sergeant in charge of a Machine Gun Section, and he could use this weapon with deadly effect. He did brilliant work with these teams at the Battle of Festubert 1915, when he was awarded the D.C.M., and again at Loos, where, when all had retired, he kept his teams in action for many hours, and saved a very ugly situation; for this he received a bar to the D.C.M. He was four times wounded in action, 1901, 1914, 1915, 1916.
The citation for his D.C.M. reads; "
For conspicuous gallantry and ability on the 17th May, 1915, at Richebourg. When in charge of a Maxim gun he behaved with great gallantry and coolness in keeping his gun in action in a very exposed position, and under a very heavy shell fire. The portion of the breastwork on his right and left was evacuated on account of heavy losses, but Serjeant-Major Welch kept his gun in action until relieved on the night of the 18th-19th May."
He died in 1946. |
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