Up to Mametz and Beyond

Description

By Llewelyn Wyn Griffiths

Edited by Jonathon Riley

Up to Mametz and Beyond, by Llewelyn Wyn Griffith, published in 1931, is now firmly established as one of the finest accounts of soldiering on the Western Front. It tells the story of the creation of a famous Welsh wartime battalion (The 15th Royal Welch Fusiliers), its training, its apprenticeship in the trenches, and through to its ordeal of Mametz Wood on the Somme as part of 38 Division. But there it stopped. General Jonathon Riley has however discovered Wyn Griffith’s unpublished diaries and letters which pick up where Up to Mametz left off through to the end of the War. With careful editing and annotation, the events of these missing years are now available alongside the original work. They tell of an officer’s life on the derided staff and provide fascinating glimpses of senior officers, some who attract high praise and others who the author obviously despised. The result is an enthralling complete read and a major addition to the bibliography of the period. 

Llewelyn Wyn Griffith was born into a Welsh speaking family in Llandrillo yn Rhos, North Wales. He joined the Civil Service as a Tax Surveyor. Age 24 on the outbreak of War, he was accepted for a commission in the 15th (1st London Welsh) Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers and served in the Battalion or on the staff for the rest of the War. Returning to the Inland Revenue he was responsible for implementing the Pay-As-You-Earn tax system, retiring in 1952. He filled many distinguished appointments, such as the Arts Council, and was a regular broadcaster. Awarded an Honorary Dlitt by the University of Wales, he was holder of the CBE, QBE, Croix de Guerre and MID. He died in 1977.

Lieutenant General Jonathon Riley CB DSO PhD MA was Director-General and Master of the Armouries from 2009 to 2012 after a distinguished military career. He saw active service in Norther Ireland, Central America, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan, where he was Deputy Commander of NATO ISAF 2007-2008. He holds degrees from University Collage, London, University of Leeds and Cranfield University and is a visiting professor at Kings Collage London. He is the author of twenty-five published works.