Site Home
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to accept cookies.
If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.
Great War Home
Search
Add Stories & Photos
Library
Help & FAQs
Features
Allied Army
Day by Day
RFC & RAF
Prisoners of War
War at Sea
Training for War
The Battles
Those Who Served
Hospitals
Civilian Service
Women at War
The War Effort
Central Powers Army
Central Powers Navy
Imperial Air Service
Library
World War Two
Submissions
Add Stories & Photos
Time Capsule
Information
Help & FAQs
Glossary
Our Facebook Page
Volunteering
News
Events
Contact us
Great War Books
About
252630Sgt. Oscar Harmer DCM.
British Army 16th (Cardiff City) Battalion Welch Regiment
from:Cardiff
My Grandfather, Oscar Harmer, was an original member of the 16th (Cardiff City) Battalionm Welsh Regiment. Oscar was the Battalion's Goat Major and appears in a number of photographs on parade with the Battalion's Goat.
On deployment to France in December 1915, he was appointed Lt Colonel Frank Gaskell's runner, and was present when Frank Gaskell was shot by a German sniper. Having looked at the Battalion's trench diary entry, they had been out inspecting an observation post. I understand the shot hit Frank Gaskell's ammo pouch which in turn exploded. My grandfather was also present at Frank Gaskell's funeral, although the diary had incorrectly misspelt my grandfather's surname (Hammer).
On 7th of July 1916 my grandfather took part in the fighting during the Battle of the Somme and was present when the Battalion took part in the fighting for Mametz Wood where they fought against the soldiers of the Prussian Guard. He was also present during the fighting at Pickem Ridge which was in the opening stages of the Battle of Passchendale.
As a result of restructuring within the Army, the Cardiff City Battalion was sadly disbanded in February 1918. My grandfather, by now promoted to Sergeant, was transferred to the 1st Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry where on 19th of September 1918 he was awarded the DCM. The citation reads: 'For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In the attack on Fresnoy-Le-Petite, 19th of September 1918, when all the officers of his company had become casualties, he reorganised the company and took command. Later, with half a platoon and one Lewis gun, he captured an enemy post, from which he silenced a hostile machine-gun with Lewis fire, and succeeded in keeping down the fire of enemy snipers. The post was repeatedly attacked by the enemy with bombs and rifle grenades, but chiefly due to his fine example and energy all attacks were repulsed, though nearly all his men were wounded. Eventually he successfully withdrew his men under cover of darkness.
Related Content:
Can you help us to add to our records?
The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them
Did your relative live through the Great War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial?
If so please let us know.
Do you know the location of a Great War "Roll of Honour?"We are very keen to track down these often forgotten documents and obtain photographs and transcriptions of the names recorded so that they will be available for all to remember.
Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice.
Celebrate your own Family History
Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Great War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc.
Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.
The free section of The Wartime Memories Project is run by volunteers.
This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources and we currently have a huge backlog of submissions.
If you are enjoying the site, please consider making a donation, however small to help with the costs of keeping the site running.
Hosted by:
Copyright MCMXCIX - MMXXIV
- All Rights Reserved -We do not permit the use of any content from this website for the training of LLMs or for use in Generative AI, it also may not be scraped for the purpose of creating other websites.