James Hubert Waddington – Welsh Regiment, 16th (Service) Battalion (Cardiff City)

 Second Lieutenant James Hubert Waddington – Welsh Regiment, 16^th (Service) Battalion (Cardiff City)

Birth and Parentage

James Haig Waddington and Elizabeth Emily Down
marriage certificate
Swansea Christ Church

James Hubert Waddington was born in Swansea in 1897. He was the son of James Haig Waddington and Elizabeth Emily Down, who were married in 1892 at Swansea Christ Church. The Waddingtons were a family of comfortable means, with James Haig’s background and later occupations placing them firmly within the educated and professional middle class of late Victorian and Edwardian Swansea.

1901 Census

At the time of the 1901 Census, the Waddington family was living at 4 Langland Road, Mumbles, Swansea. James Haig Waddington, aged 31 and born in Nottinghamshire, was recorded as Living on Own Means, indicating independent financial security. His wife, Elizabeth Emily, also 31, was managing the household. Their two children were Gwladys (7) and James Hubert (4), both of whom were attending school. This early census suggests a stable and well‑supported upbringing for young James, with access to education and a comfortable home environment.

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to Briton Ferry House, Briton Ferry, a substantial residence reflecting their continued prosperity. James Haig Waddington, then 42, was employed as a Secretary, while his wife Emily was 43. Their son James Hubert, aged 14, was still in school and was the only child present in the household at that time. The family employed three servants—Rose Edwards (26), Margaret Rees (23), and Emily Davier (42)—a clear indication of their social standing and the comfortable lifestyle in which James was raised.

Military Service

With the outbreak of the First World War, James Hubert Waddington joined the British Army and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Welsh Regiment, serving with the 16^th (Service) Battalion, also known as the Cardiff City Battalion. This battalion was one of the “Pals” units raised in 1914–1915, composed largely of men from Cardiff and the surrounding districts who enlisted together with the intention of serving side by side.

As a young officer, James would have undergone training in leadership, fieldcraft, and trench warfare before being sent to the Western Front. Junior officers in the Pals battalions often faced immense responsibility, leading men who were sometimes older than themselves and who looked to them for guidance under fire.

The 16^th Welsh Regiment on 6^th July 1916 – The Approach to Mametz Wood

In early July 1916, the 38^th (Welsh) Division, including the 16^th Welsh Regiment, was ordered to take part in the Battle of the Somme. Although the catastrophic first day of the Somme occurred on 1^st July, the Welsh Division was held in reserve and later directed towards one of the most formidable German positions on the front: Mametz Wood.

By 4^th – 5^th July, British forces had captured the village of Mametz and were preparing to advance into the dense woodland beyond it. Mametz Wood was heavily defended by experienced German troops of the Leib‑Regiment, with machine‑gun nests, deep dugouts, and interlocking fields of fire making it a deadly objective.

On 6^th July 1916, the 16^th Welsh Regiment moved forward under intense German artillery and machine‑gun fire as they attempted to reach their forming‑up positions for the coming assault. The battalion faced heavy shelling that caused significant casualties even before they reached the front line. Machine‑gun fire from concealed German positions swept the approaches to the wood, and the broken terrain—littered with fallen trees, shell craters, and thick undergrowth—made movement slow and hazardous.

The day was marked by confusion and disorganisation, as units struggled to maintain formation under fire. Communication was difficult, and officers were forced to make rapid decisions in chaotic conditions. Survivors later described the approach to Mametz Wood as one of the most harrowing experiences of the entire Somme campaign.

It was during this period of heavy bombardment and forward movement—on 6^th July 1916—that Second Lieutenant James Hubert Waddington was killed in action, aged just 19. As a junior officer, he would have been at the front of his platoon, exposed to enemy fire while directing and encouraging his men.

Burial and Commemoration

James Hubert Waddington
Morlancourt British Cemetery No. 1, Somme, France
credit - findagrave

Unlike many who fell during the Somme battles, James Hubert Waddington has a known grave. He is buried at Morlancourt British Cemetery No. 1, Somme, France. His resting place stands as a lasting testament to his service and sacrifice, and his name is remembered alongside the men of the Cardiff City Battalion who fought and died in one of the most brutal chapters of Welsh military history