A BOOK recounting the story of the South Wales Borderers’ has been written by a former curator of the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh.

Rodney Ashwood, who now runs a bed and breakfast with his wife close to the museum in Brecon, tells of the courage and determination of the famous Welsh regiment during the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.

Duty Nobly Done documents the historical events of over 100 years ago, when the South Wales Borderers’ were among the last soldiers to leave the Turkish Peninsula during the final evacuation in January 1916.

The author, who still lives near to the regimental museum in Brecon, was inspired by illustrious history of his regimental predecessors and felt obliged to express his admiration and respect for the brave actions of the Welsh men during the First World War.

Mr Ashwood, a graduate of Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and fomer army officer who saw active service in Northern Ireland, tells of how the men faced appalling conditions, such as lack of water, poor food and inadequate equipment.

He said: “Sickness and disease were rife, and, at the height of the war, there were up to 5,000 cases of dysentery a week; however, it was a duty not just endured, but nobly done. Some of the best, toughest and most generous soldiers in the British Army come from Wales; this book serves as a tribute to those magnificent soldiers.”

Rodney, a member of Gallipoli Association and lecturer on military subjects, combines official records with personal anecdotes in his work, many of which have never before been published.

As part of his thorough research on the topic he toured the battlefields at Gallipoli in preparation for writing the book, which is available from the publishers at www.helion.co.uk as well as Amazon and selected bookshops.