David Jones was born in 1893 at Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant, the third son of William and Mary Jones. His father’s profession was as a shoemaker. His early childhood was spent living at Green Isa, Llanrhaeadr. His 2 brothers were John and Richard. By 1895 the family had moved to Upper Church Street, Oswestry. There was now a sister, Elizabeth (1895) and there would be three more brothers to follow; Robert (1897), Benjamin (1900) and Walter (1904). Robert died in childhood. In 1911 the family had moved to 72 Salop Road. David was working as a general labourer at Oswestry Roller Skating Rink on Oswald Road – built in 1909 and later used as a bus station before demolition in about 1987. David’s parents would later go on to live at 2 The Square, Penylan lane, Oswestry.

As a teenager, David was a member of Oswestry Boys Brigade. He also took up the bugle. He then joined the Royal Welsh Territorials, where he was in the guard of honour for King George V in 1912 for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon. He seems to have taken to the army life for he then enlisted in the regulars joining the 2 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, serving in India and returning to England with the battalion at the outbreak of war. He went with the battalion over to France on 21 December 1914. He was killed on 5 May 1915 during a bombardment when the battalion was in the line at Bellewaerde Wood during the Battle of St Julien 24 April – 4 May 1915, Second Ypres. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres and has no known grave. He is also on the war memorial at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

Acknowledgements. 

References and Sources

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