James Jones was born at Penley, Shropshire in 1879. His parents wee James and Sarah, his father worked as an agricultural labourer. In 1881 there were – Mary 9, Alice 7, Francis 5, HIM and baby Elizabeth 11months. The family lived at ‘The Cottage’ at Hordley. No record can be found for the family in 1891. By 1901 James had married, to Emily, born 1880 at Whittington, they were living at Berghill, Whittington, James was working as a cattleman. They had a baby girl, Minnie, born in 1907. By 1911 they had moved to Birmingham Bank at Pant Glas, James was working as a wagoner on Brogyntyn Estate.

James enlisted in King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, probably around 1915 – he was not awarded the 1915 Star, only BWM & VM, hence, did not serve overseas until at least 1916. He went over to France from the depot as a draft and was then posted to 7 Bn KSLI. He died of wounds on 27 September 1917. He was most likely wounded during the fighting on the previous day – Battle of Polygon Wood, Third Ypres. His battalion was acting as support troops in the second wave in the line in front of Zevenkote north of the Ypres-Roulers railway, 237 ORs were wounded. The evacuation of wounded to the rear was a tortuous struggle from all the battle areas of Third Ypres – not only in distance but through shell shatterred water logged muddy ground and trackways – often it had to be 6 bearers to a stretcher and took many hours. Where James died is not known whether, before, during or after his evacuation. He is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery. He is also commemorated on the war memorial at Selattyn.

Acknowledgements.

Photos – Louise Culliford

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