BORN – Oswestry
HOMEFRONT – Place / Occupation / St Oswald’s Church
JOB – Cabinet Maker
UNIT – 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
RANK – Lance Corporal 12295
THEATRE – Loos / Loos Offensive. Neuve Chapelle. 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 25 September 1915, / Bethune
DIED – KIA 25 September 1915. Aged 29
BURIED – Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie. (CWGC)
James William Jones was born in 1886 at Oswestry and was brought up living on Willow Street, at 6 Welsh Walls, 4 Lord Street and, at the outbreak of war, at Ruby House, Castle Street. All told he had 6 siblings – 1 elder brother, 2 younger brothers and 3 younger sisters. Their father, Richard, was a butcher and later a sheep dealer. Their mother was Mary Margaret (nee Jones) and was originally from Llansantffraid and had married Richard in 1882. James worked as a cabinet maker. He was unmarried and was 29 years old when he was killed.
James, had enlisted in August 1914. He was one of the original ‘Oswestry Pals’ who had paraded and left with the first draft on 9 September 1914. He went over to France with the 6 Bn KSLI in July 1915. He was killed on 25 September 1915 at Neuve Chapelle during a diversionary action at the Battle of Loos. On this day the battalion suffered casualties of about 60 ORs and 4 officers killed or wounded. He was buried in a battlefield cemetery and was re-interred in January 1920 at Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie. He is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.
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