BORN – Selattyn
HOMEFRONT – Place / Occupation
UNIT – 9 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
RANK – Private 15465
THEATRE – 100 Days / Richbourg L’Avoue. 9 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 30 September 1918
DIED – KIA 30 September 1918. Aged 23.
BURIED – Vielle Chapelle New Military Cemetery. (CWGC)
NOTE. An alternative candidate for this man is Private John William Jones Royal Garrison Artillery. He is listed in BC 21 October 1914 with details of – ‘OSWESTRY SOLDIER SUCCUMBS TO HIS WOUNDS, – (Private Jones), who was wounded at the Battle of Mons, died at Seaforth Barracks today. Private Jones was a son of William Jones, Llys Lane, Oswestry who worked for some years for WH Thomas & Sons, Ltd., Builders, Oswestry.’ No other details can be found for this alternative man.
John William Jones was born in 1895 at Selattyn. His parents were David and Elizabeth Jones, with David being a stockman on a farm. John was the second eldest of seven children with 4 sisters and 2 younger brothers. The family lived at New Cottages, Afongoch, Ruabon. David worked in the brick works at Ruabon. He enlisted at the outbreak of war at Ruabon joining 10 Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers and going over to France with the battalion on 27 September 1915. At some time he was wounded and after returning to duty was posted to 9 Bn RWF.
David was KIA on 30 September 1918. The battalion were operating in the sector around Richebourg and Neuve Chapelle. On the 30 September A & D companies took part in an operation to advance the front line. The attack was successful with 10 PoWs and 1 machine gun captured. Casualties were 3 Officers wounded, one later dying, 11 ORs KIA and 38 wounded. David is buried in Vielle Chapelle New Military Cemetery.
It is not known what his connection with Oswestry is.
Acknowledgements.
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