Thomas Glasfryn Jones was born in 1884 in Gwynfil, Llangeitho, Cardiganshire, near to Lampeter. He was the third child and first son of John and Mary Jones. His father was a stone mason. His siblings were Jane, Mary, Elizabeth and the youngest, Lewis, born in 1893. The family lived at 3 Meidrim Road, Gwynfil. All the family were Welsh speakers.

He attended Tregaron County School and then went on to study to become a reverend. He graduated from St. David’s College Lampeter with a BA in History in 1905 and then studied at St Michael’s Theological College, Aberdare. He was ordained at St Asaph in 1907, and went to be curate at Mostyn, Flintshire. There he lived at Mount Terrace, Rhewl boarding with John Thomas Bethell and family. He was appointed Deacon in 1908. He was 9 years a curate at Mostyn and was then appointed minister at Bylchau near Denbigh. However, instead of taking up the appointment he enlisted. As a Reverend he joined the Army Chaplains Department and, in June 1916, was posted to 11 Bn South Wales Borderers going over to France on 5 July 1916.

Thomas died of wounds on 12 April 1917. He was wounded on the 24 March 1917, at this time the 11 Bn SWB were in the Boesinghe and Bleuet Farm sector to the north of Ypres. His obituary in the County Times records that he was shot by a sniper whilst kneeling to attend to a wounded soldier; he was hit in the lungs and spine and was paralyzed in the legs and abdomen. He also had a wound to his face. He was evacuated to 46 Casualty Clearing Station at Mendinghem and then to No 7 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne. Whilst at Boulogne he was visited by his sister, Jane, and his fiancé, Prudence Roberts; both had been given special permission to travel over to France as he was dangerously ill.

Shortly after their visit he was repatriated to the UK and admitted to Empire Hospital, Vincent Square, London; the hospital specialized in injuries to the nervous system, brain and spinal column. Thomas died 18 days after his wounding, cause of death was given as Hypostatic congestion (pneumonia) almost certainly caused by his paralysis. His body was taken back to Llangeitho with the funeral held at 2.00pm 16 April’ His coffin was borne by the headmaster and boys from Thomas’s school at Tregaron. The service was held at St Ceitho, the parish church. The church was so full that many people were unable to gain entrance.  The service was taken by the Rector of Llangeitho, the Vicar of Bagillt, his brother in law Rev Evan Williams, and his mother’s brothers The Rev Lewis Davies and Rev Edward Davies. Thomas is buried in the graveyard at St Ceitho Church. He is also commemorated on the war memorials at Llangeitho, Mostyn. St David’s College and at Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry. 

Thomas’s connection to Oswestry is through his fiance – Prudence Roberts. She was a member of Holy Trinity Church congregation. Her brother – Reverend Arthur Cecil Roberts – was also clergyman at Kinnerley. In 1936 he moved to St Barnabas’s Church, Hengoed and in 1953  became Rector at St Mary’s Church, Knockin. He is thought to have been a close friend of Thomas. Arthur also served as an Army Chaplain.

Thomas’ grave at St Ceitho Church.

Acknowledgements. Flintshire War Memorial Project and West Wales War Memorial Project Photo Reproduced by permission of the Roderic Bowen Library and Archives, University of Wales Trinity Saint David

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His connection to Oswestry is through his fiancee – Miss P Roberts who was a member of Holy Trinity Church congregation.

Acknowledgements. Flintshire War Memorial Project and West Wales War Memorial Project Photo Reproduced by permission of the Roderic Bowen Library and Archives, University of Wales Trinity Saint David

References and Sources

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