Job Rees had been born in Wrexham in 1894 and spent his early life there. There were three boys, John, Job and the youngest, Thomas. Between 1897-99 the family moved to Oswestry where a sister, Mary, was born. A fifth sibling did not survive childhood. Their father, Robert, was a joiner and carpenter who worked in the building trade. Their mother Mary was originally from Llanyblodwel. The family lived at 53 York Street and by 1911 at 28 Welsh Walls. All three brothers worked, John as a baker and confectioner, Thomas as a telegraph messenger and Job who worked as a cashier’s clerk at R&R Hughes shop on The Cross, Oswestry. In early 1914, Job moved to Liverpool to take up an appointment at the Compton Hotel on Church Street (Compton House – Wikipedia) – the building is a contender for the world’s first purpose built department store but by the 1900s was a hotel with shops at street level: it is now an M&S store. He was living in staff quarters at the hotel.

Job enlisted in 1/5 Bn King’s Liverpool Regiment on 1 September 1914. The 1/5 Bn was a Territorial Force unit and it is possible that he had joined when he first arrived in Liverpool – otherwise, and as a City office worker, he would have more likely joined the Liverpool Pals recruitment for which was in full swing. On 7 September 1914 he signed Army Form E624 agreeing to overseas service. He went over to France with the battalion on 25 February 1915. He was KIA on 16 May 1915 during the Battle of Festubert. The battalion were on working parties during the action; he was either killed the early hours when the battalion’s companies were apart or later in the morning and day when the battalion was back together, it is not known which company he was in. Job’s parents received notice of his death in a letter from his C/O Captain H J Duncan: ‘It is with great regret that I have to announce the death of your son Rifleman J Rees of my company. He was KIA doing his duty in action during a fight in which the company lost heavily. His loss is very keenest felt by his company officers and companions who have lost a good soldier and a friend, I can assure you of the sympathy of the company in your great loss’. Job has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. He is also on St Oswald’s Church War Memorial, Oswestry.

His obituary also mentions a memorial service for Job held at the Welsh Wesleyan Church. In Welsh and English, sermons were preached and hymns sung. Extracts from letters from his fellows were read expressing their sympathy and testifying the esteem and affection in which he was held, owing to his amiable and cheerful disposition and bright character. The service ended with the National Anthem and the Dead March from Saul, played by the organist Mrs Davies.

His brothers John and Thomas also served, both in the KSLI. John was one of the Oswestry Pals. Thomas was wounded three times, 1916, gun shot wound to his right thigh and 1917 shrapnel to the face. They survived the war. Job’s C/O Captain, soon to be promoted Major, HJ Duncan (CWGC) was killed in August 1916 at Maltz Horn Farm on the Somme.

Acknowledgements. Carol Rees – family member (great uncle to)

References and Sources

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