Corp H Jones

The List of the Fallen indicates that this is intended to commemorate Horace Jones of River Side, though his rank is consistently recorded as 'Private' in official sources. Maybe a promotion just before his death failed to be recorded.

Private Horace Jones, 18579, was the son of Mrs Jones of 13, Riverside, Bridgnorth. He was killed in action on the Somme on 16th September, 1916 while serving with the 5th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He was awarded the Victory and British Medals. His death was reported in the Bridgnorth Journal on 2nd December, 1916.

Horace married Helen Griffiths shortly before he enlisted (in about July, 1915). After Horace's death, Helen married John Bagman.

BRIDGNORTH SOLDIER KILLED
Bridgnorth Journal, 2nd December, 1916.
Mrs. Jones, of 13 River Side, Bridgnorth, was officially informed that her son, 18579 Private H. Jones, K.S.L.I., was "missing." She has now received a communication showing that he has been killed. The letter, which is from the sergeant of his section, and is headed, "B.M.E.F., 16/11/16," reads : "I am very sorry that the necessity has fallen to me of conveying to you the entire sympathy of the whole of my section in the death of your son. Since he came with a draft from England he has been a source of great help to me, inasmuch as he was cheerful, bright and very willing. Whenever anything was required of him, any duty assigned to him, he always recorded his usual smile. . . . His wounds were very bad, and he died within a few hours. The medical staff applied their skill heroically, but death prevailled. He will be buried in a grave near the fighting line, and a very neat little cross will be put over his grave with his name, etc., on it. I may add that it was through his devotion to duty that he was killed. He left his dug-out to fetch the gun in. It was a shell that struck him.

Private Horace Jones, 18579, 5th KSLI, is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Another local H Jones casualty is Private Harry Jones, 8482, a native of Shropshire who enlisted at Bridgnorth. He was the brother of T Jones of Bay Cottages, Oldbury. He was probably a regular soldier already serving in India with the 2nd King’s Shropshire Light Infantry when the Battalion was mobilized for war. He landed at Le Havre, France, with the Battalion on 21st December 1914. He would have seen action at the Second Battle of Ypres. He was killed in action on 3rd June, 1915 and is buried at Ferme Buterne Military Cemetery, Houplines. He was awarded the Victory and British Medals and the 15 Star. Private Jones’ death was announced in the Bridgnorth Journal of 17th July, 1915.

[Revised 26/03/2016]