Pte 22135 James Morris Jones

• Age: 34
• From: Welshpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 8th May 1918
• Commemorated at: Arneke British Cem
  Panel Ref: II.C.15

James Morris Jones was born in 1882 in Welshpool, Montgomery and was  the eldest of the two sons of the Rev. Owen Baldwyn Jones and his wife Elizabeth (nee Morris) who had married in 1874 at Chester Register Office. The Reverend Jones was a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Minister, which meant the family moved regularly. 

On the 1891 census the family are living at Wheatsheaf, Gwersyllt, Denbighshire.

The father Owen Balwyn is aged 46, Calvinistic Methodist Minister b.Llangynog, Montgomeryshire, mother Elizabeth 46 b.Llangynog, children Marian 15 scholar b.Ince, Lancs, Elizabeth Gwladus 13 scholar b.Guilsfield, Montgomeryshire, Owen Morris scholar 11 b.Guilsfield, James Morris 8 scholar b.Guilsfield, Elined 6 scholar b.Guilsfield, Thomas Harry 4  b.Guilsfield, and niece Mary Alice Davies 27 b.Llangynog.

By 1901 his mother had died and James had moved on. Father Owen, Marian, Elined and Thomas are living at Bryn-y-Mor, Llanasa, Flintshire.

He is probably the John M. Jones recorded as an 18 year old grocers apprentice b.Guilsfield, boarding at Mostyn Quay, Whitford, Flintshire. He is one of many apprentices at the address.

The Father Owen died December 1904 aged 45. 

By 1911 he was working as a Grocer’s assistant in Litherland.

James enlisted in Liverpool on 5th Nov 1914, giving his age as 32 years and 90 days, and is occupation as a a grocers assistant He was serving in the 17th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22135. He gave his height as 5' 4 3/4", weight 117lbs and chest 35." He declared his mother and father had died, so next of kin was sister Marian, Post Office, Montgomeryshire. 
He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

19-29 Dec 1916 - granted leave in the field

5th Feb 1918 - Joined A Coy 17/KLR

7th May 1918 - Wounded in Action

8th May 1918 - moved to 99 FA and 10 Casualty Clearing Station with shrapnel in buttock

James saw action on the Somme in 1916, at Arras and Passchendaele in 1917 but in early May 1918, James was serving in Belgium with the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment at an area known as Ridge Wood, the name given to the wood standing on high ground between the Kemmel Road and Dickebusch Lake 5 kms from the Flemish town of Leper, Belgium.

James died of wounds on the 08^th May 1918 aged 34 during the German Spring Offensive. 

He now lies in Arneke British Cemetery, France where his  headstone bears the epitaph:

“HYD ONI WAWRIO Y DYDD”  which translated means "UP UNTIL THE DAWNS"

The cemetery was begun by the 13th Casualty Clearing Station which moved to Arneke from the Proven area in October 1917. It was joined by the 10th and 44th Clearing Stations in April 1918. The cemetery was used by these hospitals until the end of May, and again from July to September 1918 by the 62nd (1/2nd London) Clearing Station. In November it was used for a short time by the 4th and 10th Stationary Hospitals. A few French soldiers were buried from clearing stations in April 1918 and French units buried in Plots IV and V at the north-west end of the cemetery, mainly in May and June 1918. Arneke British Cemetery contains 435 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and five from the Second World War. There are also 126 French and five German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

James was the second son that the family had lost in the war as his brother Thomas Harri  also a Liverpool Pal died of wounds on 05th July 1916 serving as Private 17392 with the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. Thomas Harri is buried at Daours Communal Cemetery Extension in France. His headstone bears the same epitaph as his brother James. 

Soldiers Effects to sisters Elizabeth G., Elined, Marian, which included identity disc, letters, photographs, pipe, wallet, wrist watch with strap and protector, razor. Pension to Elizabeth G.

Probate James Morris Jones, the Post Office, Montgomeryshire, 15th Nov 1918 to Marian Jones spinster. Effects £118.0s.6d.

James Morris is commemorated on the family headstone at Hanley Cemetery and on the following Memorials:

Montgomery War Memorial

Montgomeryshire County War Memorial.

We currently have no further information on James Morris Jones. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Grateful thanks are extended to Arwel Owen for the translation of the epitaph from Welsh to English.