Thomas and Bert Jones

[Kirk Jones]

Hi everyone,

I realize this is a very long shot, But I'm looking for any information regarding Thomas and Bert Jones, sons of Richard and Elizabeth Jones of Stourbridge, Worcestershire, UK.

Both men were killed in WW1.

Brother, Wilfrid Jones served with the Canadian C.E.F. in WW1.
He also served with the 1st V.B. Worcestershire Regiment before leaving England.

Wilfrid died in 1975 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

I'm looking for the dates of death of Thomas and Bert or reg.numbers to be able to trace more information about them.

Thank- you

Kirk Jones

Grandson of Wilfrid Jones

[Kevin Lynott]

I presume that I have correctly identified the correct Thomas and Bert Jones, if that is the case, here is a little information on them:-
Thomas Pte 24683 3rd Bn Worcs Reg KIA 10/4/18. The second German offensive of 1918 known as The Battle of The Lys commenced on 9/4/18 and met with initial success forcing back the British line in the Ypres area. The Germans succeeded in crossing the river Lys at Bac St Maur near Armentieres in XV Corps area. 74th Div located north of Steenerck was placed at the disposal of XV Corps to assist with the situation and at 3.30pm 74th Brig were ordered to Bac St Mar. The 3rd Worcs formed a defensive line on the bank of the Lys from the river bend at L'Hallobeau to Erquingham. It was apparent that the Germans were in Bac St Maur in strength. At 8am on 10/4/18 the Corps commander Lt Deneral Du Cane ordered 74th Brig together with 119th and 120th Brigs of 40th Div to retake the Bac St Maur bridgehead. However the commanding officer of the 74th Brig, Brig-Gen Craigie-Halkett had precipitated the order and had decided that he should attack without delay and attacked the German lines at 9am without the support of 119th and 120th Brigs. The Germans halted the attack and infiltrated between the leading Bns and forced them back to the north west, by 5pm the Brig had been forced back to the north of Steenwerck with the 3rd Worcs on the Bailleul to Armentieres railway. At 6pm the Germans advanced up the railway line from the south and enfiladed the 3rd Worcs forcing them to retire onto their sister Bn the 4th Worcs. He is commerated on the Ploegsteert Memorial
Bert 9th Bn Worcs Reg KIA 14/9/18 Mesopotamia
He is commerated on the Tehran Memorial

[Kirk Jones]

Thanks Kevin for the information.

Kevin, could you please explain to me how you have discovered that these two men are brothers, and a brother to Wilrid Jones?
There are two other brothers named Sam and Richard, but I'm not sure if they were in WW1.


Also, is there anyway of tracing my Grandfather's military records with the Worcesrtershire Regiment?

Wilfrid Jones served 5 years in the 1st V.B. Worcestershire Regiment around 1902-1907.


Cheers,

Kirk Jones

[CPLCLIVE]

Kirk
For your grandfathers record with the Worcestershire Regiment try the RHQ at Norton Barracks Worcester you can gain access to them from the opening page of this site. You could also try the National Archives but I doubt if you would have any success with them as most of the WW1 records where distroyed by enemy action in WW2
Best of Luck
Clive

[Kevin Lynott]

Kirk,
there is a searchable CDROM of the Soldiers Died In The Great War, I put in JONES place of birth STORBRIDGE and amongst the JONES were Thomas and Bert which also shows their Reg, Bttn, service No, date and theatre of Death.
A search on the website www.cwgc.org, reveals their places of burial/commeration
Kevin

[Kirk Jones]

Hi Kevin,

I can't see anything on Thomas Pte 24683 3rd Bn Worcs Reg KIA 10/4/18

Why wouldn't this information be on the CWGC?

[Kevin Lynott]

Kirk,

do you mean you can't find Thomas Jones on the CWGC or you have found him and their is no information beyond his Bttn, date of death etc?

Kevin

[Kirk Jones]

With the help of a few people on this site, I have confirmed my Grandfather's brothers that where killed in WW1.

Jones Thomas Henry 241659 L/Cpl. d. of w. F. & F. 21/08/1917 1/8th

Jones Bert 23394 Pte. Mesopotamia 14/09/1918 9th

Thank- you,

Kirk Jones

[wordsleyman]

Hi Kirk I am from near Stourbridge and I have some information for you .

Jones Bert Worcestershire regiment 14th September 1918

Bert Jones lived at 15 Cherry Street & was one of two brothers kiled in 1918.He worked at Messrs Baylies chain works & volunteered for service,probably1n 1914.He joined the 9th(service) battalion of the Worcesters who were sent to Gallipoli in June 1915 and then to Mesopotamia in 1916. In three and a half years service he had ben wounded three times and twice torpedoed by submarines. By September 1918 the Turkish forces had been driven out of Mesopotamia and the Worcesters somewhat amazingly reached the Caspian sea and Baku.In the last battle of the campaign Baku was taken with light casualties.However one of the few killed was Private Bert Jones. He was 21 years of age and commemorated on the Teheran memorial.His name is also commemorated at St Thomas's

[wordsleyman]

Hi Kirk more information!

Jones Thomas H Worcester regiment 21 August 1917
Thomas Jones was the son of Richard Jones of 32 Cherry street Gig Mill Stourbridge.He attended Hill St Council school and was employed at"Ballarat",Stourbridge.He enlisted in the Worcester Territorials and joined the 1/8th battalion in France in July 1916.The battalion was soon engaged on the Somme and in the spring of 1917 followed the enemy as they retreated to the Hindenburg line.Then came third Ypres and the August battle of Langemarck.This was another costly contest between German forces in strong points backed by heavy fire power and machine gunsagainst British troops attacking over open countryside.The target for the 1/8th on the 19th August was a farm turned fortress the Maison du Hibou.The 1/7th had already tried to reach the target but failed.The 1/8th were asked to attack with the help of seven tanks.The cost was 2 officers & 19 men killed.Among the seriously wounded was Thomas Jones.He was sent to a casualty clearing station at Dozinghem where he died the next day.Lance Corporal Thomas Jones was 24 years of age & was buried at Doziinghem military cemetery(4 I 17).His name is also commemorated at St Thomas's and at Greenfields Primary School

Hope this helps

Mark

[Kirk Jones]

Hello Mark,

Thanks for the information,

Where did you digg this up?.....its incrediable!!!


Also, you mention both men were commemorated at St. Thomas's...

What is St. Thomas's??

Thanks again,

Kirk Jones

[beardie]

hello kirk,
mark got this information from the booklet 'remembering the men of stourbridge 1914-1918' compiled by stourbridge historial society in 2005.

they trawled through ' the local paper' the county express to get the information and other sources

beardie

[beardie]

i think st thomas is the roman catholic church in stourbridge!

beardie

[Kirk Jones]

Can someone tell me where I can purchase this booklet..."'Remembering the Men of Stourbridge 1914-1918"

I've tried ordering it over the net with many book stores in the UK, but none can deliver the goods!!!

It would make a great socking stuffer at Christmas!!!

[scully]

It is available from:
Tommies Guides
13 Hunloke Avenue,
Eastbourne, East Sussex, England BN22 8UL
Phone: +44 (0)845 475 1945
Fax: +44 (0)870 622 1918
Email: sales@tommiesguides.co.uk
Internet: www.tommiesguides.co.uk

I think the cost is £7.50
Remembering the Men of Stourbridge : The Great War 1914-18
by Roy Peacock
Paperback
Published 2005
0955046211
Stourbridge Historical Society

Hope this helps.