Hugh Griffith Jones, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Private, 6365, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died, killed in action, aged 35, on 16 May 1915 at the Western Front.

The Battalion was in Malta in August 1914. On return to the UK it was attached to 22nd Brigade, 7th Division and landed at Zeebrugge on 7 October 1914. It eventually moved with the Division to Italy in November 1917.

The Battalion took a very active part in the Battle of Festubert (15-25 May 1917). On the 16 May they were in the first wave attacking the enemy lines and set off at 03:15 after a sustained period of heavy bombardment. They encountered heavy machine gun fire but were successful in breaching the German front line and making almost three quarters of a mile of ground. However, the Battalion found themselves very exposed in a nearby orchard and suffered heavy shellfire, some of which came from their own guns. They managed to hold onto their gains until evening when they were forced to withdraw being in a very exposed position without adequate support and suffering significant losses from shellfire. It was in this action that CSM Fredrick Barter won the Victoria Cross when he and eight others seized a large section of enemy trench and captured over a hundred prisoners. In all, the operation resulted in over 16,000 allied casualties. The Division suffered 4,123 casualties over the three days they were engaged. The Battalion set off on the attack with 25 officers and 806 other ranks. Only 6 officers and 247 men returned.

Enlisted at Wrexham on 3 March 1900, aged 19. Previously employed as a Labourer. Served in China from 5 January 1901 to 9 November 1902 and then onto India until 6 February 1908, where he was appointed a Pioneer on 15 January 1904. On arriving back from India he transferred to the reserve until he arrived in France on 20 September 1914.

Born in Holyhead the son of William and Ellen Jones of 25 Baker Street, Holyhead and also of 18 Queens Park, Holyhead. Husband of Catherine Ellen Thomas (formerly Jones, nee Jones), of 42 Kingsland, Holyhead, Anglesey. They were married at the Tabernacle Chapel, Thomas Street, Holyhead on 26 September 1911. A daughter, Doreen, was born on 27 January 1913.

He died on the same day as William Humpreys, another member of the Ist Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Awarded the 1914 (Mons) Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, Panels 13 and 14. He has no known grave.