John Griffith, Royal Field Artillery

Saddler (Driver), 124480, 17th Division Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery. Died, killed in action, age about 24, on 8 July 1916 at the Western Front.

Operated by the Royal Field Artillery, the Divisional Ammunition Column was responsible for transporting all the ammunition, both artillery and small arms, for the Division. It collected ammunition from the Army Service Corps Divisional Ammunition Park for onward transportation to a re-filling point where it could be collected by ammunition wagons belonging to the individual batteries. In early July the 17th Division took part in The Battle of Albert (Battle of the Somme) and captured Fricourt and occupied Mametz. Driver Griffiths lies alongside another RFA soldier and an unidentified British soldier who were killed on the same day and buried by the Gordon Highlanders among their dead of the 1st July 1916.Recorded as born in Holyhead and also enlisted at the town. 'Records of Soldier's Effects' records his father as William. It is probable that he is was born at Llanfachraeth, Anglesey and recorded in the 1911 Census as living at Mona Terrace, Llanfachraeth with his widowed father, William (52). His father is recorded as a Saddler and Bootseller. William (19) is recorded as a Saddler and Cycle Repairer.Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.Buried at the Gordon Cemetery, Mametz. Grave location D.3. (on right of photo).

Image from http://www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/somme/mametz.html