James Victor Sinnett-Jones was born in St. Bride’s, Glamorgan during 1898.
The 1911 Census tells us that the family lived at the Vicarage, Mountain Ash, Glamorgan. The head of the family was the Reverend James Sinnett-Jones aged 49, who was born in Llanrhystid, Aberystwyth on 18 June 1862. He had been educated at Friars School, Bangor and Christ College, Brecon, before being accepted into Peterhouse College, Cambridge in March 1883, where he obtained a B.A. in 1886 and an M.A. in 1891. His wife was Catherine Jane Jones aged 48, they had two daughters – Nellie Myfanwy Sinnett-Jones aged 19, a Student and Elizabeth Sybil Margaret Sinnett-Jones aged 16. Also living at the Vicarage at that time was Margaret May Jones aged 33, a Schoolmistress (who was the Rev Sinnett-Jones’s Niece and Annie Powell aged 23, who was employed as a Servant.
There were also two sons – James Victor Sinnett-Jones aged 13, who appeared in the 1911 Census as being a Boarder at Cathedral School, Llandaff, Cardiff and his brother Gilbert Lloyd Sinnett-Jones aged 18, who also appeared in the 1911 Census as a Boarder at Llandovery College, Carmarthenshire.
James later attended King’s School, Worcester.
During 1914 the family moved from South Wales to North Wales where the Reverend James Sinnett-Jones had been appointed as Rector of St. Michaels Church, Caerwys, Flintshire.
On 8 September 1915 James Victor Sinnett-Jones was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He served in France and was killed in action on Monday 10 July 1916 during the Battle of Mametz Wood. His name is inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He is also remembered on a wooden plaque, which is situated on a wall of College Hall at King’s School, College Green, Worcester and on a stained glass window, which can be found in the North Cloisters of Worcester Cathedral and of course on the Caerwys War Memorial.
Six other Flintshire Soldiers were also killed in action on Monday 10 July 1916 during the Battle of Mametz Wood, they were – Sergeant 20496 James Congdon, Private 16442 Llewelyn Williams and Private 16534 Oscar Darby, who are remembered on the Rhyl War Memorial, Private 21235 Thomas Charles Jones MM, who is remembered on the Bagillt War Memorial and Lance Corporal 20977 Peter Jones and Private 26433 John Richard Jones who are remembered on the Greenfield War Memorial.
His elder brother Captain Gilbert Lloyd Sinnett-Jones and brother-in-law Captain Frank Emlyn Williams MC were both killed during the First World War and their names are also inscribed on the Caerwys War Memorial and the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.
The Reverend James Sinnett-Jones died on 15 December 1935 in Caerwys and Catherine Jane Sinnett-Jones died on 20 September 1934 in Bishopston, Swansea. She in her will left the sum of £12,014. 19s 3d to her daughter Elizabeth.
There is a window in the South Wall of the Parish Church Caerwys, by the pulpit representing ‘the Magnificat’, which was given in the Reverend James Sinnett-Jones’s memory. The Reredos (Ornamental screen at the back of the alter) in Caerwys Parish Church was given by the Reverend James Sinnett-Jones in memory of his two sons.
James Victor Sinnett-Jones is also named on a Memorial to former Choristers in the South Choir Aisle of Llandaff Cathedral.
It would appear that Elizabeth Sybil Margaret Williams (nee Sinnett-Jones) re-married following her husband’s death to Andrew Fulton Rankin.
There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour card for James Victor Sinnett-Jones at the County Archives Office, Hawarden which was completed on 17 November 1919 by his father.
