I really need help trying to find the correct story for Fred Jones, who gave his life for us all, there is a mix up as can be seen by the newspaper reports of his death, so any help would be gratefully received.
Cheshire Observer 27 November 1943
DEATH OF GNR. FRED JONES, R.A.
Notification has been received by his wife of the death, while on active service in Italy of Gunner Fred JONES, R.A. (searchlights). He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Frederick JONES of 42, Spring Street, Connah’s Quay. Gunner JONES, who was 25, enlisted in the Militia in June 1939, and went abroad in August last. In civil life he was employed at the steelworks of John Summers and Sons. Ltd. He leaves two young daughters.
Chester Chronicle 11th December 1943 (Page 3. Col 4)
KILLED IN ITALY
News has been received by his wife of the death, on active service, of Gunner Fred JONES, R.A. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Edward JONES, Spring Street, Connah’s Quay, and an old Scholar of Custom House Lane and Deeside Central School. He joined the Militia in June 1939 and went abroad last August. Before the war he was employed at Messrs. Summers.
The 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, gives us the first sight of Fred Jones, when he is found living at 42, Spring Street, Connah’s Quay with his parents and siblings. Edward W. Jones was 39 years and 6 months old and had been born in Newmarket, Flintshire and was a Mill Wright in John Summers & Sons Ltd. but was “Out of Work.” Margaret M. Jones was 35 years and 6 months old and had been born in St. Asaph, Flintshire and was doing “Home Duties.” Their children were Catherine J. Jones, 11 years, and 4 months old, born in Gwespyr, Flintshire; Robert H. Jones was 6 years and 1 month old and Fred Jones was 2 years and 11 months old and both of them had been born in Connah’s Quay, Flintshire.
Fred’s father is said to be both Edward and Frederick, both on the newspaper reports so wondered if he had the two names i.e., Frederick Edward or visa versa, and at first, I thought they were clerical errors, but on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission he is named as Edward, however the 1939 National Register put paid to that theory: –
1939 National Register (Taken on the 29th September 1939) shows the name of his Mother the same as on the CWGC, but the name of the father on the two newspaper reports and the CWGC do not gel with the name on the 1939 National Register – Iorwerth* William Jones. However, I have now found that according to the website –
*https://www.gweiadur.com/welsh-dictionary/Iorwerth Iorwerth in English is: EDWARD. I also now believe that perhaps Frederick was either a typo or clerical error.
So I can now begin to perhaps tell Fred’s story, he was born circa 1918, the son of Iorwerth William & Margaret Mary Jones, who were married on the 30th January 1909 at Llanasa Parish Church. Iorwerth William Jones was 27, single and a bachelor, his abode was Llanasa and he was a Labourer. No paternal details were entered for his father. His bride, Margaret Mary Jones was 23, single and a spinster, her abode was Llanasa and her father was William Jones a Labourer. They were married after Banns and the witnesses were William Macdonald, Frederick Jones & Maggie Roberts. I believe that Frederick Jones may have been Margaret Marys’ brother.
There is a birth of a Fred Jones, in 1918 (Flintshire (Mold) FLNT/55/8) and I have confirmed his father’s name was Iorwerth William JONES.
1939 National Register (Taken on the 29th September 1939) shows the family living at 42 Spring Street , Connah’s Quay U.D., Flintshire, Wales. This source gives us the dates of birth, Margaret Mary Jones had been born on the 12th of December 1885 and was doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.”
Iorwerth* William Jones had been born on the 4th of January 1882 and Robert Henry Jones had been born on the 21st of May 1915, he was single and both men were Steelworks Labourers.
I do not know anything about Fred’s early life, but his Royal Artillery Attestation Book entry was for the 1938, so he was in the Army before the war and would have been one of the first to be posted abroad probably.
The websites below may cast a light on what Fred did in the war, his work was vitaly important: –
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Moonlight_Batteries,_Royal_Artillery
Sicily & Italy
Battlefield illumination was also used in the campaigns in Sicily and Italy up to and including the Gothic line. It was used to illuminate the battlefield for not only infantry attack but also, because of the ridge nature of the terrain, catching out German Artillery in the full glare of light on the opposite slopes. Careful reconnoitring of the area and individual placement achieved excellent results. The 1st Canadian Group had with them 422nd S/L Battery who undertook this task successfully.
AND
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/422nd_Searchlight_Battery,_Royal_Artillery
422 and 535 S/L Batteries
422 and 535 Independent S/L Btys went to the Mediterranean Theatre, landing in Sicily after the Allied landings (Operation Husky). By September 1943, when Eighth Army launched its invasion of mainland Italy (Operation Baytown), 422 and 535 S/L Btys were defending its bases at Syracuse and Catania respectively. 422 S/L Battery disembarked at Bari in late December as part of 25 AA Bde. The port had suffered a disastrous air raid on 2 December, and 25 AA Bde was sent to take over and strengthen the AA defences of the vital base area. While US and Italian searchlights covered Bari itself, 422 Bty deployed 24 lights at nearby Barletta. By late 1944, 535 S/L Bty had followed the fighting as far as the port of Livorno, which it defended through the final winter of the war. There is an unconfirmed report that 422 S/L Bty provided ‘artificial moonlight’ for night operations by I Canadian Corps.[citation needed] 422 Independent Searchlight Battery was disbanded on 24 August 1945, and 535 Battery on 15 April 1946.
I have the Casualty Card for Fred and it tells us that sadly, he died because of a Motor Accident, and he was born and a resident of Connah’s Quay.
The Casualty List tells us that he had died in an accident on the 30th of October 1943.
He was obviously loved as can be seen by the inscription on his gravestone and his family put his name forward to be added on the War Memorial.
Any help would be gratefully received.
MEMORIES OF A SMILING FACE A LINK WE CAN NEVER REPLACE ALWAYS LOVING AND KIND THE DEAREST GOD COULD FIND
