Arthur Vernon Jones. Thanks to Darryl Porrino for this photograph
Arthur Vernon Jones was born in Menai Bridge, Anglesey, North Wales on 18 August 1894.
The 1901 Census shows that the family lived at The Moorings, Russell Road, Rhyl, Flintshire. The head of the family was Robert Jones aged 44, a Commercial Traveller in Drapery. His wife Ann Ellen Jones (nee Jones) aged 30 and their three children – Arthur Vernon Jones aged 6, Gwladys Olive Jones aged 2 and Dilys Muriel Jones aged 7 months. Also living with the family and employed by Mr & Mrs Jones were, Mary Jones aged 24, a General Servant and Hilda Evans aged 17, a Domestic Nurse.
Arthur was educated at Epworth College, Rhyl, Flintshire and on leaving obtained employment as an Articled Clerk with Port, Amphlett & Co (Solicitors), Colwyn Bay, North Wales.
On Monday 7 September 1914, he enlisted as a Private with 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. One month later he was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant, he was promoted Lieutenant in August, 1915 and Captain in April, 1917.
He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders and was appointed Adjutant of the Battalion in July 1916 until April 1917 when he was attached to the 113th Brigade Headquarters, later becoming a General Staff Officer with 38th (Welsh) Division.
Arthur was Mentioned in Dispatches ( London Gazette 20 December 1918) by Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
He died at No. 20 General Hospital, Camiers, France on 16 February 1919 from Bronchial-Pneumonia contracted whilst on active service.
Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
His Commanding Officer in a letter to Mr & Mrs Robert Jones said – ‘Your son was with me all through our long advances and I need hardly tell you what a tremendous help a good General Staff Officer can be at a time like that. He was always so cheery and ready for any work, no matter how hard and his personal bravery was well known. He was appreciated by all, not only for his work, but for his lovable character. I have lost a very good and respected friend in him’.
One of his brother officers said in a letter to Mr & Mrs Robert Jones – ‘ During my friendship with your son, which started from the first day we met, I have been able to appreciate his great gifts of heart and intelligence. He was a fine soldier, always keen and daring and we were so glad to see his well deserved promotion to General Staff Officer, where he did great work for the Welsh Division, which he loved so well. I will always remember him, cheery, kind, with a smile for everyone, all loved him, men and officers, superiors and inferiors. He was always ready for a laugh, a story or kind word, even in the worst circumstances. I feel that I have lost a good and trusted friend, one of the very best and I can appreciate at least to some extent your great grief’.
The National Probate Calendar for 1919, which was administered on 24 October 1919 at St. Asaph, Denbighshire, North Wales, states that Arthur Vernon Jones on his death had bequeathed the sum of £820. 0s. 9d to his father Robert Jones.
On 8 December 1919, a payment of £445. 14s. 4d. was made by the War Office to Mr Robert Jones, being monies owed to his son Arthur.
Captain Arthur Vernon Jones is remembered on a Roll of Honour Plaque which was on display at the County School, Grange Road, Rhyl.
He is also remembered on a Remembrance Plaque at The Royal Alexandra Hospital, Marine Drive, Rhyl, Flintshire and on The North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, North Wales.
There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for Arthur Vernon Jones at the County Archives Office, Hawarden, Flintshire, which was completed on 8 September 1919 by a Mrs J Hughes.