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Jean Felix Bonnet
220726, Gunner, 103rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force)
Accidentally killed, 11 November 1918, aged 31
Buried at Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade, Italy
CWGC registered (L Bonnet Esq, “Diagwylfa”, Mostyn Avenue, Llandudno)*
PEACE PERFECT PEACE
Jean Felix Bonnet was the son of Swiss parents: Jean Felix Bonnet and Marie Bonnas. He was born on 21 August 1887 at Gland, in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. By 1911, he was a chocolatier working at the Swiss Cafe in Llandudno. The census for that year records him living at the home of his employer, Henry Charlier, at “La Mer View”, Lloyd Street, Llandudno. The marriage register for West Bromwich for the first quarter of 1912 records the marriage of Jean to Lily Rose Mason. Their children John Louis Felix and Lillian D were born in 1913 and 1915 respectively. Jean became a British subject on 10 February 1915.
Jean Bonnet became a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery with a regimental number of 220726. Jean’s military records no longer exist but soldiers with very close numbers either volunteered in late 1915 or were conscripted the following year and entered C Battery, No 2 Reserve Brigade, Artillery, Territorial Force at Bettisfield Camp, Shropshire in February 1917. Though many of the recruits were transferred to the Tank Corps, some were retained in the Royal Field Artillery and were posted to units overseas. Whilst Jean’s training with the Royal Field Artillery remain speculative, it is known that he served in Italy with the 103rd Brigade RFA, the brigade having transferred from France in November 1917, taking over the front line at Montello on 4 December 1917. The brigade fought on the Asiago plateau and at the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.
The Italian Armistice took place at 3 pm on 4 November 1918 and it was seven days later when Jean Felix Bonnet was accidentally killed aged 31 after falling off a lorry. He was buried at Giavera British Cemetery, Arcade, Italy.
Lily Bonnet died in Kent in 1975. John Louis Felix Bonnet served as an officer in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War.
Known memorials:
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
*This name (and address) is recorded in the Headstone Register. It should read (Husband of) Mrs LR Bonnet… .
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