Jones, Hugh

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Hugh Jones

37234, Private, 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 23 July 1917, aged 26
No known grave (Arras Memorial France)

CWGC registered (no family details)

Hugh Jones was the son of a farm carter, Owen Jones and his wife Ellen. Hugh was born at Llechylched near Bryngwran on Anglesey in 1893. The Census Wales of 1901 records the family living at “Gorsgoch”, Llechylched. Hugh (7) was described as at school and he had a younger sister Lizzie.  Ten years later, he was labouring on the farm. On 22 November 1915, Hugh married Jane Hughes at Christ Church, Llandudno.

A week later on 29 November 1915, Hugh Jones joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llandudno. He gave his Anglesey address though his wife’s address was given as 15 Alexandra Road, Llandudno. He reported to the 20th (Reserve) Battalion at Conway the following day. His infantry training was carried out at Kimnel Bay and he embarked for France on 19 April 1916 at Folkestone, reporting to 38 Infantry Base Depot at Étaples the following day. He joined the 10th (Service) Battalion on 13 May 1916.

On 26 June 1916, Hugh Jones’ son Glyn Kitchener Jones was born in Llandudno.

Hugh was initially reported missing during an attack on Delville Wood on 20 July 1916 and admitted to hospital three days later at Rouen with shell shock. Once declared fit, he joined the 14th (Service) Battalion at Poperinge on 7 August 1916 – one of many reinforcements to replace men lost at Mametz Wood. On 31 October 1916, Hugh received either a gunshot wound or a shell wound to the right arm and shoulder (the war diary relates some casualties due to an incoming shell) near Ypres. He was evacuated by 129 Field Ambulance, 46 Casualty clearing Station (Mendinghem), 32 Base Hospital (Wimeraux) and HMHS St. David to Queen Mary’s Military Hospital at Whalley, near Clitheroe, Lancashire where he was admitted on 12 November 1916 – the same day as he was officially posted to the RWF depot.

Hugh was discharged from hospital on 29 December 1916 and posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion on 9 January 1917. Though the 3rd RWF was based at Litherland, near Liverpool, it would appear he was attached to one of the other Reserve Battalions at Kinmel Bay – possibly on compassionate grounds. Once judged fit for action, Hugh was posted to the 2nd Battalion, arriving in France on 16 June 1917. However, his orders were changed and after spending some days at 5 Infantry Base Depot, he was posted to the 1st Battalion which he joined on 6 July in a draft of 100 reinforcements.

Hugh Jones was killed in action on 23 July 1917 whilst the battalion was holding the line just to the south-east of Arras. He was one of four killed that day and aged 26. He has no known grave but is remembered on the Arras Memorial.

Hugh’s widow Jane later married William Owen (b Llandudno 1891), brother of Enoch Owen (qv).

Known memorials:

  • Arras Memorial
  • Llandudno Roll of Honour
  • Llandudno War Memorial
  • Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
  • Llanrhos Parish War Memorial, All Saints’ Church, Deganwy
  • Bryngwran War Memorial

5 comments to Jones, Hugh

  • Phil Mickleburgh

    I thought you might like to know of Jane’s links to men who served:

    Lost her first husband, Hugh Jones who was registered at 15 Alexander Road.

    Three of her brothers also served and were registered at the same address:

    John Howard Hughes
    William Herbert Hughes
    Robert Edward Hughes.

    They are all on the Llandudno Roll of Honour.

    Her second husband, William Owen, served and survived Gallipoli.

    Her brothers in law by William also served:

    John Edward Owen
    Edward Owen
    Enoch Owen died in France.

    They are all linked to 147 Mostyn Street.

    They are also on the Llandudno Roll of Honour.

    Her sister, Margaret Ann Hughes, was married to Joseph Herbert Hodson. I have a photo of him in uniform and I have yet to research him.

    Another sister, Gwladys Hughes, was married to Alexander Green. I also have a photo of him in uniform and I have yet to research him.

  • Phil Mickleburgh

    Your details of William and Jane are correct.

    We do not have a marriage date for William and Jane. There is one registered to a couple with the same names in Lancashire about the right time – I’ll order a M cert to check it out.

    We know that W & J were living in Vardre Lane – according to Velma Owen’s 1921 birth certificate and were still there in 1924 according to Gwen Owen’s birth certificate.

    They moved to Mowbray Road in 1926, the house was a new build. Jane died there suddenly in 1934 of a pregnancy related condition. William died there in 1943. There daughter, my wife’s mother, lived ther until she died in 2015 aged 96. The house finally passed out of the family in March this year, 2016.

  • Phil Mickleburgh

    I have a photo of Hugh and another of his son and Hugh’s death plaque.

    Please contact me by email amd I’ll send them to you.

  • Phil Mickleburgh

    Hugh Jones is my wife’s grandmother, Jane nee Hughes. Hugh’s name is on the Bryngwran, Anglesey, memorial. As you write above. She later married William owen, a Llandudno man. William also joined the RWF. He survived Gallipoli and later returned home. There is also a William Owen on the cenotaph with Enoch and many people have conciluded they were brothers. This is not the case.

    • admin

      Thank you for your comment Phil. I apologise for taking so long to approve it.

      As I understand it:

      Hugh Jones was the first husband of your wife’s grandmother, Jane Jones (née Hughes).

      Her second husband was William Owen b Llandudno 1 July 1890 to William and Sarah Owen. (2371, 265798 RWF)

      William Owen’s elder brother was Enoch Owen b Llandudno 3 July 1885.

      Please confirm the above. I cannot determine when Jane married William Owen.

      ——————

      I believe the William Owen on the Llandudno memorials is 60667 William Owen b Llanrhos 1883 to John and Ann Owen.

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