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Hugh Owen Brockley Jones
20092, Private, 14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 1 or 2 September 1917, aged 35
No known grave (Tyne Cot Memorial)
CWGC registered (no family details)
Hugh Owen Brockley Jones was born in Llandudno on 4 May 1882. He was the son of Francis Jones, a plasterer, and his wife Ellen Jones (née Thomas) who (in 1881) lived at 4 Tan’rallt, Well Street, Llanbeblig. The Census for Wales for 1891 records the family living at “Tanynant”, (Cwlach Street or thereabouts), Llandudno. Francis Jones died in 1892, his home address noted as Cocoa Stores, Madoc Street. Hugh attended St. Beuno’s National School and St. George’s National School. The Census for 1901 records Ellen and six of her children living at “Grove Cottage”, Back Tudno Street, Hugh (18) being described as a labourer with the urban district council. In 1902, Hugh married Sarah Jane Davies (b Llandudno 1878). The Census for 1911 records the family including Nelly (b 10 Nov 1904) and John (b 20 March 1907) living in the home of Sarah’s widowed mother Catherine at 18 Madoc Street; Hugh (28) was described as a carriage cleaner for the London and Northwestern Railway.
After the outbreak of war, Hugh Jones volunteered to join the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llandudno. Though his service record no longer exists, his service number of 20092 indicates that he enlisted in mid-November 1914. It is known that Hugh served with the 14th (Service) Battalion and his enlistment date corresponds with the battalion’s formation at Llandudno on 2 November 1914.
On 5 May 1915, another son, Hugh Owen Jones was born at Llandudno.
The 14th RWF moved to Winchester in July 1915 and disembarked at Le Havre on 2 December 1915. From the Medal and Award Rolls, it appears that Hugh was posted for a time to the RWF Infantry Base Depot. Since he served in no other battalion except the 14th, then it is possible that he had been wounded.
Surviving records indicate that Hugh Owen Jones was killed in action on 2 September 1917 aged 35. However, the battalion’s War Diary indicates that there were no casualties that day though it does record a major incident the previous day when a bomb in a building exploded near Langemark near Ypres. Commonwealth War Grave Commission records indicate that five members of the battalion have a date of death of 1 September and 18 have a date of death of 2 September. Many of the bodies were never identified and it would appear that the later date was assumed for official purposes. Hugh is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
With Jones being such a common name, it is difficult to determine the fate of his family. In 1939, Hugh Owen Jones (junior) lived with his wife Laura (née Williams) in Llandudno. A widow, Sarah J Jones, also lived in the town but identifying details are obscured.
Known memorials:
- Tyne Cot Memorial
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
Note:
Because Hugh Jones is not listed on the London & Northwestern Railway’s Roll of Honour, then he may well have taken up other employment before joining up.
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