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William Jones
3030579, Private, 116th Battalion Canadian Infantry
Killed in action, 27 August 1918, aged 32
Buried at Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt, France
CWGC registered (no family details)
William Jones was the son of Christmas Jones and his wife Elizabeth Jones (née Williams). He was born on 1 December 1885 at Llandudno. The Census of Wales for 1891 records the family living at Pen-y-frydd Cottages and that Christmas Jones was a plasterer; William had an elder brother Thomas and a younger sister Jane. From that year, William attended St. George’s National school. Ten years later, the same family group was living at 1 Tan-y-Graig, Great Orme’s Head – William worked as a grocer’s packer.
Christmas Jones travelled at least a couple of times to visit family or friends in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA and on 18 June 1910, William Jones disembarked from the ill-fated Lusitania at New York also bound for Jersey City. On 5 June 1917, William completed a Draft Registration Card. He gave his address as 2907, Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois and that he was an unemployed plasterer. He also stated that he had declared an intention to become a naturalised citizen of the USA. However, still a British citizen, he went to Toronto in Canada to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force, attesting on 19 September 1917 and joining the 1st Depot Battalion of the 1st Central Ontario Regiment. After his training but at a date unknown, William Jones arrived in France and joined the 116th Infantry Battalion (2nd Central Ontario Regiment). His regimental number was 3030579.
William Jones was killed in action on 27 August 1918 aged 32. This was the second day of what became known as the Battle of the Scarpe (1918) when the 116th Battalion’s objective was Boiry-Notre Dame to the east of Arras. Whilst advancing with his platoon, he was hit in the head by a machine gun bullet and killed instantly. He was initially buried south-east of Monchy-le-Preux but in 1919, he was reinterred at Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery.
Known memorials:
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
- Tabernacl Welsh Baptist Chapel, Llandudno
- Canadian Book of Remembrance
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