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Rees Jones |
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No / Rank: 21124 Private |
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Died on Saturday 6th May 1916, Aged 22, Son of Mrs Sarah Jane Stacey, of 249 Cemetery Rd, Trealaw, Dinas (Rhondda), Glam. The late Rees (Snr) and Sarah Jane Jones had lived in New Row, Machen. Rees Jones was posted to France on 2nd December 1915. From 4 May 1916 the 14th battalion R.W.F was in the front line in the area around Laventie, the battalion diary gives an insight into the nature of trench warfare. May 5th records a quiet start to the day until about 9.50 pm when ‘enemy machine active throughout the night and our machine guns kept brisk fire all along the lines’. This was followed by artillery fire directed at the various gun emplacements, retaliatory fire from the British artillery was requested. The battalion diary records that the ‘Left company was subjected to about 300 artillery shells and over 100 rifle grenades. It was not until after about 30 minutes that 199 battery fired 28 rounds and C122 Howitzer 24 rounds, on being asked to continue the retaliation 122 reported they could fire no more rounds without the permission of the officer in charge, who ordered them not to fire if the enemy stopped shelling our battalion, our retaliation was insufficient. Our casualties were 3 killed, 7 wounded and 2 men suffering shell shock. One of our own shells struck our parapet and one of the enemy’s shells fell within his parapet. Parties were sent out to examine the wire…… Lt Apsimon went out to inspect an old communication trench running parallel to our line but it contained two feet of water and could not be utilised. May 6th …….our Howitzers fired 8 rounds at the right of the enemy opposite. Four were duds and two got home on its mark…………our artillery shelled a communication trench and obtained several good hits……….there was further shelling with better results and a small breach was made in the enemy’s parapet. Our snipers claimed one victim……the enemy put twenty to twenty five grenades over and slightly wounded one man. Germans were seen looking over the parapet……. making their way to the communication trench to the German line , they seemed too lightly equipped to be relief but may have been returning to the trenches for the night ……… A fighting patrol went out with a view to capturing any Germans who might be occupying the suspected listening post. …………No trace of Germans in No Mans Land. The 14 Battalion R.W.F lost four men Killed in Action during this brief period in the line, one of those killed was Private Rees Jones who is buried in the Royal Irish Rifles Graveyard, Laventie, Armentieres, France. ‘A loving son, a brother kind, a beautiful memory left behind’ |
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