681525 DVR. J. JONES.  R.F.A.

 

I have not been able to find conclusive details about this man in the Censuses.  What I know from his military records is the following:  James Jones was born in West Derby and enlisted in Liverpool.  His father’s name was William and his mother’s name was Mary.  Mary lived at 29 Grampian Road, Liverpool.  It appears from his service number (681525) that James enlisted in 1915 and was probably initially posted to “D” Battery of 286th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, but at some stage he was transferred to “D” Battery of 223rd Brigade.  223Bde came under orders of 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.  63rd (Royal Naval) Division was an infantry division.  It was originally formed as the Royal Naval Division at the outbreak of the war from Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists and volunteers who were not needed for service at sea.  The division fought at Antwerp in 1914 and at Gallipoli in 1915.  In 1916, following many losses among the original naval volunteers, the division was transferred to the British Army.  As an Army formation, it fought on the Western Front for the remainder of the war.

 

In 1918, 63rd Division was engaged in the following actions: the Battle of St Quentin (21-23 March 1918) and the Battle of Bapaume (24-25 March 1918) [during Operation Michael]; the Battle of Albert (21-23 August 1918); the Battle of Drocourt-Quéant (2-3 September 1918); the Battle of the Canal du Nord (27 September – 1 October 1918) and the Battle of Cambrai (8-9 October 1918).  The Germans gave up Cambrai without much of a fight but as they withdrew they mounted much stiffer resistance.  James was killed on 26 October 1918, as the Division continued its advance towards the Belgian border.

 

Rank: Driver

Service No:  681525

Date of Death: 26/10/1918

Age:  not known

Regiment/Service:  Royal Field Artillery, “D” Bty, 223rd Bde.

Cemetery/memorial reference:  B. 33.

Cemetery/Memorial:  FOREST COMMUNAL CEMETERY

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