Pte Willie Jones- 4199290 RWF /King Shropshire Light Infantry
WW2 Pte Willie Jones- 4199290 RWF /King Shropshire Light Infantry - born Northop Hall 1917 died Battle of Caen France July 1944
Re: Northop Hall War Memorial Research
William Jones 4199290 enlisted 15/03/1940. According to the enlistment register he was transferred 18/07/1944 to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
For the protracted fighting around Caen see
Chester Wilmot, Struggle for Europe
Antony Beevor, D-Day - The Battle for Normandy
John
Re: Pte Willie Jones- 4199290 RWF /King Shropshire Light Infantry
Killed two days after his transfer. Do you know you can apply for his service record from the MOD, it will cost £35. I do wonder if he was fighting with an RWF unit prior to the transfer date. Especially as the day before, 17th July the RWF TA units had taken a mauling at Evrecy.
Re: Pte Willie Jones- 4199290 RWF /King Shropshire Light Infantry
He was with the 2nd Battalion KSLI who had landed on Queen beach near Hermanville-sur-Mer on “D-Day”, 6th June 1944 as part of 185 Brigade of the 79th Armoured Division. After a period of hard fighting, the battalion took part in the capture of Caen, by then completely ruined, and of Manneville.
It's often a fact that new soldiers joining a battle-hardened unit are most vulnerable to death or injury in those first days and weeks of them joining, as they assimilate into the unit. Mainly because they lack battle experience or the benefit of having a "mucker" looking out for them. You see it in the death lists time and time again.
Re: Pte Willie Jones- 4199290 RWF /King Shropshire Light Infantry
For further research I suggest contacting or visiting the Shropshire Regimental Museum. This is housed in Shrewsbury Castle, which is situated a very short walk from Shrewsbury Railway Station.
They have a research desk, although if you wish to use their facilities or expertise they do ask for a donation and you will need to make an appointment. The post code is SY1 2AT and telephone number 01743 358516. You can also mail any enquiries to : curator@shropshireregimentalmuseum.co.uk
The museum is at present closed to the general public whilst maintenance work is being carried out. Reopens Monday 19th February, 2018
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Re: Pte Willie Jones- 4199290 RWF /King Shropshire Light Infantry
