RWF Soldiers buried in France

Hi All
This letter was published in the Daily Post on Tuesday, can anyone help?

Memories of Fusilier buried in France
We are year six pupils from ysgol y Cribarth in the upper Swansea valley.
We are writing to you because we are working with our French partner school to research three soldiers from Welsh Regiments who are buried in their town of Rethel.
When we go to France in June, there is going to be a big exhibition about our research and we will visit the graves. We are hoping that you could help us with our research by publishing our letter as one of the Soldiers called Hugh Jones lived at Ty Mawr Farm, Llanbeulan, in Anglesey. We are asking if there are any descendants of Hugh Jones’s family who could help us, or even better, might have a picture of Hugh Jones. He was in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers his Regiment no was 203964, and his parents, who lived at Tanyrallt, Llanbeulan, were called Hugh and Catherine Jones. Thanks for your help.
Charm,Katelyn and Lili, on behalf of year 6, Ysgol y Cribarth, School Road, Abercraf, Swansea, SA9 1XD

Email to School
I'm The Royal British Legion Secretary of the Caernarfon Branch, also a member of the Royal Welch Fusiliers Comrades Association, In yesterdays Daily Post, (North Wales) a letter on behalf of year Six was published hoping to find some information on Hugh Jones, Royal Welsh Fusiliers who is buried in France, We have a RWF Forum with a few well informed experts who could help, even find a picture, if you will allow me to publish the letter on the Forum and give me an Email address for reply I'm sure that something positive might come up, it would also be nice and interesting to the Forum members to hear how the visit went, you could even join the Forum or just visit as guests. Hope they have a nice time in France.

Recieved this EMail today
Thank you very much for getting in touch! We would love to accept your offer of help via the RWF forum. Our initial little research project has snowballed into quite a big event in our partner town of Rethel, which is on the river Aisne, near Reims. It has generated so much interest there, that we are under a bit of pressure our end to produce lots of information. There will be a public exhibition of our research, and a reception with the Mayor and other dignitaries. Then the regional "Prefect" (government minister) is coming to talk to us while we are at the French School. It is being promoted as a great example of children cooperating internationally.
We are also researching another member of the RWF, as well as a soldier with the South Wales Borderers. There are 110 British soldiers buried in the French National Cemetery, so we decided to focus on the three who served with Welsh regiments. Our other RWF soldier is Lance Corporal William Wasley of Wigan, 9th (Service) Battalion, regimental number 24062. He died of wounds 12.6.2015. Slowly, we are piecing together little bits about their lives. Tonight, I found the war diaries for the 9th battalion on the National Archives site, so I will have to compare them to a map of France.
We originally made the assumption that these two soldiers had died as a result of the 3rd Battle of the Aisne, but a local historian in Rethel has informed us that the soldiers buried in Rethel had been moved from temporary graves in a variety of places, so the war diaries might give us a clue as to where they died.
One thing we would like help with is an explanation of the role of a service battalion.
We would also appreciate some suggestions of what would be appropriate to put on the graves when we visit.
We are very anxious to find visual images such as copies of relevant photographs for the exhibition.
Maybe forum members could suggest other interesting avenues we could investigate.
We have to have our exhibition ready by the end of May, so we are feeling a bit pressured at the moment!
These young men started as a surname, initial and date of death on the CWGC site; now they are becoming real people to us, and we want to produce something worthy of them.
We would be very pleased to share our visit experiences with the forum.
Thank you again for getting in touch. My email is j.mulready@cribarth.powys.sch.uk, and I would be happy for this to be included in the forum.

Hope someone can help, also keep us forum members in the picture, a copy of info can be posted to the School on the above EMail address
Thanks, Brian

http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/att...tid=3775&stc=1On our recent study trip to France and Belgium www.flintshirewarmemorials had these poppies made to place on the graves of Flintshire's fallen, in the hope that if and when family visit they will be prompted to get in touch. Perhaps something like this would be appropriate? Lovely to hear about the schools research and I look forward to hearing about their experiences. Well done and good luck.

Hugh Jones, Llanbeulan - he was employed as a farm hand at Ty Mawr farm and initially joined a reserve branch of 4th Battalion RWF. He landed in France on 23 March 1918 and probably while still at the Infantry Base Depot near the coast, was switched on 30 March to "B" Company, 9th Battalion which had suffered losses in the Germans' Somme offensive. He may have seen action in the second enemy offensive at the Battle of the Lys in April, which caused many more casualties before the unit was sent down to the Aisne to recuperate in what was at that time a "quiet" sector.

Unfortunately this put them right in the path of the third offensive, and on 28 May he was taken prisoner. He died on 4 June (cause not stated) at a Field Hospital at Asfeld-la-Ville in the Ardennes. He was 20 years old, born Llanbeulan and with next of kin resident at Penrallt Isaf, Llanbeulan. This parish lies immediately west of Gwalchmai village in central Anglesey, and Penrallt is close to the boundary with Gwalchmai. Llanbeulan only suffered two fatal casualties during the war, so they are commemorated on the war memorial (in the form of a clock tower) in nearby Gwalchmai. They are also on the Llanbeulan parish panel of the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch in Bangor, Gwynedd.

The graves of 5 soldiers from Asfeld German Military Cemetery seem to have been concentrated into Rethel in about July 1923.

Hello, I am the person responsible for the school project about the French National Cemetery in Rethel. I would like to thank Bricoates for his support in suggesting this forum, and the other people who have already been in touch with help. It is very much appreciated. The French Headteacher is coming to our school to work on the project next Wednesday, in her holidays, so it is great that we have got new information to share. Any extra information would be gratefully received.

Thank you very much for this information. It is great to discover where he is commemorated, and also where he actually died - our French partners had asked us to find that out. We are also researching Lce-Cpl (his Burial Return says Pte) William Wasley, also of the 9th battalion who died of wounds on 12th June, 1918 and was originally buried in Blanzy German Military Cemetery. I have a digital copy of his enlistment record, but it is quite difficult to read. If you had access to similar information for him, it would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Welcome to the Forum Janet and the class of year Six, Im sure that during the long week-end when members are home off work and after mowing the garden etc. they will look in to they'r magic ball and find some more information to help with your project, You did mention a third welsh soldier from the SWB, if you can give some details about him, maybe some of the members can help there.

"One thing we would like help with is an explanation of the role of a service battalion" any offers?

Brian

Thanks, Brian. The 3rd soldier in our project is Pte Samuel Oswin Morton of the 6th battalion, South Wales Borderers. Reg no. 40906. His Medal Roll has him also in "Trg Res" (Would this be Training Reserve?), reg. no. 53199. He was from Newcastle, born c. 1882. He died 14.9.18. One internet source says he died in Germany, but they don't give the source of that information. I think he was originally buried either in Mezieres or in "Rethel C.C. German Extension" (guessing this was the German cemetery in Rethel, but may be wrong). I have the war diaries for his battalion, but haven't found any clues to help, yet. He is proving the most difficult to research so far, so help would as always be gratefully received!
Janet

Service battalions were formed from the men who volunteered for service after the appeals of Lord Kitchener. They would function as normal infantry battalions and would be administered as Regular Armjy (as opposed to the Special Reserve and Territorial Force) but to honour their voluntary enlistment the S (for Service) was added to the battalion title, thus 9th (S) Bn RWF.

No time for the other questions now, I'm afraid. Visitors for the weekend.

John

International Committee of the Red Cross website has various entries relating to William Wasley 9th RWF but my reading of the German abbreviations etc. is ropey. Seems to state he came under the umbrella of the POW camp at Limburg though he may never have reached that place. He is described as of "2 Company" RWF and 22 years of age, his next of kin being Miss Nelly Riley of 30 Liston Street Lancashire! Date and place of capture not stated. Admitted to field hospital at Blanzy suffering from ?grenade or more likely shell splinter injuries to his back, arm, ?thigh and and head, received "at the Front". Died there 12 June 1918 (one source queries, giving 22 June) and buried at the Soldiers (ie Military) Cemetery, Blanzy, Aisne in grave 180.

The CWGC records that he was one of four British graves at Blanzy German Military Cemetery, which were concentrated into Rethel in July 1923. he is referred to as Lance-Corporal by the CWGC and as Private by the ICRC/German records. The Soldiers Effects Register clarifies this in that he was a private and unpaid L/Cpl. His balance of pay and war gratuity amounting in all to over £20 was to be divided in April 1919 between his mother Mary, brothers Henry, Albert Edward, and John; with the mother having over £8 and the others over £3 each. However, a further note stated that a Will had been found in favour of Miss Nellie Riley, and so the total was sent to her. This was probably a "Soldier's Will" from the back of his Paybook, and the originals can be accessed through the National Archives website for a small fee. He was born St.Catherines, Wigan and enlisted in Wigan. There is a Liston Street in Walton, Liverpool, but this may not be the only one in former Lancashire. He landed in France 12 October 1915 as a soldier of 9th RWF, but was subsequently transferred to 2nd RWF, and then back to 9th RWF. His service papers may say why.


As regards 40906 Pte. Samuel Oswin Morton 6th SWB, he was listed as a POW under the umbrella of Friedrichsfeld POW camp. It simply says that he died of heart failure in the hospital at Rethel on 14 September 1918. He was born 13 August 1882 at Newcastle. The Effects Register allocates all his balance of pay and war gratuity to his widow Louisa. The medal rolls state he was a soldier with the Training Reserve when he landed in France, and was allocated to the 6th SWB probably before he left the Infantry Base Depot near the coast. The CWGC records state he was one of five British soldiers buried in Rethel Communal Cemetery German Extension (his was grave 3099), who were reburied in the Rethel National Cemetery in July 1923.

Clive

Hugh Jones, Llanbeulan again. I've retrieved my notes on what's left of his service papers which give the following information:

Born Llanbeulan. Called up under the Military Service Acts 1916, enlisting at Menai Bridge, Anglesey on 19 Feby. 1917 aged 18 years 10 (maybe 11) months. He stated a preference to join the RWF. Height 5 feet and a quarter inch. Chest measurement 32.5 inches maximum expansion.

Address at the time was Ty Mawr, Llanbeulan, Ty Croes RSO, Anglesey. Occupation farm hand. Single man with no previous military experience. Next of kin was his father Hugh Jones, Penrallt Isaf, Llanbeulan.

Posted to the 4th Battn. RWF 21 March 1917, joining them the following day. This was likely the 4th Reserve Battalion, which shared the site at Park Hall, Oswestry with other third-line Welsh Territorial units. His number 203964 is in the early 1917 sequence allocated to the 4th RWF. He served in the UK for 1 year 31 days.

Posted to France, arriving there on 22 March 1918 and going straight to Infantry Base Depot "C". The German offensive had started on 21 March while he was in transit. He was allocated 23 March to 1/4th Battn. RWF, a Pioneer battalion with 47th London Division. However, the need to reinforce units hit by the offensive took greater priority and on 30 March he was switched to 9th RWF. When he reached them wasn't stated, but the next information is that he was reported missing in action sometime during the period 28 May-4 June 1918. Later reported POW and to have died (cause not stated) at a Field Hospital at Asfeld-la-Ville (southeast of Rethel) on the latter date. I know there was a Kriegslazarett abt. 34 at Asfeld so he might have died there. His overseas service up to date of death was just 45 days. Total, 1 year 106 days.

Soldiers Effects register states his outstanding pay balance and war gratuity totalling over £12 was sent to his father Hugh in May-July 1919.

Census 1911 for Penrallt, Gwalchmai shows Hugh (cowman) and Catherine Jones both aged 50, and married for 25 years. She had 9 children but only 3 were then alive. The three included a son Owen aged 23, farm labourer; and Hugh aged 13 still at school. Owen was the only one who could speak English, the others were monoglot Welsh. They had been at Penrallt in the 1901 Census also when a daughter Catherine aged 17 was noted. If so, the parents lost their youngest surviving child when Hugh died in Asfeld.

Clive

Thank you very much. Your help has been invaluable, though it has made very poignant reading. I hadn't thought of the Red Cross as a source. Hugh's father also seems to have died before the 1923 Burial Return (only Catherine is mentioned on it); Catherine had a lot of grief to bear.
Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. Of course, we will acknowledge it fully in the exhibition in Rethel and in our "e-book".
Janet

Hi, everyone. My French friend went to the cemetery today to photograph William Wasley's grave (his local newspaper in Wigan want it as they will dohttp://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/att...tid=3833&stc=1http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/att...tid=3834&stc=1 an article on him). I thought you might like to see one or two of the photos.
Janet