Captain Arthur Lloyd Jones (MC)

• Age: 35
• From:
• Regiment: 14 ROYAL WELSH FUS
• Died on Tuesday 3rd September 1918
• Commemorated at: Contalmaison Chateau
  Panel Ref: I.C.29

Captain Arthur Lloyd Jones. M.C. joined the army a month after hostilities begun and survived the perils of warfare in France and Belgium until the awful struggle was within two months of its close. He had a specially large share of the fighting, for his courage singled him out for notice even among the myriad brave men by whom he was surrounded.

He was wounded early in his first campaign, but, generally speaking, his luck held through raids and actions innumerable so far that his friends-- and every man in his battalion looked on him as a friend--became almost convinced that he would go through safely to the end, Alas, this was not to be, for the officer's splendid life was ended in a glorious self-sacrificing death at the time when the Germans were fighting desperately to stay the flood that in six or seven weeks overwhelmed them altogether.

This gallant soldier was the younger son of Alderman. R.E . Jones, J.P., and Mrs. Jones, of Plas Llanfaelog, Anglesey and 81 Edge Lane, Liverpool and was born 35 years before he fell in the war. His educational career was passed mainly at the Liverpool Institute and after leaving there he entered on his business pursuit with the London City and Midland Bank, being on the staff when was declared in that fateful August of 1914. 

He was one of those who rose to their opportunity in such fine fashion when Lord Derby's scheme for raising battalions of friends was promulgated, and on September 3rd 1914 he became a Private in the 19th King's (Liverpool Regiment), being thus one of the Pals. In seven months, however, he gained his commission, and was gazetted at the end of February 1915 to the 14th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, a battallion which fifteen months later was to take its part in the splendid achievements of the Welsh Division on the Somme. In the meantime, however, much was to be done in training, and thus nearly all of the remainder of the year 1915 was spent at Llandudno and Winchester. 

It was at the beginning of December of that year that the battalion went to France, the subject of our memoir being then a full Lieutenant. He had gained his promotion in one month and it was one year after he had been made Lieutenant that he became Captain. Two more months pass and we find him gaining distinction, for he is awarded the Military Cross for courage and skill while leading his men in a raid. Those who cast their minds back those months of the early summer of 1916 will remember that the Britiish troops were preparing to offset the unavailing offensive against the indomitable French at Verdun by a great thrust of their own on the Somme. A succession of raids was initiated in order to keep the Germans busy and to gain information. It was in one of those raids on the night of June 4th 1916 that Captain Jones gained his wound and his distinction. 

In announcing the award the Gazette stated -

"For conspicuous gallantry during a successful raid on the enemy trenches, He led the attacking party, and though badly wounded continued to lead, and accounted for several of the enemy with his revolver. Finally, he assisted to cover the withdrawal, and was the last to return to our trenches".   

In writing to his parents Lieutenant-Colonel David Davis MP said- "He aquitted himself most gallantly during the raid, was the first to go in and the last to come out of the German trenches, covering the retirement of his men, and helping to bring the wounded into our own lines. You may assuredly well feel proud of your son's exploits, he was so cool and collected, so steady and brave in the midst of dangers, encouraging his men and inspiring them by his splendid example". 

The importance of these raids was hardly realised at the time, and it is almost impossible to picture in words the daring and clever planning required for a successful issue and success mainly depended on leadership displayed by the officer in command. On this ocassion the party was surrounded by the enemy, the struggle was immensely intense, and we can picture the office, first enter the trench, last to leave, covering his men's retreat, his last cartridges gone, flinging his empty revolver in the faces of the advancing enemy, his arm doubly pierced, cool and collected, directing the remnants of the small band, dragging their wounded comrades from hole to hole inside a veritable shower of shell and bullets eventually reaching our lines.

Then followed a period in hospital, convalescence and a return to duty, many months of strenuous work. Then a few months of comparative rest on home service in East Anglia and Ireland to prepare for the great struggle yet to come. It came early in 1918.

Arthur now rests at Contalmaion Chateau Cemetery:

The village was reached on the 1st July, 1916, by small parties of the 34th Division. It was stormed by the 23rd Division on the 7th July, and some men of the Northumberland Fusiliers taken four days earlier were released; but it was lost the same afternoon. It was not finally captured until the 8th and 9th Yorkshire Regiment cleared it on the 10th. However, it was lost again in March, 1918, and recaptured by the 38th (Welsh) Division on the evening of the following 24th August. The underground fortifications made by the enemy before 1916 played an important part in the defence of the village. The cemetery was begun by fighting units on the evening of the 14th July, 1916, and used from September, 1916 to March, 1917 by Field Ambulances. A few burials were made in Plot I, Rows B and C, in August and September, 1918. Graves were added after the Armistice by concentrations from the battlefields of the Somme and the Ancre. 18 German graves and one French were removed to other burial grounds. There are now nearly 300, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over 40 are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to one soldier from Australia known to be buried among them. The cemetery covers an area of 1,349 square metres and is enclosed by a flint and rubble wall.

The details below are from the book Liverpool's Scroll of Honour.

Arthur Lloyd Jones was born in the third quarter of 1883 the son of Robert Edward Jones and his wife Katherine. His birth was registered in Bangor, Wales.

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 03rd September 1914 and served as Private 17626 in the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment before being commissioned into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in February 1915. 

He was severely wounded whilst leading an attack and died of his wounds on 03rd September 1918, exactly four years to the day of his enlistment. 

He now rests at Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery.

The village was reached on the 1st July, 1916, by small parties of the 34th Division. It was stormed by the 23rd Division on the 7th July, and some men of the Northumberland Fusiliers taken four days earlier were released; but it was lost the same afternoon. It was not finally captured until the 8th and 9th Yorkshire Regiment cleared it on the 10th. However, it was lost again in March, 1918, and recaptured by the 38th (Welsh) Division on the evening of the following 24th August. The underground fortifications made by the enemy before 1916 played an important part in the defence of the village. The cemetery was begun by fighting units on the evening of the 14th July, 1916, and used from September, 1916 to March, 1917 by Field Ambulances. A few burials were made in Plot I, Rows B and C, in August and September, 1918. Graves were added after the Armistice by concentrations from the battlefields of the Somme and the Ancre. 18 German graves and one French were removed to other burial grounds. There are now nearly 300, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over 40 are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to one soldier from Australia known to be buried among them. The cemetery covers an area of 1,349 square metres and is enclosed by a flint and rubble wall.

Probate was granted on 12th November 1918:

JONES Arthur Lloyd of Plas Llanfaelog, Anglesey, died 3 September 1918 in France. Administration London 12 November 1918 to Robert Edward Jones, retired builder. Effects £1,526 6s 7d. 

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 60 Left

Midland Bank Roll of Honour

London City and Midland Bank.

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