JONES, Charles W MM

Charles Jones was the son of Mr W.H. Jones, sculptor, of Enville Street and attended Enville Street Council School. He worked for Messrs. T. Bantock for a while and then at Wednesbury for Messrs. Disturnal. He volunteered for the South Staffordshire Regiment and after training as a machine gunner was transferred into the Machine Gun Corps in 1916. He served in the 6th Battalion and was promoted to Sergeant. He was awarded the Military Medal for his part in the Battle of the Ancre in November 1916, the last British attack of the Battle of the Somme. The citation stated that on the 13th November near Beaumont Hamel he 'fought with his machine gun for half an hour under continuous enemy machine gun fire, thus giving the infantry time to re-organise for a further attack. He was then ordered to move back to a more suitable position. On coming into action he found that the spare parts for his gun were missing. He at once went back under heavy fire and recovered them. He showed great coolness and determination during the whole period from 13 to 15 November 1916.' In the Spring of 1917 his battalion moved to Arras for the major battle which started on the 9th April. After initial success the German reserves managed to halt the Allied advance and in the later stages the defences of the Hindenburg Line were difficult to breach. Sergeant Charles Jones was killed on the 28th April in the battle for Oppy while leading his men into action. He is buried at Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-en-Gohelle (II E 1). He was 25 years of age and is commemorated on the Stourbridge, St. Thomas's church and the former Enville Street School Memorials.