JONES, George Henry

Henry Jones was born in Pensnett and was the son of Edwin and Emma Jones of 174a Commonside. He volunteered for the South Staffords in 1914 at a very youthful age but was not sent into action for some time. He was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment and served during early 1918 in the 6th (Service) Battalion. They faced the first great German offensive of March 1918 and were forced into retreat. They fought in the Battle of the Ancre on the 5th April but were driven back further. Their losses were so heavy that the battalion was broken up and Private Jones was among 600 men transferred in May to the 1/1st Battalion of the Hertfordshire Regiment. After all the losses these units of the 37th Division then recovered to take part in the Advance to Victory. In September they fought in the successful crossing of the Canal du Nord and broke through the Hindenburg Line. In pursuing the enemy to the River Selle there were fewer losses but Private George Henry Jones was killed in action on the 8th October. He was 18 years of age and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial to the Missing of the Advance to Victory and on the Pensnett Memorial.