JONES, James Sydney

James Jones was born in Cradley and living in Cradley Heath at the outbreak of war. He was a keen footballer and played for Stourbridge. He volunteered for the Warwicks and joined the 16th Battalion, (3rd Birmingham Pals). Much time was spent in training in 1915 and they were first fully engaged in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. The Warwicks were in the front line for the later phases at Longueval and Delville Wood. In the Spring of 1917 they were part of the forces who succeeded in the first Battle of Arras and James Jones probably gained promotion at this time. In May they were in the front line near Vimy Ridge to stop German counter-attacks. One such attack re-took the village of Fresnoy and in the accompanying barrage a 5.9? shell hit the Company HQ. Several men, including Acting Sergeant James Jones, were killed immediately. He was 24 years of age and is commemorated on the Arras, Cradley and Halesowen Memorials.