JONES, Walter

Walter Jones was the son of Mr and Mrs Jones of Banner Street, Overend, Cradley. He was married to Sarah Jenny, later of Brithdir, Glamorgan, and they had one child. He was a painter for Messrs Viner and Sons and enlisted in August 1917. He went to the Anson Battalion of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division which fought at Cambrai in November. In early 1918 they were facing the first German Spring offensive near Cambrai. Greatly outnumbered during the attack of the 21st March, they were obliged to retreat across the old 1916 Somme battlefield. Casualties were high and among them was Able Seaman Walter Jones who was seriously wounded. He was taken to a military hospital near Boulogne but died on the 30th March. He was 25 years of age and is buried in Etaples British Cemetery (XXXIII B 17) and commemorated on the Cradley and Halesowen Memorials.