28549 L/Cpl John Owen

[abbrover]

John Owen was wounded on 12 January 1918 and later taken prisoner of war on 13th April 1918. Can anyone tell me where the 18th Bn Welsh Regiment was on these two dates?

Thanks

Judith

[larney]

Hi Judith,

The 18th (and 17th) Welsh were in the Bullecourt Sector for most of January 1918, recovering from their mauling at Bourlon Wood. The History of the Regiment states that there was 'much shelling and unpleasantness' during their spell there. The battalions were then cought up in the German offensive on the Somme on 21 March, before being moved to the Lys to rebuild again. Here is an excerpt from the history which covers the 13th April-

12th April. The enemy did not attack seriously north of Messines on 11th and 12th April, and the opportunity of reorganising the line was seized. First the 57th Brigade, and later the 58th Brigade, were brought back to La Clytte, and then sent forward on 13th April to dig themselves in on the Spanbroekmoelen ridge, along the Lindenhoek—Wytschaete road, in a support position to the front line, which ran from just south of Wytschaete to east of Wulverghem. The 58th Brigade held the left of this line, the 9th Welsh in Regent Street, joining up with the 6th Wilts south-east of Spanbroekmoelen, the 10th Royal Warwicks being on their left. Meanwhile, on 12th April, the enemy had made a most dangerous advance towards Bailleul and Neuve Eglise, both of which were in the foothills of the Mont Des Cats dominating ridge. The 119th Brigade Composite Battalion, which included the 18th Welsh, who had received reinforcements of 200 men, was at last, relieved by a Brigade of the 31st Division, and fell back to take up a defensive position in support in a trench system running north and south through Strazeele. Here, on 13th April, Major Gough. M.C., 18th Welsh, who had been sent to command details of the East Surreys, was severely wounded and eventually died, and 2nd-Lieutenant G. V. Jones, M.C., was put in command till the Commanding Officer, who had been on sick leave returned a fortnight later. The 119th Composite Brigade under Colonel Brown had retired very slowly, fighting all the time, for four days.

13th and 14th April. The principal fighting on 13th and 14th April took place round Neuve Eglise, which was lost and regained several times, at last remaining in the hands of the enemy. Further south the arrival of the 4th (Guards) Brigade and of the fresh Ist Australian Division was just in time to prevent a break through at Bailleul and Meteren, though the former town fell on 15th April. The 1st Australian Division finally relieved the 40th Division in the support line on the evening of 13th April.

I hope this helps a bit,

SteveJ.

[abbrover]

Thats fantastic, thanks Steve

Judith

[corisande]

2nd-Lieutenant G. V. Jones, M.C., was put in command till the Commanding Officer, who had been on sick leave returned a fortnight later.

I am trying to research said G V Jones at the moment. An interesting man, MC and 2 bars. Does anyone have his place and year of birth - there are too many George Victor Jones at that time for me to find him

[edit] I have found his birth and parents from a newpaper article on his marriage in 1926 [/edit]

I doubt that it is much publicised, but he was, for a brief period in the Auxiliary Division of RIC

[slippers1967]

I am trying to research said G V Jones at the moment. An interesting man, MC and 2 bars. Does anyone have his place and year of birth - there are too many George Victor Jones at that time for me to find him

[edit] I have found his birth and parents from a newpaper article on his marriage in 1926 [/edit]

I doubt that it is much publicised, but he was, for a brief period in the Auxiliary Division of RIC

Hi Corisande,

Can I ask why you are researching George Victor Jones as I was with a relation of his this week in France and was going to assist with research for him?

Regards

Slippers1967

[corisande]

The reason I am researching him is that he was in ADRIC, which I am researching ADRIC (Auxiliary Division of RIC) and try to unearth what happened to the men after the ADRIC was disbanded in 1922

My notes on him are on this link - click

He appears to have been living in Australia, but died in UK, I wonder what he did after 1922, was he living in Aus, and why did he come back to UK

[slippers1967]

Will ask the relative that I met and see if he can shed some light on what he did after 1922.

Thanks for the link.

[slippers1967]

Corisande.

Have you an email address where I can send some scanned documents that may add to your research?

[corisande]

Thanks very much - I have PMed you my email

[Guest]

On 23/06/2012 at 14:33, slippers1967 said:

Corisande.

Have you an email address where I can send some scanned documents that may add to your research?

Hi 

 

With reference to Lt (latterly Captain) GV Jones - I am one of his grandchildren, and I have the MC + 2 bars plus Great War  & Victory medals; my brother has the dress miniatures.

My cousin is also researching our grandad, and would dearly love to fill in the gaps too.

We’d be happy to discuss.

Would be great if you could let me know who the relative is please.

 

 

Regards

Stuart Hendry

Edited 13 November , 2018 by Guest