WAR MEMORIALS IN THE PARISH OF NORTHOP
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
Name Willie Jones
Regiment Royal Welsh Fusiliers/ 2nd Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Service Rank and Number Private 4199290 (KSLI)
Military Cemetery/Memorial Bayeux War Cemetery
Ref No. of Grave or Memorial XX111.A.11
Country of Cemetery/Memorial France
Medals Awarded See below
Date and Circumstances of Death Died aged 27 at the Battle of Caen in Northern France in July 1944
Biographical Details Known
In the early 1900s, Aaron and Margaret Jones lived in Northop Hall where Aaron ran his own garage business. Their daughter, Gertrude was born in 1910 and their first born son, William was born in 1911 but sadly only survived for 20 days. In 1917 along came another son who was named Willie. Willie was known locally as 'Willie Aaron' a reference to his father. When he grew up and before he joined the army, Willie worked as a driver for his father.
Regiment Royal Welsh Fusiliers/ 2nd Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Service Rank and Number Private 4199290 (KSLI)
Military Cemetery/Memorial Bayeux War Cemetery
Ref No. of Grave or Memorial XX111.A.11
Country of Cemetery/Memorial France
Medals Awarded See below
Date and Circumstances of Death Died aged 27 at the Battle of Caen in Northern France in July 1944
Biographical Details Known
In the early 1900s, Aaron and Margaret Jones lived in Northop Hall where Aaron ran his own garage business. Their daughter, Gertrude was born in 1910 and their first born son, William was born in 1911 but sadly only survived for 20 days. In 1917 along came another son who was named Willie. Willie was known locally as 'Willie Aaron' a reference to his father. When he grew up and before he joined the army, Willie worked as a driver for his father.
Willie's family home 'Summerfield' besides the garage that his father Aaron ran in Northop Hall. The house and the garage have since been demolished.
Willie first joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and here he is (honestly!). He is on the third row from the front, the fourth soldier from the left
Willie 'Aaron'
Willie Jones and friends. Willie is first on the left
In Dover,The Methodist Church issued Willie with this small brown wallet which contained the two booklets above. We have scanned the cover and front page of each.
After the war, Willie's mother sent for his medals. This is the lid of the small cardboard box in which they arrived. The date written on the side of the box was 24/5/53
This letter was folded in the box with the medals
On the reverse of the letter was this guide for identification of medals.
Willie's medals. Use your cursor to identify them.
Northop Hall's Welcome Home Victory Fund issued certficates to returning servicemen and all bereaved families. Poignantly these were signed by the committee's secretary, Bruce Acton who lost his own son, Stanley in the war.
Willie is also remembered on a family gravestone in Northop Churchyard. What beautiful yellow roses!
After his death, Willie's mother chose her favourite snapshot of him and took it to 'Burrell and Hardman' photographers in Chester where it was enlarged and tinted. He was clearly a snappy dresser.
Many, many thanks to Willie's niece Gina for generously sharing his story with us.
Willie's sister and niece visited Bayeux Cemetery a number of years ago when Northop and District British Legion organised a trip to France. Here are two of their photographs of Willie's final resting place