Soldier Record

Thomas Albert Jones was known as Albert. He was born in East Wall, Rushbury in 1891.

Great Uncle - Thomas Albert Jones

Albert joined the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (date unknown). His service number was 11519. Albert was married to Rose Elizabeth. They lived at 82, Elkington Street, Aston, Birmingham.

Albert held the rank of Private. The medal index records state he served in the 6th Battalion of the KSLI, where as the war graves commission state he served in the 7th Battalion. He is recorded as serving in (1) France: He landed overseas on 24th July 1915.

The 6th (Service) Battalion formed at Shrewsbury in In September 1914, they were attached to the 60th Brigade, 20th (Light) Division.

The Division was inspected by HM King George V at Knighton Down on 24th June 1915, by which time all equipment had arrived and the Division was judged ready for war. By the 26th July 1915 the Division had completed concentration in the Saint-Omer area, all units having crossed to France during the preceding few days. Early trench familiarisation and training took place in the Fleurbaix area.

Thomas Albert Jones would have participated in the training at Fleurbaix, which included the familiarisation with trench warfare. The Division then moved towards Fromelles, a subsidiary to the Battle of Loos, which took place on 25th September 1915.

The distance from Fleurbaix to Fromelles is approximately 6.9 kilometres by road. The area around Fromelle were being held by the allied troops, but fighting was constant. Thomas Albert was killed in action on 13th August 1915 somewhere on this journey.

Albert was Killed in Action just 21 days after arriving in France. He was 24 years old. He is buried in Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix.

One of his brothers was also killed in this war and to date we have not be able to find him.