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7376 PRIVATE WILLIAM JONES, 2ND. BN., SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT:
1914 Star (7376 : 2/S.Lan.R.); British War Medal; Victory Medal 1914-19 (7376 : S.Lan.R.) : (WILLIAM JONES - Born around 1888 at Walton, Liverpool and enlisted on 14 January 1904: Transferred to Army Reserve on 13 January 1907 but with the outbreak of war was recalled on 5 August 1914: Served with 2nd.Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment in France from 22 August 1914 and would almost certainly have been present at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914 when the British Expeditionary Force was struck by the full weight of the German Offensive. The accurate and disciplined fire of the 2nd. South Lancashires, in front of Frameries, took a heavy toll on the massed German infantry, but eventually the Battalion was ordered to retire. Though outflanked and outnumbered the old 82nd. withdrew its contact "in perfect order as if on parade". As the Battalion fell back towards Le Cateau, it fought another successful rearguard action at Solesmes. At Le Cateau on the 26 August 1914 the 1st.East Lancashire Regiment made a stand and fought a stubborn defence in front of the village of Ligny, whilst the depleted South Lancashires grimly held their position in the centre of the British line at Caudry, until both Battalions were ordered to break contact and join the general retirement. The famous fighting retreat continued until 5 September 1914, when as part of the Allied counter-stroke, the BEF advanced in what became known as the Battle of the Marne. The advance continued across the River Aisne and assaulted the heights of the Chemin des Dames where the Germans were found to be entrenched and after confused fighting the characteristic deadlock of trench warfare set in. The recipient was killed in action on 29 September 1914, he has no known grave and is therefore commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial to the Missing, Seine-et-Marne, France. He left a widow, Elizabeth Catherine Jones of 31 August Road, Tuebrook, Liverpool and two sons, one aged two years and the other just eleven months.) : Sold with verification which confirms entitlement to the 1914 Clasp; copy Service Papers and CWGC. information: An early casualty of the Great War. GVF - £365