Joseph Jones, Military Medal.
Private 53473, 8th Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment.

Died 31 August 1918, aged 29.
Decorations: The Military Medal, The British War Medal and The Victory medal.

Joseph was born in Barrow Gurney, Somerset, and with his parents moved to Cherry Orchard Farm, Five Lanes.

Old Mr Jones was blind but there were plenty of children to get on with work on the small farm.

Joseph married Caroline and they settled at Sea Mouth, St Bride’s Major, Bridgend.

He went through the War with his brother Bert, who was near when Joseph was fatally wounded.

The award of the Military Medal was made four months after his death.

Joseph Jones, MM, is buried at Bac-du-Sud, Balleulval, France.

Bert lived in Trewen until the 1970s but often grieved that his brother had, he felt, been needlessly mown down.

Their sister Rose continued at the family farm until a similar time, and a number of nieces and nephews still live in the district.

JN December 1997