In memory of Alfred John Rhydwen Jones
Alfred John Rhydwen Jones (known as John) was the only son of Walter and Millicent Rhydwen Jones of West Shore. After his schooling in Rhos-on-Sea, Leicestershire and Belgium he entered the furniture trade. You can read about his pre-war life and the family’s furniture business here.
He joined the Territorials (66th Anti-Tank R.A.) in April 1939. In August 1939 he was mobilised and served his Officer Cadet Training Unit, with the Honourable Artillery Company, then joined his field regiment. He left Britain for North Africa in December 1942, fighting in the desert campaigns. As a result of his work with the French, he was awarded the French ‘Croix de Guerre avec Palme’ in 1943.
He was moved on to the Italian campaign and fought as a troop commander at Monte Cassino. In the advance from Rome to Florence, he was acting as Forward Observation Officer with a company of Indian infantry when his quick mind and enduring courage were displayed. Despite splinter injuries, he remained at his post. Captain John Rhydwen Jones was killed, aged 25, during a counter-attack on 14 October 1944 near company headquarters. He was buried at Afrezzo War Cemetery.
His commanding officer Maurice Catesby wrote: “Believe me, John has done so much to help finish this unutterably foul war, but at least we do know that he is so much more peaceful that any of us”.
In April 1945 John was posthumously awarded the Military Cross, which his father collected from Buckingham Palace. His citation reads: “This officer displayed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as FOO [Forward Observation Officer] through the advance from Rome to Florence. On one occasion at Bagnoreggio on 13 June 1944, the house in which his OP [Observation Post] was established, was demolished by shellfire and his party buried. Getting clear himself he used his bare hands, until further help arrived – and succeeded in digging an air passage to two of his signallers, thereby undoubtedly saving their lives. On two occasions he was slightly wounded, but remained on duty; once with the Grenadier Guards on the exposed Mabel feature and once when advancing with leading elements of the Coldstream Guards in their attack in M Domini.”
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