August 29th 1916
France
Dear Mrs Jones,
I do not think that I ever
had the pleasure of meeting you when I lived at Oswestry in the year 1909,
but I knew lots of people there. If you know Dr Beresford or Dr Cartwright
they will tell you all about me, as I was their assistant for along time.
I am writing to you because I was a great
friend of your son Raymond. We were in the same Field Ambulance, the 129th
and I am in it still. Raymond and I had many good days together and
everybody liked him. He was universally popular with officers and men and
his death cast a gloom over the whole medical service of the division.
You know the story, of course, of how he
came to be killed. He was told there were a lot of wounded in a
particularly dangerous place, so he set off with bandages and dressings to
do what he could to help the poor wounded men, thus he got hit and I believe
died very quickly afterwards.
It is very sad and I cannot tell you how I
sympathise with you in your trouble. There is some consolation, however, to
think of the glorious Death, which he died. Could here be a fine example of
self-sacrifice? A soldier goes forwards to kill or be killed – the doctor
usually stays behind to dress the wounded who are brought back to him, but
Raymond deliberately went forward to face death – that perchance he might be
able to save a life – or to ease some tortured soldiers’ suffering.
I saw him after he was killed and his face
was quite peaceful and calm, as though he knew he had done his duty and was
content to pay the terrible price. I saw afterwards the cross which was the
most beautiful cross I have ever seen out here – I have seen many alas! How
many! Everyone that could get to his funeral went to it. I regret that I
could not go owing to most urgent work and everyone misses him, but no one
misses him more than I do – for I have lost a kind friend who was indeed on
of the heroes of England.
You always have my deepest sympathy.
Yours truly,
D.A.Taylor. Lieut.
R.A.M.C.
- - -
Part of letter about Uncle Raymond, Dr
Raymond Jones, following his death at the Battle of the Somme July, 10th
1916. From his Batman to my grandfather Major Edgar Jones.
......commenced at 4 A.M. on the 10th
and it was not long before the wounded came pouring in. Your brother took
charge of the stretcher-bearers and attended many cases. After going across
the open to within 20 yards of the wood, where he fell within 20 yards of
the wood, with bullet through the right lung and one through the left thigh.
I bandaged him up and with help carried him
to shelter of the wood, where he died in about 20 minutes. We failed to
carry the body from there until the following day, as there was such a large
number of wounded.
He is buried in a British cemetery in a
little village behind the line, the name of which you may soon learn. There
is one consolation the whole family may derive from his death and that is he
gave his life for others nobly and fearlessly. We all mourn his loss
greatly, he was so kind and thoughtful to all of us especially myself as I
had served him as a servant from the time we were in England. Accept my
sympathy in your great loss.
I am your obedient servant.
Jas. R Jones Pte 48819
- - -
Part of letter about Uncle Raymond’s death.
Part is lost
“You might tell him (Major Edgar Jones) how
popular his brother was with all ranks and how gallantly he met his death.
Our Stretcher bearers came into our advanced
post with the news that hundreds of wounded ,serious cases were lying in the
wood and could not be brought in for some time. As soon as Jones heard
this, at about 4.30.A.M., he filled his pockets with bandages and went to
find them. Over a small ridge and down to the edge of the wood across about
40 yards of open, in which it seemed impossible for anything to live.
He never found his goal, he was killed
before he reached the wood. I am going tomorrow by motor car to little
wayside cemetery where we buried Jones, to stick up an oak cross, suitably
inscribed on his grave:
“Lieut. Raymond Jones, R.A.M.C.
Formerly of Cardiff, Practising here.”
- - -
From Rev. James Evans, C.F.
129th F.A.
38th Division, B.E.F.
11.7.16
Dear Mr Jones,
It is with profound
sorrow I write to you this letter. You will probably have heard from the
War office that your brother, Lt Raymond Jones, R.A.M.C. was killed in
action yesterday in the great battle. He was caught by a machine gun while
dressing the wounded in the thick of it.
I cannot express to you the
sadness of all of his fellow officers as well as the men at this loss.
Today we laid him to rest in a
British cemetery. The assistant A.D.M.S. (major Shearing), Col. Miles and
Roberts and others attended. I had the sad duty of officiate. His grave is
near to Mametz in the village of Carnoy and a cross will be erected …
Further portion of this
letter is lost
Another portion of a letter.
… I mention these details because I think you make
like to have them. Raymond, filling his pocket with bandages went
fearlessly over a ridge and down across the open to a wood under awful fire,
to carry succour to the seriously wounded who could not be carried in by our
stretcher bearers. It was a grand deed and no doubt had he bee spared to us
he would have been decorated. In his life he was to me a close companion
and in his death to us all, a grand example. I hope some day to make your
personal acquaintance. In the meantime I trust that the knowledge you
already have of the way Raymond died, may be to you and your aged mother and
all the family some consolation in your great sorrow,
Yours very sincerely,
F. Saviour Lees.
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