Exert
This
is a cutting that does not appear to have been written by Raymond Jones but
but possibly by Leonard Haynes, Gwyneth Vaughan Jones' friend.
Exert.
Source not verifiable. I was told to make myself and my men comfortable
at once. I sent them to billets not far away for which I made a humble
request the following day! I had no building materials. I sent my men to
find some and they brought enough to make a dugout and then reported that
they were to be arrested if they went to the dump again. That required
careful consideration as it was out of my army area. However in about three
days material came and in two days more everyman was under cover in a
beautiful dug out. The O.C. came down and saw a street of houses where
hither to there had merely been a track and he complemented me very highly.
I threw off my tunic and dug - that impressed the troops. Being O.C. is
not at all bad. I paraded my detachments one day and told them home truths
which had a great effect, best of all I made a sergeant work and felt
pleased with himself for doing so. Enough of this! Selfpride is no
commendation …You will understand that the time has not been with out its
excitement. Until today – for the last fortnight I was in charge of a
detached section of two pieces, 40 men and one junior officer. I was
visited by one colonel, one brigadier and major general R.A. and I am
pleased to tell you that I did that which is most important of all in the
army – I answered all the questions addressed to me without hesitation. I
camouflaged two places so well that the colonel reported to the G.C. that
they were not there! The G.O.C. however to whom I showed them was
frightfully bucked. The brigadier in one of our discussions said: “Well you
are an authority in these matters.” And I am not!! He was not sarcastic. He
was just giving in gracefully on a certain point. They really were very
nice. I can gather all kinds of property, which does not belong to me. I
can build dugouts which delight the soul of an R.E. You a see I was only
sent out to an open field and told to dig a dugout.
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Notice from local paper
------
In
Loving
Memory
Of
Lieut.
Raymond Jones RAMC
129
Field
Killed
In
Action
July 10
1916
RIP
An Englyn by
R. William Parry in ‘Yr Haf a Cherddi Eraill’
In Memoriam to a doctor,
‘Meddyg’ – Dr Raymond Jones, Llanrhaeadr yn
Mochnant,
Gwendid mewn gofid gafodd ei ofal,
A’I Lafur tra galodd:
Yntau ei hun a hunodd
Yn yr man a’r modd.
Roughly translated as
‘He cared for the weak and troubled
as long as he was able:
He himself died in the same place
And in the same manner.’
Rest in Peace
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