REMEMBRANCE DISPATCH NO. 34 COMMEMORATES LIEUTENANT HENRY ST JOHN SAUNDERS JONES (DAY BOY 1906-1901) WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON 3RD AUGUST 1917.
Henry St John Saunders Jones, the son of Reverend Saunders Jones, the Vicar of St David’s, Brecon and later Vicar of Cantref, joined Christ College as a Day Boy in September 1906. Though he enjoyed cricket and rugby football, and gained prizes in the Athletic Sports of 1909 and 1910, his career at school was said to be undistinguished. He left at the age of 15 to train as a motor car engineer.
In September 1914, soon after the outbreak of war, 19-year-old Henry joined the Brecknocks as a Private and went to India the following month, along with Second Lieutenant Frank Best, who was his contemporary at school, and Lieutenant Stephen Best. Henry served with them in Aden and India “where his skill as a motorist attracted his C.O.’s attention”.
He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant and attached to the 21st Punjabis in July 1916, joining the 30th Punjabis in German East Africa in December 1916 where he fought in the British Advance on Rufigi. Promoted to Lieutenant in June 1917, he left the regiment’s camp at Lindi on 25th July to reconnoitre the land in front of the enemy lines. On August 3rd 1917 he led a column of troops to attack. Having heard the troops make their way through the dense bush, the enemy opened fire and Lieutenant Saunders Jones died of wounds received in the action.
Lieutenant Henry St John Saunders Jones, seen “fighting to the last with his revolver”, is buried at Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery and is remembered on the Christ College War Memorial.