Major Lewis, Farewell Jones

Lewis Farewell Jones was born on 25 May 1885 at Hamstead, the oldest son of George and Anna Louise Jones. According to the 1891 Census, the family were living in Sidmouth, Devon, although father, George Jones was absent from the home on that day. Lewis’s mother was described as “Living on own means” and the family were well off enough to employ a nurse/domestic servant. Lewis was aged five, and his siblings were Mary aged 7, and Katherine aged 3.

By 1901 the family had moved to Brenley, a substantial 13 room house off Cedars Avenue, Mitcham Common. Father, George was a Solicitor with his own firm. The family had expanded to include David aged 9, and Anne aged 5. A larger house meant extra help, so the family now employed three servants. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Lewis was a boarder at Eastbourne College.

In 1911 the family were still living at Brenley, but by now Lewis was employed as an Architect with offices at 13 Queen Anne’s Gate, London.

Lewis’s military career started in 1908 when he enlisted in the 22nd Middlesex (Central London Rangers) Volunteer Rifle Corps. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant in February 1908. When war broke out his battalion (the 12th) were serving with the 3rd London brigade, and in December 1914, the Rangers proceeded to France, landing at Le Havre, where they joined the 94th Brigade who were concentrated in the area between Bailleul and Hazebrouck. The battalion was in action during the Second Battle of Ypres in May 1915, when Lewis was wounded, twice by bullets and twice by shrapnel. In February 1916, the battalion transferred to the 168 Brigade, (56th London Division).

The 1st July 1916, was the first day of the Battle of the Somme, which was the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army. British casualties were over 50,000 with over 19,000 fatalities in just one day. the 12th Rangers were in action on that day, taking part in the diversionary attack at Gommecourt. Sadly, Lewis was amongst the fatalities. A report came from a Rfm R L Robinson who stated that “Maj Jones was last seen between the British and German front lines, and that he was found dead by a German Red Cross team “. Major Jones had been leading a party of eight men from ‘D’ company men through a gap in the wire, when he was hit, and was last seen crawling into a shell hole. He was buried in an isolated grave at Hebuterne with an unknown British Soldier and reburied on 16 March 1953 in the London Cemetery, Longueval, France. His remains were identified by his identification disc and Officers boots and equipment. Lewis was mentioned in dispatches in the London Gazette in 1917.

Major Lewis Jones is also commemorated locally on the Mitcham War Memorial.