Fallen Soldiers
Thomas Alfred JONES
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Regiment
Rank
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Grave / Memorial
Rainhill remembers on . . .
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Royal Flying Corps
2nd Lieutenant
1899
30th August 1918 aged 19
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Second Lieutenant Thomas Alfred Jones of 2 Victoria Villas was the only child of Alfred Jones, the Rainhill Station Master and his wife, Elizabeth.
Research has discovered that on 30th of August 1918, Thomas was flying as observer/navigator in a DH4 two seater bi-plane undertaking daylight bombing raids deep over the enemy lines. His pilot was 2nd Lt R.I.A. Hickes. As they returned from a successful mission bombing the strategic railway at Thionville they were shot down. The plane crashed metres from the church in the tiny hamlet of Latour-en-Woëvre in occupied France. The two men were just 19. They were buried in the small village cemetery rather than in a military cemetery.
Research has discovered that on 30th of August 1918, Thomas was flying as observer/navigator in a DH4 two seater bi-plane undertaking daylight bombing raids deep over the enemy lines. His pilot was 2nd Lt R.I.A. Hickes. As they returned from a successful mission bombing the strategic railway at Thionville they were shot down. The plane crashed metres from the church in the tiny hamlet of Latour-en-Woëvre in occupied France. The two men were just 19. They were buried in the small village cemetery rather than in a military cemetery.
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Images of the downed DH4 in Latour-en-Woëvre
Correspondence with a local Councillor, Edith Roma-Vouge, resulted in an official ceremony by the Souvenir Francaise to place poppy crosses, sent by Rainhill Civic Society, on the officers' graves on behalf of the Society and the people of Rainhill. The ceremony took place in France at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday 24th May 2014, with a corresponding ceremony at Rainhill Cenotaph at 9.30 a.m.
Twinning
The relationship between the two villages moved even closer and on September 20th 2015, Treaties of Friendship were signed by the two Communities. Rainhill looks forward to strengthening the ties with France which have been brought about by their 100 years of care of one of Rainhill's fallen sons. Latour has created a 'Latour Rainhill' Facebook page.