Our monthly branch newsletter
The Newsletter Of The North Wales Branch Of The Western Front Association
August 2025
Next Meeting: Saturday 2nd August
Fusiliers Museum, Moss Street, Bury, Lancashire
Meet in the museum cafe from 10 am onwards with a view to starting the tour at 11am.
A message from your chairman
Welcome to the edition of “The Dragon’s Voice”. Hope you are all keeping well. How have we got so far into the year? We have a good selection of articles for this edition. Many thanks to Russ Warburton for his excellent article about Reverend James Sinnett-Jones. On a visit to the Cemetery at Bodelwydden there was a headstone around the back of the church that had a name & date if death of 1916. A bit of research revealed a tragic tale of a soldier who lived with his family at Bodelwyddan. I have written an article telling his sad story. Hope you find both articles of interest.
Another “heads up” about the the 2025 edition of RWF Fest at Hightown Barracks, Wrexham which is set for Saturday 27th September. It promises to be a very memorable day with the appearance of Robert Graves son & Frank Richards grandson. There are just above 100 tickets available so if you are interested please “book early” as Fred Pontin used to say. A few of our members, myself included, went to last years event & thoroughly enjoyed it.
Talking of all things Royal Welsh Fusiliers, the Military Medal group of Captain William Alfred Pickard have been donated to the museum by his great nephew. They will sit alongside the Military Cross medal group of his brother Harry.
If anyone would like to contribute to the newsletter then please get in touch. It could be an article, a photo, an event local to you or something you think would be of interest to other members. Just email them to:
This newsletter will also be posted on the website: wfanorthwales.com
Please support the website by visiting it. If you have any information or articles for the website then please email them to me & I will add them.
Regards,
Darryl
Lest We Forget
For The Love Of God
By Russ Warburton
There are many stories that have been written during the times of war and suffering, about people’s belief in their God and how their faith kept them safe in times of grave danger, but I have always wondered how your faith in God is tested when you are serving the church as a Vicar, Chaplain or Priest and your own family is affected by loss during conflict. Vicar, Chaplain or Priests are there to provide spiritual and emotional support, offering a comforting presence, but who do they turn to in their own time of need? This is one such story I discovered when I was researching a local memorial. Reverend James Sinnett-Jones was born in June 1861 in Llanrhystud near Aberystwyth, Wales. He was educated at Friars School, Bangor, North Wales and Christchurch, Brecon before being accepted into Peterhouse College Cambridge, gaining a B.A. in 1886, returning later to gain an M.A. in 1891. James was ordained in 1886 and served as a Curate at Cowbridge in Glamorgan from 1886 to 1889 and then as a Rector at St. George’s in Ely, Glamorgan from 1889 to 1894. During this time he married Catherine Jane Lloyd on the 14th of November 1888 at Llanddeiniol, Cardiganshire and they went on to have four children, two sons and two daughters – • Nellie Myfanwy Sinnett-Jones born 1892 • Gilbert Lloyd Sinnett-Jones born 1893 • Elizabeth sybil Margaret Sinnett-Jones born 1895 • James Victor Sinnett-Jones born 1897 James took up a position as a Vicar at St. Margaret’s Church, Mountain Ash in 1902. The first test of James’ faith came in 1911 when his eldest daughter Nellie died at the age of 19 years old. Nellie was a talented musician and had attended the Royal Academy of Music. In 1914, James took up a position of Rector at St. Michael’s Church, Caerwys, North Wales. The family moved into the Rectory near the church. James’ two sons, Gilbert and James were both away at college at the outbreak of the war.
St Micheal’s Church The rectory
Gilbert was at St. John’s College Oxford and James was at King’s School, Worcester and then later following his brother’s footsteps he attended St John’s College Oxford.
Gilbert, the eldest son, whilst an under-graduate at St. John’s College Oxford was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 8th (Service) Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers on the 16th of December 1914.
Gilbert is on the back row 2nd from the right
After completing training at Blackdown in Hampshire, Gilbert and the 8th (Service) Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers; part of the 40th Brigade 13th Division, sailed from Avonmouth aboard the ‘Megantic’ for the Mediterranean on June the 29th 1915. They arrived at Mudros Bay via Alexandria and Lemnos on July the 12th 1915. On the 15th of July 1915, the Brigade received orders to proceed to the Gallipoli Peninsula, arriving in the early hours of the 16th at Cape Helles. They then proceeded to Gully Beach in Divisional Reserve. The Battalion took over the 6th South Lancs Regiment in the Front Line Trenches. The Battalion remained on the Peninsula before being relieved, leaving V Beach aboard ‘H.M.S. Beagle’ to return to Mudros on the 30th of July. Gilbert and his Battalion returned to the Gallipoli Peninsula, landing at Anzac Cove on the 4th of August 1915, later moving to Suvla Bay in September. Gilbert was slightly wounded in September and was also promoted to Captain on the 15th of September 1915. Gilbert and his Battalion remained at Gallipoli until they received orders to evacuate on the 17th of December, moving to the Beach at Lala Baba and embarked for Imbros on the 20th of December 1915. After a weeks rest, the Battalion returned to the Helles Bridgehead, Gilbert and his Battalion left the Gallipoli Peninsula for the last time, leaving W Beach on the 8th of January 1916. In January, and for the rest of the month, Gilbert and his Battalion remained in camp at East Mudros before leaving for Alexandria on the 26th, sailing three days later for Port Said, holding positions in the Suez Canal Defences. On the 12th of February 1916, Gilbert and his Battalion moved to Mesopotamia. The Battalion joined with the Tigris Corps on the 27th of March and saw action in the unsuccessful attempts to relieve the besieged Garrison at Kut Al Amara (KUT). On the 9th of April, Gilbert was sadly killed in action during the Battle of the Sanniyat. The Battalions War Diary for that day reads – “The whole Division rose and marched forward simultaneously, the 38th and 140th Brigade in the Front Line and the 39th Brigade in the Support at the rear. For the first few hundred yards, all went well, until the Turks suddenly fired up a flare and opened fire. The line waivered, lost direction and for a time, broke. Every effort was made to endeavour to get the men forward, but this was found to be impossible”. Captain Gilbert Lloyd Sinnett-Jones was 23 years old at the time of his death. This was the second test of Reverend James Sinnett-Jones’ faith.
James Victor Sinnett-Jones was the youngest member of the Sinnett-Jones family. He excelled in his time at the School House, King’s School, Worcester, entering the school in September 1912 with a King’s Scholarship from Llandaff Cathedral School. James was a boarder at King’s from 1912 to 1915. He appeared many times in the School Magazine, ‘The Vigornian’, first published in 1878 and still produced today (2025). James received his First Class Certificates in Latin and Greek. He played cricket for the 1st XI, was a member of the Debating Society and a School Librarian. Later he became Secretary of the cricket team. James left King’s School Upper 6th Form in July 1915 to take a temporary commission with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, hoping to return and enter St. John’s College Oxford to take Holy Orders, following in his father’s and brother Gilbert’s footsteps.
On the 9th of September 1915 James was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, later transferring to the 17th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Confirmation of James’ commission was reported in the London Gazette, dated 25th April 1916.
James and his Battalion took part in the infamous Battle for Mametz Wood during the Somme offensive in July 1916. On the 10th of July James with his Battalion advanced to the Northern perimeter of the wood.
Within 30 yards of their objective they came under heavy rifle and machine gun fire from Middle Ally, a trench leading from the Northern edge of the wood. After digging in, the Battalion resumed the attack, reaching their second objective.
The 17th Battalion’s War diary for that day reads – “Several Officers bear testimony to the splendid behaviour and courage of our men and the brilliant and determined way in which they succeeded to advance in spite of the density of the undergrowth. During the latter part of the advance, some of our men, in their tremendous eagerness to get close to quarters with the enemy, pushed so far forward, that they reached our own barrage”. On the morning of the 11th of July the position of the Battalion was shown on the following map.
The 17th Battalion’s War Diary goes on to say – “It was to be maintained that a definite clearing of the enemy out of the centre of the wood and it’s complete occupation was carried out solely by the 17th Battalion”. The success of the 17th Battalion was not without heavy costs. Casualties included the following – • 5 Officers killed • 13 Officers wounded • 30 other ranks (O.R.) killed • 197 other ranks (O.R.) wounded • 37 missing Sadly, one of the Officers killed was 2nd Lieutenant James Victor Sinnett-Jones. James was just 19 years old when he died. This was the third test of Reverend James Sinnett-Jones’ faith. It must have been so difficult for the Reverend James and his wife Catherine to come to terms with the loss of both of their sons within the space of four months, but life went on; Reverend James continued to perform weddings, funerals and christenings at St. Michael’s church, Caerwys. Reverend James and his wife Catherine’s thoughts and attention would have fallen upon their remaining child Sybil, who was 21 years old at the time of the loss of her two brothers. Sybil still lived at the Rectory with her parents, helping her father with his duties at the church.
Sybil married Captain Frank Emlyn Williams at St. Michael’s Church in Caerwys on the 16th of October 1917. A joyous day for all, with the Reverend James proudly walking his daughter down the aisle. The service was performed by the Lord Bishop of St. Asaph. The happy couple left on the 3.43pm train to Torquay, where they spent their honeymoon.
Frank Emlyn Williams was born on the 22nd of May 1894 in Merthyr Tydfil. He was educated at Merthyr Tydfil County School and later at the South Wales and Monmouthshire School of Mines. Frank joined the Mining Course in 1913 and studied Mechanics, Heat, Physics & Chemistry, Colliery Practice and Mathematics. On the 16th of July 1912 Frank was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Territorial Force of the Welsh Regiment. At the out-break of the war in August 1914, Frank left his studies and joined the 1st/5th Battalion Welsh Regiment aged 20 years old. He was later promoted to Lieutenant, and later promoted to Captain. Frank served with his Battalion in the fighting at Gallipoli with the 159th Brigade 53rd Welsh Division, taking part in the Landing’s at Suvla Bay in August 1915. Frank was wounded twice. He was treated in Malta for his wounds received in August and September 1915 before returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula in October 1915. After Gallipoli, Frank and his Battalion moved to Egypt, where he saw action in the Battle of Gaza. Frank left the 1st/5th Battalion Welsh Regiment to join the Royal Flying Corps, also based in Egypt, training with the 57th Training Squadron, as an observer, later transferring to the 14th Squadron the Royal Flying Corps (R.F.C), which later become the Royal Air Force (R.A.F) on the 1st of April 1918.
On the 5th of April 1918, Frank and his Pilot, Lieutenant George Minshall Sturgess were flying their R.E.8, a two-seater biplane, on a training flight when it lost its bearings during very bad weather and crashed at full speed into a mountain range. The pilot George, aged 24 years old was killed instantly, whilst Frank, was severely burned in the crash and died two days later on the 7th of April 1918 aged just 23 years old. Both were buried at Ismailia War Cemetery.
On the 11th of April 1918, the London Gazette (issue 30624, page 4412) posted that Captain Frank Emlyn Williams had been awarded the Military Cross (MC) whilst serving with the 5th Battalion Welsh Regiment in Palestine. The death of Frank must have been devastating news for his wife Sybil. The couple had only been married for less than six months. The Reverand James Sinnett-Jones had already lost two sons and now a son-in-law, all within a space of a year. This was the fourth test of the Reverend James Sinnett-Jones’ faith. After the war ended, the Reverend James Sinnett-Jones donated a carved wooden screen, known as a ‘Reredos’ (an ornamental screen covering the wall at the back of an alter), in memory of his two sons Gilbert & James and his son-in-law Frank.
This is located in St. Michael’s Church in Caerwys where he
the Reverend. Both Gilbert and James’ bodies were never recovered. Gilbert is remembered on the Basra Memorial Panels in Iraq and James is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France, pier and face 4A.
WFA North Wales 