Frederick Thomas Averay Jones
Wednesday 05 December 1917
Army Rank: Second Lieutenant Squadron: 3rd/1St Battalion Hereford Regiment Born: 22nd August, 1883Died: 5th December 1917Age: 34 yearsCause of Death WoundsBuried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen. He is commemorated at Hereford Cathedral School and Hereford Cathedral.Son of Rev. Alexander G & W Cecilia Jones of Ballingham Vicarage, HerefordshireHereford Cathedral School magazine, the Herefordian, records his death and notes:-“The musical world, both in England and America, is distinctly the poorer by the death of Sec.-Lieut. Frederick Thomas Averay Jones, of Hereford, who died of wounds at Rouen on Wednesday, December 5th 1917. Particulars of the fighting in which he was mortally wounded are not yet to hand. His many friends must for the moment be content to know that this bright and gifted musician has in the “dust of conflict and through battle flame” made the supreme sacrifice for His country. He had indeed seen much fighting and was severely wounded just twelve months ago. Thirty-four years of age—he was born at Ballingham, where his father was Vicar there—he was the Youngest son of the Rev. A. G. Jones, of Barton House, Hereford who was for 33 years Vicar of Yarkhill, a living which the rev. gentleman resigned less than twelve months ago owing to advancing years. Displaying a musical talent from childhood, the deceased officer was first a chorister at King’s College. Cambridge then went to Derby School, under Sterndalê Bennett. He finished his education at Hereford Cathedral School after which for several years he studied music under the late Dr Sinclair, for whom on many occasions he deputised at the Cathedral organ. By Dr.Sinclair his abilities were held in high estimation, and it was on his late mentor’s recommendation that Mr. Jones obtained an important position in America. Out of 100 candidates drawn from more than one Continent, he was appointed organist of St. Mark’s, Philadelphia, and thus at the early age of 22 enjoyed the privilege of presiding at one of the finest instruments in America, during the Vicariate of Dr. Mortimer. In 1915, he relinquished music for the sterner work of war: In May of that year he joined the Inns of Courts O.T.C., and after training at Berkhampsted, was gazetted to the 3rd Herefords and went overseas in October, 1916, in a month he was severely wounded in the chest, being picked off by a sniper on a Sunday night while in a communication trench in France. He, happily, recovered from this injury, and returned to the Western front at the end of last June, and was there up till the time of his lamented death, which was notified by cable. By a pathetic coincidence his aged father received a letter from him, dictated to a chaplain in hospital, stating that he was wounded in the chest, the injury being very touch of the same character as that he sustained last year, and asking his relative not to be alarmed as he was “going on nicely.” The family are assured of widespread sympathy in their bereavement.KILLED BY A TREACHEROUS HUN The following letter, written by the chaplain of the Red Cross Hospital, llenen, relates how the late Sec. Liant. F. T. Averay Jones, Hereford (formerly of Yarkhill), was killed by a treacherous Hun. It was written to his father, the Rev. A. G. Jones, and it is as follows:-“ Dec. 9th, 1917.Dear Sir,—You will have heard long before this of the death of your son in this hospital, When he came in on Saturday, Dec. 1st he told me that he found himself surrounded by Germans at 9 a.m. on the 29th Nov, that he held up his hands, and a German officer treacherously fired his revolver at close range, blowing away part of his chest. He lay in a dug-out till 6 p.m., and then struggled back to our lines, where he was attended to and sent on here. He developed pneumonia, and his breathing was very distressed. About 8.31) a.m. he had a bad heart attack, and the doctor and sisters managed to bring him round. Someone was with him all day, and he passed away at 7 p.m. he was never able to say much, but I saw him every day, and on the 5th spent some time with him on two occasions. At 8.30 he was wandering, and I don’t think he suffered much. On the 7th, at 2 p.m.., he was buried with military honours at St. Sever Cemetery, which is about two miles outside Rouen. The number of his grave is 5,498 I need not tell you how much I sympathise with your sad bereavement. I believe that I have given you a fairly full and accurate account of what happened. You can feel that everything possible done for him when he was here, and now he rests in a soldier’s honoured grave.I remain, yours in deepest sympathy, Leonae B. Stallard, Chaplain.”A memorial service was held in the Ladye Chapel at Hereford Cathedral.” The April, 1918 edition of The Herefordian included his obituary:Sec. Lieut. Frederick Thomas Avery Tones, Hereford Regt., attached Monmouth Regt., died of wounds received in action at Rouen on December, 1917. He was 34 years of age, and was the youngest son of Rev. A. G. Jones (O.H.), of Barton House, Hereford. Displaying a musical talent from childhood the deceased officer was first a chorister at King’s College, Cambridge, he then went to Derby School, under Sterndale Bennett. He finished his education at Hereford Cathedral School, after which for several years he studied music under the late Dr. Sinclair, for whom on many occasions he deputised at the organ. By Dr. Sinclair his abilities were held in high estimation, and it was on his late mentor’s recommendation that he obtained an important position in America. Out of a hundred candidates, drawn from more than one continent, he was appointed organist of St. Mark’s, Philadelphia, and thus at the early age of 22 enjoyed the privilege of presiding at one of the finest instruments in America, during the vicariate of Dr. Mortimer. In July, 1915, he relinquished music for the sterner work of war. In May of that year lie joined the Inns of Court O.T.C., and after training at Berkhampsted was gazetted to the Hereford Regt., and went overseas in October, 1916. In a month he was severely wounded in the chest, being picked off by a sniper on a Sunday night in a communication trench in France. He recovered from this injury, however, and returned to the Western front at the end of last June, and was there up till the time of his death.A special memorial service was held in the Ladye Chapel on December 12th, 1918, at which there was a large attendance.