Born in Machynlleth, Mr. Jones spent his childhood there and as a lad worked on the railway station bookstall of W. H. Smith. As a young man he worked for the Great Western Railway in several capacities, eventually becoming a driver. He joined the Territorial Army and saw service with the R.W.F. at the Dardanelles and was wounded.
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| A hymn book presented to David by the Rector and Churchwardens of Machynlleth, when he left his home town in 1914. The Rector wrote: “1914 when the people offered themselves willingly.” The photo of David is stuck into the book, and the one below is the girl he eventually met and married in Rushden, in 1916. It is thought he took that back with him when he returned to the front. |
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In uniform
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David & Sarah
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| On his uniform - on his left arm, a wound stripe, a vertical bar worn three inches from the end of the sleeve. Introduced in July 1916 they were issued each time a soldier appeared as wounded in the Casualty Lists. On his right cuff - 5 efficiency stars. |
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In 1915 he came to Rushden with the R.W.F. and was billeted here. He met Sarah Holliday, and in 1916 they married at St Mary's Church.
David was buried up to his neck in sand whilst serving in Gallipoli. He was discharged as it left him with a weak chest, and was invalided out of the Army early in 1918, and was directed to shipbuilding at Sunderland after his discharge. He then he became a driver of ammunition trains.
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In uniform in Sunderland
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After the war he could not find work back home in Wales, so they came back to Sarah's family in Rushden, and soon they settled in Wymington. Sarah was pleased to return as she was one of ten children, and had missed her family.
In 1917 a son, Ronald David was born and in 1919 Stella their daughter was born. Stella married local school master's son Kenneth Reynolds in 1944.
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Left: Kenneth with Mum Sarah c1921
Above: Stella, Sarah, Ronald and David on holiday in Wales |
David worked for the Rushden and District Electric Light Company in the engine room, but later became a traveller around Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire for a motor-tyre firm.
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Memories of Holidays between the Wars
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Tyresoles News Letter (Wembley), December 1954
We are indebted for the following to Mr. David Jones, The Welsh Bard of TYRESOLES Services (E.M.) Ltd.:-
Sing a song of “TYRESOLES”
Now twenty years old.
What a lusty lad he’s grown
Without the use of “MOULD.”
His “RINGS” have circled far and wide
Home and Overseas.
(On them a Monte Carlo “do”
Was won by Gatsonides).
(Ken Wharton also found them fine
In several Tulip Rallies.
They took him to, and kept him in
The front, up hills, down alleys).
They’re used by every make of car
From Austin to Ford’s Zephyr.
What mileage? Well, as good as new,
And often, even better.
On buses, tankers, trucks and vans
You’ll find them rolling round,
But if the roads are icy-smooth
Why – “WYRESOLES” grip the ground.
Let’s not forget dear old Rep,
The chap who gives “the talk,”
Who flits from Garage to C.U.
With pricker, spreader, chalk.
With Information Book, C.I.’s
He’s really on the “buzz”
For he has got a splendid “line”
It is – The TYRESOLES + PLUS.
To end my tale, I’ll raise my glass
To “TYRESOLES”, “WYRESOLES”, PLUS
To ALL concerned in any way
In fact – TO ALL OF US.
D. Jones
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