Relatives of soldier come forward
A CAERNARFON man’s mission to find the living relatives of a Gwynedd soldier killed in World War I has finally been accomplished.
Ex-soldier Alwyn Iwan Rees Jones went to France with the Comrades of Caernarfon earlier this month, where he laid a wreath on the grave of Sgt R.J Roberts at Delville Wood Cemetery, in Longueval.
Sergeant Robert John Roberts from Tudweiliog near Pwllheli, was killed while fighting for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the Battle of Mametz Wood at the Somme on July 20, 1916.
Inspired by his moving visit, Alwyn spent hours researching the life and times of Robert John Roberts’ before launching an impassioned appeal through the pages of the Herald to find the fallen soldiers’ family.
Luckily, Alwyn’s calls managed to reach Margaret Jones and her sister Vilda, Sergeant Robert John Roberts’ great nieces - the granddaughters of Mr Roberts’ sister.
Mrs Jones, who lives with her husband Ivor in Colwyn Bay, said: “When I read Alwyn’s quest to find the family of Sgt Robert John Roberts, I firstly thought this was just a very ordinary name.
“But, as I have been researching my family history in Tudweiliog, I realised that the soldier’s age, and the date he was killed, tallied with what I knew about my grandmother’s brother.
After making contact, both Alwyn and Margaret decided to arrange a meeting at Caernarfon Castle on Saturday.
Once there, Mrs Jones and her sister were welcomed Alwyn and his family, members of the Caernarfon Comrades Association and Shirley Williams, the development manager at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum at Caernarfon Castle.
Mrs Jones added: “Alwyn had kindly compiled a file on Sgt R J Roberts, and we were shown around the informative museum.
“We also laid commemorative poppies in the castle grounds.”
“We then went to visit my uncle his (Sergeant Robert John Roberts’) nephew Robert John Jones, who still lives in the same family farm at Monachdy, Tudweiliog.”
Mrs Jones added: “Choosing this soldier’s grave at random to lay a wreath, little did he realize that he actually knew my sons, Rhys and Aled, who are among R J Roberts’ many great nephews and nieces.
“Also, I mentioned that R J Roberts younger brother Griffith used to share a house with close friends, the Prytherch family, in Caernarfon.
“Alwyn knew this family well - as it is his wife Ffion’s family!
“Tudwal and Jane Prytherch live in the very same house.
“Alwyn had also been assisted in his research by Shirley Williams in the RWF museum at Caernarfon castle.
“It transpires that she was in college with my sister Vilda many years ago, and they hadn’t met since those days.
“On returning home to Colwyn Bay, we had the delightful news that my daughter, Nia, had just given birth a day early, to a son.
“In one day, we were commemorating the death of a great uncle, and celebrating the birth of our grandchild - R J Roberts’ latest great, great, nephew, 100 years after his untimely death.
“I think the thorough research going on today certainly helps retain the memories - the sacrifices of the many thousands of young men all those years ago.”
Speaking about the meeting, Alwyn said: “It was an honour to place the wreath down on Mr Roberts’ grave in France and great to finally to be able to hand over all our research about Sergeant Roberts’ life and times.”