1. Private John Wesley AMOS Jack McCune

2. Aim
To talk to you about my Great Uncle who served in the Army during World War One and was killed in action in 1917

3. John Wesley AMOS Born in Rhyl, North Wales in 1883.
Enlisted into 10th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) in Ilkley, Yorkshire.
Killed at the Battle of Menin Road Ridge in Belguim on 20 September 1917, aged 34.
Commemorated on Tyne Cot memorial, Belgium and Rhyl war memorial.

4. 10th Service Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment
10th (Service) Battalion was formed at Halifax in September 1914 and came under command of 69th Brigade in 23rd Division.
Moved to Frensham but were at Aldershot in December 1914.
Moved to Folkestone in February 1915 and on to Bramshott in May 1915.
Landed at Le Havre late August 1915.

5. The Battle of Menin Road Ridge 20 – 25 September 1917
It was the third British general attack of the Third Battle of Ypres and took place near Flanders on the Western Front.
The intention was to secure the Gheluvelt Plateau and was based on careful planning and overwhelming artillery superiority.
65,000 allied troops advanced early in the morning across an eight mile front screened by heavy mist and artillery bombardments.
British casualties over 20 – 25 September were estimated to be at approximately 20000, with over 3000 killed and 3000 taken prisoner.

6. Wounded men after the battle of Menin Road Ridge

7. British Soldiers in a trench

8. My Uncle’s Medals
Pip, Squeak and Wilfred are the affectionate names given to the three WW1 campaign medals — The Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal respectively. These medals were primarily awarded to the Old Contemptibles (British Expeditionary Force)
From left to right
The 14 – 15 Star (Pip)
The British War Medal (Squeak)
The Allied Victory Medal (Wilfred)

9. Widow’s or Dead Man’s Penny
The WWI Death Plaque (Dead Man's Penny) was issued to the next of kin of servicemen who had fallen in the War. In 1917, the government announced a competition to design a suitable plaque. The selected design was a disk cast in bronze gunmetal, which incorporated; an image of Britannia and a lion, two dolphins representing Britain's sea power and the emblem of Imperial Germany's eagle being torn to pieces by another lion. Beneath this was a rectangular tablet for the deceased individual's name. No rank was given as it was intended to show equality in their sacrifice. The plaques were packaged in stiff cardboard wrapping folded like an envelope.Production began in 1919 with approximately 1,150,000 issued.

10. Rhyl War Memorial

11. Tyne Cot Memorial

12. Questions?