Forename: John William
Surname: Jelfs
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Berkshire Regiment
Institution: St Paul’s Practising School
John William Jelfs lived at 11 Swindon Place and was the eldest son of Reuben Jelfs.
He ran a fish shop in the High Street with his wife before enlisting in the Gloucestershire Regiment in July 1916. He was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment before arriving in France where he was wounded during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. John was transferred to hospital in Rouen where he died on 8 April 1917, aged 32. He is buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension in the southern suburbs of Rouen.