"A GALLANT soldier who died a gallant soldier's death for the sake of his King and country".

These are the words used to describe Barry boy Reginald Rees Jones, who died after being mortally wounded in battle on August 25, 1917 aged 21.

Those words appear in a letter sent from HG Davies - a police officer who was in battle with Second Lieutenant Jones - to his mother Elizabeth Jones.

The letter was found by the daughter of Elizabeth's cousin Duncan Jones who is keen to trace family members of Reginald or even the police officer who wrote the letter.

Barbara Baber, from Barry who now lives in Exeter, hopes to be able to return the letter to relatives on Reginald's side of the family.

In his letter he details how Lt Jones was wounded very badly when he was struck in the head during a battle near Ypres, Belgium.

Mr Davies wrote: "[I] was walking with him when a shell bursted quite close to us and I saw Mr Jones drop close by my side.

"I stopped with him and bandaged his head as I was a St John's Ambulance man.

"He said to me 'Davies I am hit, so try and comfort me a little thank you old boy."

Mr Davies carried Lt Jones for half a mile on his back, before he was stretchered off to a hospital where he died some time later.

The letter describes him as "not only a good soldier but thorough gentleman to his men."

Reginald was the son of John and Elizabeth Jones, of High Street, Barry. He had two sisters, Peggy and Gladys. Peggy married Gordon Mills, who owned an art shop and gallery on Holton Road, Barry.

Duncan Jones, who came to possess the letter, was Elizabeth's cousin and was also the son of Barry grocer SR Jones.

If anyone can help locate relatives of Reginald, Peggy had a son named Nigel Mills, then contact Dominic Jones at the Barry & District News at djo2barry@gwent-wales.co.uk or telephone 07760178531.