WWI PAIR OF WAR & VICTORY MEDALS WITH LEGION OF MERIT TO PTE. J.W. ANDREWS, WELSH R. (LAST SURVIVING TOMMY IN SHROPSHIRE)

James William Andrews was born in Worcester on 25 May 1899, the son of Harry and Caroline Andrews and worked as a coal miner before joining the 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment, aged 16 years, posted to France in 1916, fighting at Ypres and entitled to the pair of War & Victory Medals. The following extract is from the Shropshire Star News 4 Aug 2014:

"The last Shropshire Soldier to see action, Jim Andrews, of London Road, Shrewsbury, died at the age of 102 in 2002. The last Shropshire soldier of all this warrior generation was believed to have been Bernard Davies, who was born at The Mount, Shrewsbury on 23 Mar 1900 and was called up in March 1918."

"FRENCH HONOUR WAR HERO, 100 - A war hero was given two reasons to celebrate when he marked his 100th birthday on Tuesday. For not only did Jim Andrews receive a telegram from the Queen congratulating him on his centenary, but he learned he was to be honoured by the French for his bravery during the First World War. Mr Andrews, of London Road, joined the First Welsh Regiment when he was just 16. He fought at Ypres and the Dardanelles, and is soon to be awarded the French Legion d'Honneur in the class of chevalier (knight), for his services to France during the 1914-18 conflict. News of the award came in a letter from the French Embassy. The former coal miner said this week he was delighted and surprised to be receiving such an honour. Apart from contracting malaria, he was lucky to have made it through the conflict unscathed, he said. Mr Andrews said his favourite memories of the war were when he was allowed home on leave."