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JELFS, Louis Albert (1919-1944) – Worcestershire Regiment

Louis Albert Jelfs was born at Badsey in 1919, the youngest of 11 children of Frederick Jelfs, a bricklayer, and his wife, Phoebe Ann (née Brookes).  He was a pupil at Badsey Council School from 1923-1934.   

At the start of the war, at the time of the 1939 Register, Louis was working as a plumber.  He lived with his parents and one brother at Fairview, Brewers Lane (present-day No 37), Badsey.

Louis joined the Worcestershire Regiment (Service No 14228154), serving with the 7th Battalion.  Private Jelfs was killed in India on 19th June 1944, aged 24, during the Battle of Kohima.  The battle, which was the turning-point of the Japanese offensive into India, was fought in three stages from 4th April to 22nd June 1944 around the town of Kohima, the capital of Nagaland in north-east India. On 1st April 1944 the 7th Battalion had crossed the Brahmaputra River at Gauhati and entered the operational area of Assam, being the first troops of the Division on this occasion to taste the conditions of the Burma war.  In the final stage of the battle, the British and India troops pursued the retreating Japanese and reopened the road.
Private Jelfs is buried in Kohima War Cemetery, India.  The following words are inscribed on his grave:  “In loving memory, rest in peace, Mother” (his father had died three years earlier).