C.S.M 17060 John Daniel Jones

• Age: 29
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 23rd April 1917
• Commemorated at: Rookery Brit Cem, Heninel
  Panel Ref: C.19

John Daniel Jones was born in the June quarter of 1888 in Liverpool, the son of Daniel Jones and his wife Elizabeth (née Manson). His birth was registered as simply John Jones, with no middle name. His parents, both from Liverpool, had married on the 19th March 1882 at St Mary’s Church, Walton. Daniel was a labourer of Kirkdale, father Robert a labourer, whilst Elizabeth was also of Kirkdale, father James an iron moulder. Their first born child, Daniel, died in infancy. John was the second of seven surviving children; his siblings were Thomas, James, Elizabeth, Margaret, Richard, and Robert. 

In 1901 the family is living at 6 Romeo Street (one of the ‘Shakespeare’ Streets) in Kirkdale, Liverpool. His father, Daniel, is aged 35, a boiler maker, mother, Elizabeth, is aged 34, Thomas, 16, a boiler makers apprentice, John, 13, is a butcher’s boy, James 11, Elizabeth 8, Margaret 5, and Richard 3. 

His father died, aged 39, on the 29th July 1904 at the Northern Hospital, when John was 15 and the youngest child was not yet two. His father's address is Gwladys Street, occupation rivetter; he left £20 to his widow. 

In 1911 his mother is with his brothers James, Richard, and Robert, at 86 Goodison Road, Liverpool.  There is a John Jones, of the right age, 23, boarding with Thomas and Margaret Jones and their two children, at 24 Kipling Street, Bootle. He is employed as a bookkeeper in shipping. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

John was appointed Lance Corporal on 01st December 1914 and promoted to Corporal on 07th April 1915.

A note dated 08th April 1915 in his record states that any casualty or promotion should be notified to the Board of Trade, Queen Anne’s Chambers, Westminster, London.

He was appointed Lance Sergeant on 27th May 1915 and promoted to Sergeant on 30th October 1915.

Shortly afterwards, John disembarked in France with his battalion, on 07th November 1915, was promoted Warrant Officer Class II and appointed CQMS on 08th January 1916. He was granted Professional Pay Class I on 31st August 1916.

On 22nd November 1916 he was appointed CSM and posted to no.2 company to replace CSM Thomas Lloyd Jones who had been killed in action on 18th October 1916.

He was on leave to the U.K from 30th November 1916 to 13th December 1916 and after his return to the battalion he attended 3^rd Army Infantry School from 31st December 1916 until 03rd February 1917. 

John was killed in action on 23^rd April 1917, aged 29.

On that day the Battalion had occupied old German Trenches at Henniel on the Arras sector of the front. In the evening, it moved to a sunken road to support an attack by the 18th and 19th Battalion’s of the Manchester Regiment. Elements of the Pals were to provide mopping up parties for both the Manchester Battalions, who were to move forward at 18.00pm. However, as the orders were not received until 17.45pm,it proved impossible to join the Manchester’s in time for their attack and the mopping up parties followed from where they presumed that the assaulting waves had left.

By this time, the German retaliatory barrage had begun, and the British Front Line was so heavily shelled, that the Battalion took up position in the shell holes in front. As the situation was chaotic, some troops on the right flank had begun to pullback, it was decided to withdraw to the British front line under cover of darkness to consolidate. Eventually, by morning the position became clearer, and the Battalion was able to move forward to occupy the old front line which had been vacated by the Germans, who had retired over the next crest.

Altogether the Battalion’s losses were four officers and one hundred and one other ranks, killed, wounded or missing.

John now rests at Rookery British Cemetery, Heninel, France.

Heninel village was captured in a snowstorm on 12 April 1917 by the 56th (London) and 21st Division and the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, advancing from Heninel on the two following days, captured Wancourt Tower. Rookery British Cemetery (named from a group of trenches) was made by the 18th and 50th Division Burial Officers in April-June 1917 and used until November 1917. Two further burials were made in August 1918. The cemetery contains 55 First World War burials, one of which is unidentified. 

His mother signed for his medals on 22nd June 1920 and 24th September 1921.

John’s younger brother, L/Cpl Richard Jones, 9th Battalion, K.L.R. who featured in the tribute to his brother, sadly died of wounds on 01st October 1918. He was 21. Richard now rests in the Sunken Road Cemetery, Pas de Calais.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Wednesday 01 October 1919: 

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