Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 300299 William Henry Jones

Age: 27
From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
D.O.W Tuesday 23rd April 1918
Commemorated at: Tourgeville Mil Cem
Panel Ref: I.E.2

William Henry was born in 1891 in Birkenhead and was the son of William Jones and his wife Mary (nee Bellis).His father was born in New Brighton, and his mother in Chester, both born in 1860. They married in Birkenhead in 1884 and had seven children. Billy had older siblings Edward (Ted), Anne, and Laura, and younger siblings, Elizabeth, Thomas, and Lillian.

1891 finds them at 34 Mornington Street, Birkenhead. His mother Mary, 30, listed as wife of coachman, is head of household, with four children. His father is “absent”, Billy is 10 months old.

In 1901 they are living in the domestic coachman’s house, 58 Grosvenor Road, Birkenhead, with six children. His father is the coachman, Billy is 10.

In 1911 Billy is living with four of his siblings at 12 Claughton Firs, Oxton. His brother Edward, 26, is head of household, and is a domestic groom. Anne, 24, and Laura, 22, are waitresses. (Laura will marry Pal 300246 Harry Carl Evans, 18th Bn in 1918 and be widowed six weeks later.) William, 20, is also a groom, and Thomas, 15, is an errand boy. They have a boarder, 19 year old groom, Charles Jelico. Billy’s parents, both 50, are living in the coachman’s lodge, Cathcart (stables), Claughton, Birkenhead, with daughters Elizabeth and Lillian.

He enlisted in Prescot, Knowsley and was formerly 1099, Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry and was transferred to the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 300299.

Billy married Annie Nelson in 1915. He arrived in France on 1st September 1915.

Billy and his brother-in-law Harry Carl Evans both served in the Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry and were transferred to the 18th Bn King’s Liverpool Regiment. Billy was wounded in action in the first week of the German Spring Offensive, when Harry was killed in action. Billy died of his wounds on 23rd April 1918, aged 27..

He now lies in Tourgeville Military Cemetery, France. The Inscription on his headstone reads:

“DEARER TO MEMORY THAN WORDS CAN TELL”

The 14th Convalescent Depot was at Trouville in October 1917 and the Trouville Hospital Area - which later comprised the 72nd, 73rd and 74th General Hospitals, and the 13th, 14th and 15th Convalescent Depots - was established in February 1918.

Tourgeville Military Cemetery contains 210 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 13 from the Second World War. There are also 90 German graves and two non war burials.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

His death was announced in the Birkenhead News on 4th May 1918:

“Official news has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Cathcart Stables, Grosvenor Road, and 12 Claughton Firs, Oxton, that their second son, Pte. W. H. Jones, K.L.R., died of wounds in France on April 23rd. He was wounded during the recent big defensive (March 27th). Pte. W. H. Jones joined the Lancashire Hussars in September 1914. He was sent to France and attached to the North Somerset Yeomanry and took part in the Battle of Loos. Then he returned to England to his old regiment, the Lancashire Hussars, and was drafted to Egypt and then to France, where recently he was attached to the K.L.R. and volunteered as stretcher bearer. Much sympathy is felt with his wife, parents and family in their great loss.”

Billy earned his three medals. His widow Annie received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £17 and a pension of 13/9d a week.

In 1939 his parents are living on the Wirral with daughters Annie and Elizabeth. His father is a garage proprietor.

Annie Jones, 46, a widow of the right birthdate, is living at 65 Devonshire Road, Birkenhead. It is not known when Annie died.

His father died in 1948 and his mother in 1951.

Billy is also commemorated on the Birkenhead War Memorial, Hamilton Square.

We currently have no further information on William Henry Jones. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

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