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
Private 17862 William Robert Jones
- Age: 25
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
- Died Sunday 21st February 1915
- Commemorated at: Anfield Cemetery
Panel Ref: II. N.C. 215.
William Robert was born in Liverpool in late May 1889 (based on his age on enlistment), but his birth was not registered until the September quarter), the son of William Jones and his wife Mary (nee Fullerton). His parents married on Christmas Day, 25th December 1882 at St David’s Church, Liverpool.
The 1891 Census shows the family are living at Peach Street, Liverpool. William is shown as a 1 year old born in 1890. His father, William, is a mariner born in Liverpool in 1848, whilst his mother Mary J. was born in Liverpool in 1849. He has one sibling Mary Elizabeth born in Liverpool in 1884. Also present in the household is Elizabeth Fullerton described as mother in law, she is William's grandmother.
By the time of the 1901 Census the family have moved to 160 Goodison Road, Walton. William is now 11 years of age and is living with his parents William and Mary J and his sister Mary Elizabeth now aged 16. There are three visitors recorded Mary McGregor and her daughters Elizabeth and Dorothy. Also present is a lodger Joseph Mackie.
His sister, Mary Elizabeth Jones married Bernard Stephenson on 08th May 1905 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool and William Bernard Stephenson their son was born in 1906.
His father William died 30th July 1908, aged 62.
The 1911 Census finds the family now at 78 Lind Street, Walton. His mother Mary Jane is now aged 63 with son William a cotton porter in a warehouse aged 21 and grandson William Bernard Stephenson, aged 4.
William Robert enlisted in Liverpool on 03rd September 1914 joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17862. He gave his age as 25 years and 97 days, and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5' 10 and a 1/2" tall, weighed 132 lbs, chest 36", with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his mother Mary Jane Jones, of 78 Lind Street, Liverpool.
Formed on 07th September 1914 the 19th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall.
William died of pneumonia at Stanley Hospital, Liverpool on 21st February 1915, aged 25. Notes recorded by M.Forrester-Brown MD say he was admitted to Stanley Hospital 19th February 1915 with double lobar pneumonia. His medical report records, "delirious throughout", and he developed heart failure on the 20th which did not respond to stimulants, died on the 21st February 1915.
He now rests in the non-conformist section of Anfield Cemetery where he was buried on 25th February 1915.
In December 1914, Liverpool became one of the 21 Auxiliary Patrol Bases and in February 1915, the base of the 10th Cruiser Squadron. During the Second World War, Liverpool was headquarters of Western Approaches Command and a manning depot for officers and men of the Merchant Navy who agreed to serve with the Royal Navy for the duration of the war.
Liverpool (Anfield) Cemetery contains burials of both wars. The majority are in two war graves plots in Section 5, with Screen Walls bearing the names of those buried there. The rest of the war burials are scattered throughout the cemetery.
There are 453 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. Included in this total are 17 casualties who are commemorated by name on the Screen Wall as their graves in Bootle (St Mary) Churchyard and Liverpool (St James) Cemetery could no longer be maintained. Second World War burials number 459 including 2 unidentified British soldiers. There is also another Screen Wall memorial to those whose burials are not marked by headstones. There are also 67 war graves of other nationalities, the majority of them Dutch and Norwegian Merchant seamen, and there are 9 non war service burials here.
Another letter dated the 09th March 1915 stated the soldier did not leave a Will.
Soldiers effects mention his mother Mary and sister Mary E Stephenson. His Pension of 10 shillings a week from April 1916 went to his mother Mary Jane, 78 Lind St, Walton but was terminated in 1917 after she had died on 01st November 1916, aged 69. The War Gratuity of £3 went to his sister, Mary E Stephenson after his mother's death.
His sister (who signed as Stevenson), living at 38 Spellow Lane, Walton, received the Memorial Plaque and Scroll.His CWGC records his service with the 3rd Battalion K.L.R., and that he was the son of William and Jane Jones, of 1, Stepney Grove, Walton, Liverpool. Sadly, Willie has not been identified on any local memorial.
His father and mother are buried in the family grave alongside William Robert. Elizabeth Fullerton, also buried in the family grave, is William's grandmother.
We currently have no further information on William Robert Jones, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(110 Years this day)Monday 1st May 1916.
L/Sgt 15959 Neville Brookes Fogg
32 years old
(109 Years this day)
Tuesday 1st May 1917.
Pte 33195 George Allen
30 years old
(109 Years this day)
Tuesday 1st May 1917.
L/Cpl 17823 Harry Cuthbert Fletcher
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Wednesday 1st May 1918.
Pte 300188 Albert Charles Bausor
31 years old
(108 Years this day)
Wednesday 1st May 1918.
Pte 64776 Gerald Blank
20 years old
(108 Years this day)
Wednesday 1st May 1918.
Sgt 57831 Leonard Conolly
25 years old
(108 Years this day)
Wednesday 1st May 1918.
L/Cpl 94253 Ernest Firth
22 years old
(108 Years this day)
Wednesday 1st May 1918.
Pte 49533 Henry Rigby
32 years old
(108 Years this day)
Wednesday 1st May 1918.
Pte 17721 Charles Henry Squirrell
26 years old
(107 Years this day)
Thursday 1st May 1919.
Pte 91536 John Alfred Croft Kelly
26 years old