Lance Corporal 17389 George Henry Jones

• Age: 29
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 8th KLR
• Died on Monday 30th September 1918
• Commemorated at: Anneux Bc
  Panel Ref: II.B.10

George Henry (Harry) Jones was born in Liverpool on 31st July 1889, the youngest son of William Jones and his wife Eliza (née Lamb). His father was born in Liverpool and his mother in Wrexham. They married in Liverpool in 1873, William giving his occupation as pilot, and had nine children. Harry had older siblings Edith, Florence, William, (John) Edgar, Robert, Alfred, and Amy, and a younger sister Elsie, all born in Liverpool. 

Harry was baptised in St. Peter’s Liverpool on 03rd September 1889, his parents living in Allen Street and his father’s occupation given as pilot. 

The 1891 census finds the family at 13 Allen Street, Everton, Liverpool. His father is 46, occupation Liverpool pilot, his mother is 37, they have eight children, George is 1 year old.  Also in the household is niece Kate Lamb, 19, from Wrexham. 

The family lost two sons as teenagers; his brother William died at the age of 18 in 1897 and his brother Robert died suddenly, also at 18, in 1901.  

By 1901 they have moved across the Mersey and are living at 58 Charlotte Road, Liscard, his mother Eliza is 47, listed as married, living on private means, with six children and grandson Arthur Plank, 3 (Edith’s son). George H. is 11.  His father is not listed in the household. 

His father died in 1908 after a long illness, aged 63, having worked for the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board pilotage service for 45 years;  the newspaper report of his funeral lists sons Edgar, Alfred and Harry and his residence as Chepstow Avenue, Liscard. 

In 1911 the family is living at 6 Chepstow Avenue, Liscard.  His mother Eliza, 56, is head of household. Alfred, 26, is a rubber warehouseman’s clerk, Amy is 24, no occupation, George Henry is 21, employed as an oil cake manufacturer’s clerk, Elsie is 19, no occupation. Also in the household is married daughter Florence (now Prescott), 34, and granddaughter Vera Plank, 1. His sister Florence died in 1913, aged 38. 

Harry enlisted in Liverpool on 31st August 1914 at St George's Hall and was posted to the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17389. He gave his age as 25 years and 30 days, and his occupation as clerk.  He is described as being 5’ 3 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 110 lbs, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th 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. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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.  

Harry shipped to France with his battalion from Folkestone, disembarking at Boulogne on 7th November 1915.  His service record survives and shows that Harry served as batman to Lt. Parker -  

11/01/1916 to No.13 Field Ambulance, and No.5 Dressing Station, trench foot

17/01/1916 rejoined unit

31/8/1916 Granted Good Conduct Badge for completion of two years’ service

(Date?) to T.M.B. course (batman)

05/11/1916 to Divisional Infantry School (batman)

30/11/1916 rejoined unit

26/12/1916 to Lewis Gunner course (batman)

(Date?) rejoined unit 

17/01/1917 to Field Ambulance (batman)

31/01/1917 rejoined unit 

?/3/1917 to Field Ambulance

(Date?) rejoined unit

12/8/1917 to II Army Sniping School

30/8/1917 rejoined unit

05/9/1917 granted leave to the U.K.

19/9/1917 rejoined from leave

06/12/1917 to Lewis Gun School

24/12/1917 rejoined unit 

28/2/1918 to No.97 F.A. and No.61 C.C.S., bronchitis

26/3/1918 rejoined unit

22/4/1918 to F.A. and C.C.S., trench foot

25/4/1918 to 2nd Australian General Hospital, Boulogne

30/4/1918 evacuated to England on Hospital Ship Cambria 

01/5/1918 admitted 2nd Eastern General Hospital, Brighton, trench foot

14/5/1918 discharged 

07/6/1918 discharged Convalescent Hospital 

17/6/1918 posted to 3rd (Garrison) Bn K.L.R. (Cork) while recuperating

03/8/1918 returned to France

15/8/1918 posted to 8th Bn K.L.R.

16/8/1918 joined Bn in the field

15/9/1918 appointed paid Lance Corporal 

Harry was killed in action on 30th September 1918, aged 29.

He now rests at Anneux British Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"DUTY NOBLY DONE" 

Anneux, Havrincourt and Graincourt were captured by the 62nd (West Riding) Division on 20 and 21 November 1917. Anneux remained in Allied hands until the following 6 December. It was recaptured on 27 September 1918, by the 57th (West Lancashire) and 63rd (Royal Naval) Divisions, acting with the 52nd (Lowland) and the 1st and 4th Canadian Divisions. These six divisions, with the New Zealand Division (which carried on the advance in October 1918), are most largely represented in the cemetery.

The original cemetery was made by the 57th Division Burial Officer and by various units in October 1918. At the Armistice it contained 131 graves but was then greatly increased when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields and small cemeteries in the area. 

Anneux British Cemetery now contains 1,013 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 459 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate seven casualties believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His family placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 24th October 1918:

“September 30, killed in action after four years’ service, Lance-Corporal George Henry Jones, King’s Liverpool Regiment (late Liverpool Pals), youngest and dearly beloved son of Eliza Jones and the late William Jones (pilot), 6 Edinburgh Road, Wallasey.” 

Harry served over four years in the Army and earned his three medals. 

His Army effects went to his mother; she received £15 of the War Gratuity, and £3 went to his brother Alfred.  It is not clear from the pension card, in the name of his mother, living at 6 Edinburgh Road, Liscard, whether a pension was awarded. 

1919 his mother provided information on Harry’s living relatives:  His sister Edith (Plank), 40, was living in Twyford Street, Anfield; John Edgar, 35, was living in Twickenham, Middlesex; Alfred Edward, 33, Amy Elizabeth 30, and Elsie May, 25, were living at home.  It is not known when his mother died. 

Harry is commemorated on the Men of Birkenhead Cenotaph

CWGC records show George Henry as being born in 1890, thus imaking him 28 years of age by their records when he was killed. However, he was 29 years of age as per his date of birth 31st July 1889. His records also show his family details as Son of Eliza Jones of 6 Edinburgh Road, Liscard, Wallasey and the late William Jones (Liverpool Pilot).

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