Lance Corporal 17871 Harry Jones

 

Harry enlisted in Liverpool on 29th August 1914, in the Special Reserve, and was posted to 19th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regimetnon 23rd September 1914 as Private 17871. He gives his age as 21 years and 4 days and his occupation as clerk. He is described as being 5’ 6 and 3/4” tall, weighing 113 lbs, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.  He gives his next of kin as his father, John Jones, at 36 Worcester Drive, Clubmoor, Liverpool, and his religion as C of E.

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. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

In the new year the Pals battalions take up position in the south of the Somme line near Carnoy.  On 28/1/1916 he was sent to 98th Field Ambulance, sick, and rejoined his battalion on 30/1/1916.

 

In April the battalion moves to Abbeville for specialist training for the ‘Big Push’.  The battalion sees action in July during the Battle of the Somme, including Trones Wood. Then, at the end of the month, the battalion takes part in the failed attack on Guillemont.  Harry was wounded at Guillemont on 30th July 1916, and admitted to a Field Ambulance wounded and shell shocked.  On 03/8/1916 he was admitted to 13th C.R.S. with a ruptured right eardrum caused by a shell explosion, and infected middle ear, then sent to Stationary Hospital, Abbeville.  On 5/8/1916 he was transferred to 2nd Canadian General Hospital, Le Tréport.  On 19/8/1916 he was evacuated to the UK on the hospital ship Lanfranc and admitted to East Leeds War Hospital, Harehills Road, Leeds, on 21st August, also with wounds to the right side of neck and left (?). His medical report shows his hearing became almost normal before discharge on 20th September 1916. 

 

Harry remained in the U.K. for recuperation. On 15/1/1917, as Private, he forfeited two days pay for being absent without leave for 18 hours.  He returned to France on 24/1/1917, sailing from Folkestone to Boulogne. He remained at Infantry Base Depot at Etaples until 21st February, when he joined the 4th Bn K.L.R. in the field.  The 4th was then in Brigade Reserve at Suzanne, and soon after went into front line trenches. Harry survived the fighting in 1917, including Passchendaele (Third Battle of Ypres). He was promoted to Lance Corporal at some point. 

He was on leave to the U.K. from 23/1/1918 until 6/2/1918.  Harry survived the German Spring Offensive, and by the autumn of 1918 the battalion was involved in the 100 Days Offensive, the Allied push that would soon bring the war to an end.  He had served for over four years and survived the deadliest fighting of the war. 

 

His service record shows that Harry was admitted to hospital at the beginning of November.  It is likely that he was to be evacuated to the UK, as he was transferred to 2nd Canadian General Hospital, Le Tréport, on the coast, where he died of influenza on 4th November 1918, one week before the Armistice.  He was 25 years old. 

 

Harry now rests at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Tréport.

 

During the First World War, Le Treport was an important hospital centre and by July 1916, the town contained three general hospitals (the 3rd, 16th and 2nd Canadian), No.3 Convalescent Depot and Lady Murray's B.R.C.S. Hospital. The 7th Canadian, 47th and 16th USA General Hospitals arrived later, but all of the hospitals had closed by March 1919. As the original military cemetery at Le Treport filled, it became necessary to use the new site at Mont Huon. There are now 2,128 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery and seven from the Second World War. The cemetery also contains more than 200 German war graves. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

 

Harry earned his three medals.  His father lived through the death of his only surviving son, and died in 1921, aged 79.  His sister Hilda received his effects of £35-14s-9d and a War Gratuity of £24.  A pension card cannot be found.