Lance Corporal 33365 Edward Jones

Edward was born in Liverpool on 05th October 1897, the son of Joseph Edward Jones and his wife Catherine Mary (née Carr). His parents married in 1896 in Prescot district, where Edward was born. His parents must have moved to Everton very soon after his birth, as he was baptised in St. Saviour, Everton, on 05th December 1897, his parents’ residence listed as 64 Ullswater Street and his father’s occupation listed as Police Constable.  He was known as Eddie.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 64 Ullswater Street, Everton. His father Joseph is a Police Constable born in Manchester in 1864. His mother was also born in Manchester the same year. Edward is 3.

His mother Catherine died in 1903 when Edward was 5 years of age. 

The Census of 1911 shows his father married Florence in 1904. They now live at 49 Arundel Street, Walton and Joseph is now a Police Sergeant. They now have 4 children of their own in addition to Edward being in the household aged 13. These children, Edward's step brother and sisters are; Florence, Joseph, Edith and Mabel. 

 

Edward joined the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 21838 and had reached the rank of Lance Corporal before he transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Border Regiment with the service number of 33365. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for three years, enlisting in about May 1915, when he would have been 17 years old. He must have lied about his age in order to serve overseas.

 

Eddie shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 7th November 1915, when he had just turned 18 years old.

 

At some point, possibly after recovering from wounds, Eddie was posted to the 22nd (Reserve) battalion, then to the 11th Border Regiment, and subsequently to the 3rd Bn, and finally to the 2nd Bn Border Regiment, which was part of the 7th Division, ordered to Italy at the end of 1917 to take up positions in January 1918 along the River Piave.

 

Eddie died of an abscessed appendix on 31st May 1918.

 

He now rests at Montecchio Precalino Communal Cemetery in Italy, where the inscription on his headstone reads,

“THY WILL BE DONE”.

The Italians entered the war on the Allied side, declaring war on Austria, in May 1915. Commonwealth forces were at the Italian front between November 1917 and November 1918, and rest camps and medical units were established at various locations in northern Italy behind the front, some of them remaining until 1919.

Between April 1918 and February 1919 those who died from wounds or disease in the 9th, 24th and 39th Casualty Clearing Stations were buried either here or at Dueville. Certain graves were brought in after the Armistice from other burial grounds in the area.

Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension contains 439 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. 

The cemetery, about 45 miles northwest of Venice, was used by the 9th, 24th, and 39th Casualty Clearing Stations after April 1918.

 

His father placed a notice in the Liverpool Daily Post on 8th June 1918:

“May 31, aged 20 years, Lce-Corpl. Edward Jones (Eddie), Border Regt., formerly K.L.R., the beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, 49, Arundel Street, Walton.  (Wears a crown of victory.)”

 

Eddie earned his three medals.

 

His stepmother Florence received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £16, and a terminal gratuity of £36-8s in lieu of a pension.