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Robert Thomas Jones
162656, Private 2nd Class, Royal Air Force
Accidentally killed after discharge, 19 April 1920, aged 29
Buried at Llanrhos (Ss. Eleri and Mary) Churchyard
CWGC registered (Son of Mrs Elizabeth Jones of 10, Augusta Street, Llandudno)
Robert Thomas Jones is remembered on neither the Llandudno memorials nor the Llanrhos War Memorial. In spite of his being accidentally killed after the Great War, his grave in Llanrhos Churchyard is registered with the Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission and he lived within the boundaries of the town of Llandudno.
Robert Thomas Jones, the son of Thomas Benjamin Jones, a joiner, and his wife Elizabeth Jones (née Meredith) was born in Llandudno on 16 November 1890. The Census of Wales for 1891 records the family living at “Rhianna”, Chapel Street, Llandudno; Robert had an elder sister Catherine Ann (5). Robert attended Lloyd Street School, the register for 1898 recording his address as in Lloyd Street. The Census of Wales for 1901 confirms the family’s address as “Silverdale”, Lloyd Street. Robert left school in February 1904. The following year the local press reported that Thomas Benjamin Jones had deserted his family. This situation is reflected in the Census of 1911 which records Elizabeth Jones as being the head of the family but still married; the family lived at “Rock View”, Tygwyn Road, Llandudno. Robert was employed as a porter for a drapery establishment.
In 1914, Robert enlisted into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was considered medically fit at Llandudno on 4 September 1914 and joined the regiment at Wrexham the following day. He was initially posted to the Depot (Wrexham) with a regimental number of 14539. It seems he was never posted to a battalion for he was discharged as medically unfit on 13 October 1914, being unable to march due to ankylosis of an ankle. Undeterred, Robert Jones enlisted into the Welsh Regiment on 17 July 1915. His new regimental number was 38525 and he joined the 9th (Service) Battalion. This battalion had formed at Cardiff in September 1914 and disembarked at Boulogne in July 1915 though Robert did not disembark until 17 December 1915 and joined the battalion as a reinforcement a few days later in the rank of lance corporal. On a date unknown, Robert was evacuated to England and put on the strength of the 12th (Reserve) Battalion before being discharged on 7 July 1916 for reason of sickness. He was awarded a Silver War Badge number 142273. Still undeterred, Robert Jones enlisted into the Royal Air Force on 1 May 1918 with a service number of 162656 in the rank of private 2nd class.
On 25 July 1918, Robert Jones married Margaret Smith at Conwy, their child, Robert Sidney Jones, having been born on 19 December 1917. Margaret became his next of kin and her address was recorded as 9 Craig-y-Don Parade, Llandudno. From 9 August 1918 until 20 January 1919, Robert served with No 7 Anti-aircraft Park. He was discharged 14 March 1919 as medically unfit for further duty. His address on discharge was 10 Augusta Street, Llandudno. Robert received a pension of 16s 6d for 52 weeks.
Robert Thomas Jones was accidentally killed on 19 April 1920 aged 29 at the Brig-y-Don Hotel, Llandudno and an inquest was held two days later. The cause of death on his death certificate reads: “while deceased was window cleaning, the ladder on which he was working slipped and he was precipitated to the basement below – severe head injuries – few minutes. Accidental death.” His address was given as 7 King’s Road, Llandudno. King’s Road was then in the Parish of Llanrhos so Robert was buried at Llanrhos Churchyard.
As related earlier, though Robert Thomas suffered an accidental death after discharge from the forces, his grave is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves’ Commission. Not every grave record is annotated with a name and address of family but Robert’s details are given as the son of Mrs Elizabeth Jones of 10 Augusta Street, Llandudno. Because Jones is such a common surname, it has been impossible so far to determine the fate of his wife and child.
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