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Henry (Harry) Jones
SR/8054, Private, 2nd King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
Killed in action, 25 May 1915, aged circa 41
No known grave (Ypres [Menin Gate] Memorial, Belgium)
CWGC registered (Father of John Jones, of 62, King’s Rd, West Shore, Llandudno)
Harry Jones was born in Llanrhos circa 1874. He was the son of Owen and Mary Jones. Owen Jones was a labourer and sometime town porter. The couple had lived in Pen-y-ffrith and Bodarfon Row, Llandudno and Harry’s elder siblings were: William (b 1856), George (b 1859), Mary Jane (b 1864), Thomas Hugh (b 1867) and John (b 1869). Harry’s younger brother Alfred was born in 1877 and it was at that time when Mary Jones died. The Census of Wales for 1881 records John, Harry and Alfred as inmates at the Conway Union Workhouse. At the same time, Owen Jones and George lived at “Pen-y-buarth”, Great Orme’s Head. Ten years later, Owen Jones and his son Alfred were living at the same address – no record for that year has been found for Harry.
On 30 September 1893, Harry enlisted into the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry at Chester with a regimental number of 4158. He stated that his next of kin was his father, Owen Jones, of “Penybuarth”, Great Orme’s Head. He joined the Depot at Shrewsbury the following day and was posted to the 1st Battalion on 20 December 1893. His medical record indicates that he received treatment at Shrewsbury, Cork, Portland, Gosport, and Netley. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion on 24 September 1896 and sailed to India on the SS Victoria, landing on 26 October 1896. On 7 January 1897 at Calcutta, it was recommended that he be discharged from the army because of persistent blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids. He returned to England via Bombay and the SS Britannia, and was admitted to Netley Hospital on 5 March 1897. He was discharged on 30 March 1897. Notwithstanding having been discharged for being permanently unfit, at a time unknown, Harry enlisted into the Special Reserve of the KSLI at Liverpool with a regimental number of SR/8054. Special reservists did six months training with the army and thereafter three or four weeks per year.
The Census for 1901 records Harry (as Henry Jones) boarding at 63 Morecambe Street, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool; he was described as a bricklayer’s labourer. On 2 August 1903, Harry (as Henry) married Lillian Gately (b Barton 1877) at St. Nicholas’ Church, Liverpool. He gave his address as 27 Old Hill Street and his age as 27. The 1911 Census records the couple and three children, Lily Margaret (b 1906), John (b 1908) and Miriam Brooks (b 1910) living in at 13 Whitby Street, Liverpool. Another daughter, May, was born shortly after the census was taken. Lilian Jones died in 1914.
After the declaration of war, Harry was mobilised. He disembarked in France on 19 May 1915, apparently destined for the 1st Battalion KSLI that had been in France since 10 September 1914. In the event, the 1st went to Salinika and Harry joined the 2nd Battalion that had still been in India at the outbreak of war, landing at Le Havre on 21 December 1914. Harry probably joined the 2nd in a draft of reinforcements on 21 May 1915 whilst at bivouac at Busseboon. Harry’s was a short war for he was killed in action aged about 41 on 25 May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres. The battalion had been ordered to retake a trench lost previously but the attack failed with about 200 casualties. Harry’s body was never knowingly recovered and he has no known grave.
Known memorials:
- Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
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