JONES W H
JONES, William Henry
Regiment: 1st/7th Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Rank: Private
Number: 3068
Died: 14 July 1916
Aged: 20
Buried/ Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, France
Address: 5 Lime Grove, Hoole
PTE. W.H. JONES, HOOLE (KILLED)
“On Tuesday Mr. And Mrs. F. Jones, 5, Lime Grove, Hoole, received the sad news that their son, Pte. William Henry Jones, Royal Warwickshire Regt., had fallen in action. He was a bright, promising young fellow, only four days off attaining his 21st birthday and deep sympathy is felt for the parents in their loss. He had been in France eighteen months, having volunteered for the army at the beginning of the war. As a boy he attended Chester College School, and played full back for their winning football team. He played in the All Saints’ team also. Having entered the florists’ department of Messrs. Dicksons, Ltd., he eventually left to take up an appointment with Messrs. Perkins, Coventry, and was with that firm when he enlisted. Pte. Jones, who was over on leave five weeks ago, was a cheerful and popular soldier, and his comrades deeply deplore his death. The sad news that he had fallen was communicated to Mr. Jones (who is with Messrs. Dickson, Ltd.), in the following sympathetic letter: “Dear Mr Jones, - It is with greatest regret that I write to inform you of the death of your son, who was killed in action, and I wish to convey my deepest sympathy with you in your loss; also all his comrades wish me to do the same for them. No man was more popular, or more cheerful in the face of anything; no matter what the weather was or what the job to be done was, you could always rely on him to do his duty as a soldier and a gentleman. His death, mercifully, was quite painless. He was killed instantly, and he died, as I know he would prefer to die, fighting against our common enemy, and for everything an Englishman holds most dear. We all miss him very much, and hope you will bear his loss in the assured knowledge that his death has occurred in a cause that will be England’s gain. Yours very sincerely, T. Windridge, Sergt.”
Cheshire Observer 29 July 1916
“We regret to record the death in action of Pte H W Jones son of Mr F Jones 5 Lime Grove Hoole. Pte Jones, previous to the War, was employed for three years at Messrs Dickson’s nurseries and left to take up a position with Messrs Perkins of Coventry. He enlisted at the outbreak of the War in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and went out to France in the early part of 1915. He had been at the Front just 18 months. His father Mr F Jones landscape gardener at Messrs Dickson’s Chester has received the following letter from Sergt Windridge, the Royal Warwickshires;- “Dear Mr Jones - It is with the greatest regret that I write to inform you of the death of your son who was killed in action 14/7/16 and I wish to convey my deepest sympathy with you in your loss, also all his numerous comrades wish me to do the same for them. No man was more popular or cheerful in the face of anything. No matter what the weather was or the job to be done he could always be relied on to do his duty as a soldier and a gentleman. His death mercifully was quite painless, he being killed instantly and, as I know, he would prefer to die fighting our common enemy and for everything an Englishman holds most dear. We all miss him very much.”
Pte Jones was educated at the Chester College school under the headmastership of Mr Esplin, and played fullback in the winning football team of that school and All Saints’ School.”