Thomas Edward Jones was born 14 June 1894 and baptised 1 July 1894 at St Oswald’s, Oswestry. His father Edward and mother Ann lived on Oak Street, Oswestry and by 1901 were at 4 Porkington Cottages, (107 Willow Street). Edward was an agricultural labourer and later a gardener. Thomas had 8 siblings: George (1884), Emily (1886), Albert (1890), Elizabeth (1893), Annie (1897) and Samuel (1900 -1906), Edith (1904), and Florence M (1907). All born in Oswestry. Thomas attended Oswestry Council School. In 1911 he was living at Willow Street with parents and 7 siblings. Thomas and his brothers George and Albert are labourers in a leather works. By 1916 he was working for Mr A Edward Evans, a poultry dealer in Oswestry.

Thomas enlisted in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry early in 1916 and was posted as a draft to 5 Bn KSLI and went over to France on Christmas Day 1916. In September 1917, while serving with KSLI, he was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty when under fire in battle. He transferred to the 1/4 Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment when the 5 Bn KSLI was disbanded in February 1918. Thomas was KI on 9 April 1918 during Operation Georgette, Kaiser Offensive. The battalion was in the line at Givenchy. Thomas had been on home leave a few weeks before his death, news of which reached his parents early in May 1918 and shortly before his 23rd birthday. He had been killed by a shell which had exploded between him and about half a dozen of his comrades. He was buried at old King’s Liverpool Graveyard, Givenchy but then re-interred at Vieille Chapelle New Military Cemetery. Nearby in the same plot are the graves of over 20 men from the Loyal North Lancashire regiment all killed in action on 9 April 1918. Thomas is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church and Christ Church, Oswestry.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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