This soldier is also named on the Hawarden Memorial.
Francis George Jones was born in 1894 in Pontypool, Monmouthshire. He was the brother of John Francis Jones who had died at Gallipoli on the 22nd August 1915 just under a month before. Please follow the link to John Francis’s page for his story. The name Francis was important to the family as it is in the names of the two brothers and their father John Francis.
The fact they were brothers was denoted on the Committee member’s list of the Fallen for the Cenotaph at Connah’s Quay/Shotton.
The 1911 census provides us with information about this family. They were living at 19 Brook Road, Shotton. The head of the household was widower John Jones. He was 48 and had been born in Staffordshire. He was an Ironworker. His listed children were John Francis aged 22 a labourer in the Ironworks who had been born in Staffordshire. Minnie was 18 and worked at home as a ‘servant’. She had been born in Pontypool. Frank (the family name for Francis George) was 17. He was also an Ironworker and had been born in Pontypool. Lily was 16 and ‘at home’ she had been born in Pontypool. Stanley was 12 and at school. He had been born in Wednesbury, Staffordshire.
Staffordshire, Pontypool and Shotton. This family clearly followed the work where the ironworks were.
(The family had been living at the same address in the previous census of 1901. The mother, Rachael had still been alive then. She was 40 and had been born in Tipton, Staffordshire)
UK soldiers who died in the Great War 1914 -19, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental information above left and also that Francis George was born in Pontypool, Monmouthshire and enlisted in Shotton. His Medal Index Cards, 1914-1920 as well as listing his medals, tells us that his first Theatre of war was France and he entered it on the 17th July 1915. Just over two months later he was to lose his life.
He was presumed to have been killed on or before the 25th Sept 1915 which tells us he was missing in action. He is named on the Loos Memorial which tells us he died at The Battle of Loos.
The UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers, includes an entry for George Francis. It tells us that his Death was presumed as on or since the 25th September 1915 and the sole Legatee was his father John Francis who was paid £1. 16s 6d on the 30th January 1917 and his War Gratuity of £3. 10s 0d on the 30th August 1919.
I have transcribed the War Dairy of the 9th Bn Royal Welsh Regiment 20th September – 30 September 1915 -Please contact the website for me to send you a copy of them.
