Walter was born in 1882 and lived in Blackbrook Cottage Mold. He appears on the 1891 census living there with his family. The head of the household was Thomas Jones 36 who was a ‘Farmer’s son’. His wife was M.E. Jones who was 34. Their listed children were Ada 11, Walter 8, Jane Maria 6, Catherine Elizabeth 3 and Florence 3 months.
The 1901 census shows the family still at Blackbrook but the head of the family was then Margaret E Jones a widow of 44. The listed children were Walter 18, Bessie 13, Florence 11, Gwladys 8 and Thomas P 6.
The 1911 census form was filled in by Walter. It lists Margaret E Jones a 55 year old widow as head. The form says she had borne 7 children who were all still living. Listed at home on census night were Walter 28 who was an assistant in a grocery shop. Gwladys 18 was a dressmaker’s assistant, Thomas Peter 16, was a coalminer and there was an Idris 8 who was at school.
UK Soldiers who Died in The Great war 1914 -19, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental details above (this source gives us the regimental number DM2/195038) and his death date. It adds that he enlisted in Mold. His medal card, also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medals and poignantly includes the word ‘Died’.
There is an index card for Walter in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record office in Hawarden. It is filed with the Mold Parish cards. He served in the army for twelve months.
British forces arrived in Mesopotamia (later to become Iraq) in 1914 to protect oil interests there during the Ist World War. International agreements and the surrender of the Ottoman Empire, subsequently led to the British controlling the region.
UNVEILING OF MEMORIAL TABLET AT SOUGHTON.
AN HONOURED SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
On Sunday evening, at the Calvanistic Methodist Chapel, Soughton, Mr. C.L. WIilliams J.P., unveiled a tablet to the memory of the late Mr. Walter Jones of Blackbrook Cottage, Mold, who died whilst on active service in the East, during the recent war. Before enlistment, the deceased soldier was a Sunday School Superintendent in connection this denomination. The Rev. J.H. Williams the Pastor) presided. The proceedings commenced with the reading of a portion of Scripture by Mr. Gabriel after which Mr. C.L. Williams unveiled the memorial tablet. Addresses bearing upon the high and manly qualities of the deceased soldier were delivered by Messrs. Edward Wright Thomas Downing, Benj. Bellis, R.D. Jones, Wm. Rich, David Evans, W.J. Roberts, Thos. Roberts, Peter Powell and E. Ellis Williams – Sacred solos were sung by Mr. John Lewis Jones- Following the unveiling ceremony, the “Dead March” in “Saul” was impressively played by Miss Margaret Williams of Lower Soughton. Appropriate hymns were sung. – Thanks were rendered on behalf of the bereaved family by Mr. Arthur Jones There was a very large congregation.
County Herald 9th January 1920
