Charles Lightfoot (or Charles Jones) was listed on the Memorial in Bronington as Charles Lightfoot. It proved to be very difficult to locate any military information about anyone with that name.  His index card in the Flintshire Roll of Honour in The County Record Office in Hawarden also used the name Lightfoot but crucially it gave us his regimental number and regiment. This led to a trawl of military records which resulted in discovering that as far as the army was concerned at least, his name was Charles Jones. His mother was Mary Lightfoot. She stated on the card that he had served for 7 months.

The 1911 census  records a Lightfoot family living in Fens Lane Bronington. The head of the family was George Lightfoot 49, a Farm Labourer who had been born in Malpas Cheshire. His wife of 10 years was Mary Lightfoot 39 who had also been born in Malpas. The form tells us she had given birth to 8 children, one of whom had not survived. The children listed in the household were Charles 14, who was working as a Domestic Gardener, George was 9, Thomas 8, Samuel 7, John 6, Arthur 4 and Annie 1.

UK Soldiers Who Died in The Great War 1914-19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental details on the left of this page. It also tells us that Charles Jones had been born in Malpas, Cheshire and that he had enlisted in Whitchurch. This source tells us he was Killed in action.  His Medal Index Card, also on Ancestry, lists his two medals. He died in the battle of The Somme.

The Register of Effects in which the army calculated monies owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for Charles Jones. It confirms that he died on 18th August 1916 in action in France. The total sum of £5 .. 13sh ..6d was awarded to his sole Legatee – his mother Mary Lightfoot