There was a Flintshire WW1 Index Card ( (Shotton F 17) ) written out for this soldier, but he was not on the Cenotaph, so I started to research him. Perhaps his next of kin had moved away before the Cenotaph was unveiled in 1927.
Samuel Jones was born circa 1890 in Llechylched, Anglesey, the son of Robert & Ellen Jones (nee Jones). The information I received from his birth certificate, courtesy of the kind Registrar, was that the information above is correct, he was born on the 19th July 1890 at Bryngwan, Llechylched, Anglesey (Bryngwran 14/E164).
The 1891 census sees the family living in Salem Street, Bryngwan, Anglesey, with Robert Jones, 31, the head of the household, he was an Agricultural Labourer and had been born in Heneglwys, Anglesey. His wife Ellen, 31 had been born in Llechylched. Their eldest son Robert, 5 had been born in Bangor, Carnarvonshire. Daughter Elizabeth Ellen, 3 and Samuel, 8 months had been born in Llechylched.
By 1901 the family had moved to 7, Well Street, Bryngwan, Llechylched and Robert, 45 was now a Miner in the Slate Quarry, and tells us this time he had been born in Bryngwan and only spoke Welsh. Ellen, 41, now says she had been born in Llanynghenedl , Anglesey. Robert was now 15 and Eliza E., 13, sons Samuel, 10, Richard, 8 and Griffith, 5 had all been born in Llechylched. Daughter Annie, 2 had been born in Bodedern, Anglesey.
The family had moved again by 1911, to 10, High Street, Bryngwan, Llechylched, Robert, 54, was now a General labourer and this time he tells us that he was born at Four Miles Bridge, Anglesey. Ellen, his wife was 52 years old and they had been married 26 years, 6 children had been born and were still living. Ellen also has changed her place of birth, this time, Bryngwan. Son Robert, 25 was a Coach Painter, Samuel, 20 was a House Painter & Decorator, Richard, 18 was a general Labourer, Griffith, 15 and Annie, 12 made up the family. This time, apart from Robert, they had all been born in Bryngwan.
It seems that Samuel Jones moved to Deeside at some point after the 1911 census but not before he enlisted at Beaumaris on the 8th September 1914, shortly after the war was declared. I have found his Attestation Papers and they state that he was now 6809, Sapper in the Royal Anglesey R.E. (Special Reserve). His description was: -Height – 5’ 8 ¼ “, Weight 124 lbs, Girth when fully expanded – 36 inches, range of expansion – 2 ½ “, Eyes – Blue, Hair – Lt. Brown, Church of England – Yes. Approving Officer signed at Beaumaris on the 9th September 1914
Samuel Jones in the British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920 tells us his Regiment Name: Royal Engineers, Army Reserve (Special Reservists). However his discharge papers give his regiment as Royal Anglesey R.E. (S.R.) Bn “B” Depot Company.
Sadly, he was not to be in the Army long because of his health. His discharge papers tell us that he was no longer physically fit for War Service, this was signed at A.D.M.S. Woolwich District, Woolwich, 25th May 1915 – 15th June 1915. Samuel had V.D.H. Mitral Regurgitation (Valvular Disease of the Heart) and after serving 281 days he was discharged on the 15th June 1915, but he had served briefly with the Expeditionary Force in France for 146 days, the other days before and after France was a total of 135 days. Place of Discharge – Kingsbridge Camp, Beaumaris, he was 25 years old.
The Army described cause of discharge – V.D. of Heart (Mitral) (Valvular Disease of the Heart)
Report of Medical Board dated 22nd May 1915. His medical reports – “Origin and cause uncertain. No history of rheumatic or scarlet fever. Sallow, anaemic man, very neurastheni *. Cardiac action very excitable. No result of active service, climate or service. Permanent, prevents ½. S.G. for D.G 2965 May be regarded as aggravated by service since declaration of war.” Expires 15th December 1917 (17 crossed out and 16 written) – Man died 24th March 1919.
*Neurasthenia – a type of neurosis in which a person is mentally and physically irritable and extremely fatigued.
There are other papers regarding Samuel’s condition, one stating that his disability was not from his Military Service, cause uncertain. However he was able to get a pension.
Samuel’s next of kin was given as his father Robert, whose address was, 10, High Street, Bryngwran, Valley, Anglesey (Crossed out), 5 Fairfield Road, Queensferry, N. Chester (Crossed out) * see lower down for another address (Pension)
His paper regarding applying for pensions, include the years from 8th November 1916 to 3rd February 1919, and on the 27th February,1918 Samuel gave a new address, 33, Dee View Road, Connah’s Quay, Nr. Chester when he was still being paid 22/- (possibly per week?).
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 about S Jones tells us that his first Theatre of War was France he entered it on the 14th December 1914. Remarks:- Dis. 392.XVI*.15.6.15. * (xvi) No longer physically fit for service.
So we know that he was in the Deeside area at some time, after his discharge possibly, as also his Flintshire WW1 Index Card (Shotton F 17) was written out by his wife, I believe, Mrs. Jones. At first I thought it was his mother, but the address given on the card was 48, Nelson Street, Shotton and I found that Samuel married in 1917. The cards were filled in and mostly signed by the same person, and dated, but in this case Mrs. Jones, only put the date of the 2nd February with no year, but they were all written and signed in the years 1919/20. She wrote that he died at home on the 23rd March 1919 from War Service. His wife Edith A. Jones (nee Banks) had probably gone to live with her brother Samuel Banks.
I searched the Electoral Registers for 1918 and there was a Samuel Banks living at 48, Nelson Street, Shotton there, I then searched for a possible marriage of Samuel Jones and found one for a Samuel Ogwen Jones and an Edith A. Banks in 1917 in Holywell, a Civil Marriage, but I found out by the kindness of the Registrar that this Samuel Ogwen, 25, was a Sign Writer, had a father Robert Jones, a Farm Labourer. ((Mold) HOL/40/66), this fits, “our” Samuel.
I had also found a death certificate ((FLNT/32/87) for the same Samuel Ogwen Jones in 1919, and again with the kindness of the Registrar, they tell me that he was age 28, he had been a Painter and Decorator and his death was registered by his brother Robert. “Our” Samuel’s elder brother was Robert, so I do believe this was him.
A Samuel Jones was buried in Connah’s Quay Cemetery on the 27th March 1919 in Grave no. 385 CON. He was 28 years old. I phoned Bereavement Services – 01352 703360/1/2 on the 6th October 2015 and Samuel was the only one in the grave.
I have traced Edith’s family and indeed she and her brother Samuel were living in this area in the 1911 census at 220 High Street, Connah’s Quay with their parents, Mathew & Hannah Banks, they had previously lived in 1901 at 24, Cestrian Street, Connah’s Quay and in 1891 they were in Bilston, Staffordshire, where they were all born. In 1911 Mathew & Hannah had been married for 21 years and 4 children had been born to them, although, sadly 1 had died.
On the Absent Voter’s List of 1918, Samuel Banks was found living at Nelson Street, Shotton, :-
BANKS, Samuel 48 285558 Spr., R.E.
There also a Flintshire WW1 Index Card, (Shotton L 7) at the Flintshire Record Office in Hawarden for Samuel Banks in the “Living” cards, as he survived. His address on that was 52, Nelson Street, Shotton.
There is another Samuel Jones on the Hawarden War Memorial who is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
He is not remembered on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database, as far as I can see, I will write to them to see if he can be remembered.