John Arthur Jones was born in Holywell during 1885 and lived in Pen-y-Ball Street, Holywell.   His parents were Benjamin Jones, who was employed as a Coal Miner and Abagail Jones.  He had three sisters – Margaret Ann Jones, Sarah Ellen Jones and Edith Jones and one brother, Charles Jones.

Little is known of his early life, but in 1905 he married Sarah Catherine Dyson and they lived in Wood Houses, Greenfield, Flintshire.

The 1911 Census tells us that the head of the family was John Arthur Jones aged 27, who was employed as a General Labourer.  His wife Sarah Catherine Jones aged 25 and their three children – Margaret E Jones aged 6, John E Jones aged 5 and Bennie Jones aged 2 years.

At the outbreak of the first world war John enlisted as a Private with 5th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers.   During September 1915, whilst on home leave from the Regiment, both he and his wife Sarah Catherine were found dead in the house. They had both committed suicide, she had taken poison and he had cut his throat. The inquest was held on Thursday 14 October 1915 at the Court House, Holywell, Flintshire, before Mr F Llewellyn-Jones, County Coroner.  The verdict of the jury was suicide whist temporarily insane.  The full transcript of the incident can be found in The Flintshire Observer Newspaper dated 14 October 1915, headed ‘ The Greenfield Tragedy’.

He is also remembered on the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.

There is no Flintshire Roll of Honour card for John Arthur Jones Jones at the County Archives Office, Hawarden.   Details of his medals were obtained from www.forces-war-records.co.uk.