Few of William’s military records have survived, and he has not been identified in parish records or census returns so details of his birth, family and occupation are not known.  His record card in Flintshire Record Office was signed by his mother, and the card provides his regimental number. Using this number his company (661) was identified using http://www.forces-war-records.co.uk

UK Soldiers Who Died in The Great war 1914 -19, accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk includes an entry for William Jones. This tells us that he was born in Hawarden and resided in Birkenhead. He enlisted in Liverpool. He was Lance Corporal T4/253047.  This source tells us he ‘Died’ which usually means his death was caused by illness or accident.

The Register of Sodiers’ effects in which the Army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for William. This tells us he died on 21st October 1918 in Tillam Military Hospital in Hanmer. Catherine, his mother received a total of £16 .. 2sh .. 8d in two separate payments.

Further details of  his probable service were obtained from http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk.   The letter T indicates that the man served in the Horse Transport section of the Army Service Corps (known as the Royal Service Corps from late 1918).  T1 to T4 mean that the man was enlisted into the first to fourth New Army depending on the number after the T.  T4 was also used for men affected by the compulsory transfer in 1916 of men who were serving in ASC units of the Territorial Force on to regular army terms.  Company 661 was formed April 1916, and was the Reserve Depot, based at Park Royal, London.  William’s mother stated on his record card that he served in the army for four years and a month so it seems that he enlisted in the first month or so of the war, but we have no information abut where he served.

It is not known whether he was discharged from the army or was home on leave when he died of pneumonia on 21st October 1918.  His mother records his address as being Hillside Cottage, Kinnerton.  The cottage is still there in Kinnerton Lane, easily identified by its distinctive windows. Catherine lived at Clay Hill, Aston, Queensferry..

Catherine buried William in All Saints churchyard, Higher Kinnerton.

This was a very sad time for Kinnerton as William died the day before Thomas Ithell of The Dale in Kinnerton was killed in action.  He is  also commemorated on the Kinnerton Memorial