David Jones was born circa 1883, the son of Henry & Sarah Jones, and the 1891 census shows the family living at 14, Salisbury Street, Flint, Flintshire.   On this census Henry, 44, states he was a Bricklayer’s Labourer and had been born in Connah’s Quay.   His wife Sarah, 40, had been born in Flint.   The family must have had to move to get work as their eldest son William, 16, had been born in Farnworth, Lancashire and their 2nd son John, 14, had been born in Seacombe, Cheshire.  Young David, 7 and his 2 brothers, Edward, 4 and Jacob, 3 with sister Martha, 3 months had all been born in Flint.

By the 1901 census the family had moved again, this time to 9, Redfern Row, Chester Road, Flints, Flintshire.   Henry, 53, was now a General Labourer and tells us that he had been born in Flint, Sarah was now 53.   Son John, 22 and single was a General Labourer as well.   David, 18, was a Carter on a Farm, Edward 14 was a Cowboy on a Farm.   Jacob, 12 and Marth M. (sic) made up the family.

I cannot, at the moment find David on the 1911 census, but his family were living at 23, Castle St., Flint.   Henry, 64, & Sarah, 70,  had been married for 34 years and 7 children had been born to them, all still living.   Sons John,30 and Jacob, 21, with their father were all Farm Labourers.   Martha, 20 was single at “At Home.”

David Jones in the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 gave his enlistment place as Hawarden, giving credence that he was living in the area and Pentre is not far away, if he was living with his sister Martha.   It also confirms his regimental information.  This also mentions the Croix De Guerre, a French Honour not given away lightly, but I cannot as yet find out anymore about this, as I cannot find his Service Records, they may have been lost in the bombings of WW2. 

David Jones in the British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 tells us his Theatre of War was France and he entered it on the 4th January 1915 and he was accounted as dead.

On Ancestry there are the UK, WWI War Diaries, but I cannot find anything out about the time that David was with them.   –

Regiment or Unit:       Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own)

Sub Unit:         2nd Battalion

Division:          8th Division

Diary Dates:    1914 Nov 1 – 1915 Dec 31

Piece Description:       Piece 1731/1-3: 2 Battalion Rifle Brigade (1914 Nov – 1919 May)

Piece Number: 1731

David Jones in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tell us that his Legatees were his mother Sarah, who was paid £3 3s 1d on the 7th October 1918 and his sister Martha NEVIN (sic) (should be DEVIN) was paid David’s War Gratuity of £4 on the 23rd February 1920.

Additional Information on the Commonwealth War Graves was my clue to David.:- Brother of Mrs. M. Devin, of Saltney Terrace, Pentrie, Queensferry, Chester.

Martha was to marry James Devin on the 17th April 1911 at St. Mary’s Church in Flint, James gave his address as Shotton, they were both 21 years old and James was an Ironworker.

Her brother-in-law William Owen DEVIN was also in the Services as can be seen on the Absent Voters List 1918 below.

David Jones is also on the Flint War Memorial, so perhaps his parents were still living there in to put his name forward to be added to the War Memorial.   Please click on the link.