L/Cpl 29175 Arthur Jones

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Arthur Jones was born in Liverpool on the 10^th January 1896, the son of William Arthur Jones and Ada Bradshaw who were married in 1891 in Liverpool. He was baptised at St Mary's, Liverpool.

At the time of the 1901 census Arthur was 6 years old and had two brothers; William A. aged 8 and Henry aged 1. Their parents were both 30 years old and born in Liverpool, William Arthur was a grocers clerk and his wife was at home with the children. 

By the time of the 1911 census the family were living at 26 Bodley Street, Everton. William aged 40 and Ada aged 44 had been married 20 years and Ada had borne 6 children, 1 of which had died. Arthur’s brother William Alexander aged 19 was an apprentice in a wholesale grocery. Arthur aged 15 was at school, as were his younger siblings – Harry 11, Frank 8 and Florence aged 7. Their father is working as a salesman in a wholesale grocers. Also living with the family is Ada’s 33 year old sister Florence Ann Bradshaw who works as a dining room cook.

His mother died aged 45 in 1912. 

Arthur enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance-Corporal No 29175 when he was killed in action, aged 21, on the 31st July 1917, the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17th Battalion on the left, and the 20th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21st and 90th Brigades were still pinned down and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

At this point a message was sent to Brigade HQ advising that Companies were digging in on and consolidating a line running south from Stirling Castle.

The 20th Battalion was relieved on the night of 3rd/4th August. During this time the Battalion lost one officer 2nd Lieut. G. G. Nickel and 42 men killed or died of wounds with six officers and 149 men wounded.

Arthur's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his Aunt Florence Ann Bradshaw. 

Arthur was remembered on the occasion of his Birthday in the Liverpool Echo on 11^th January 1918: 

JONES - In loving birthday remembrance of my dear nephew, Lance-corporal Arthur Jones, who fell in action, July 31 1917. 

God called you home, our loved one, 

Because he saw it best from the dreadful roar of the battle, 

To the land of peace and rest. 

- Never forgotten by his by Aunt Florrie and all at home 100 Herschel Street, Everton.

His father died aged 59 in 1929.

His Victory Medal and British War Medal, mounted on board for display, were sold at auction in 2014 for £60-£80.

We currently have no further information on Arthur Jones, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.