Pte 16008 Harold Jones

• Age: 22
• From: Stowbridge, Norfolk
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Harold Jones was born in the June quarter of 1894 in Stowbridge, Norfolk, 9 miles south of King’s Lynn. He was the son of Albert Jones and his wife Eliza Ann (nee Lenton) who married in St Johns Church, Waterloo in 1893. They had three children. Harold had younger brothers Albert Nelson and Llewellyn Edward.

At the time of the 1901 census, the family are living at 19 Ashdale Road, Waterloo. His father, Albert, is aged 30 and is a house joiner, who was born in Birkenhead, whilst his mother, Eliza Ann, is 33 and was born in Stow in Norfolk. The couple have two children Harold aged 6 who had also been born in Stow, and Albert who was 5 and had been born in Waterloo.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 53 Somerville Road, Waterloo, Liverpool. Harold aged 16, is an office clerk. His parents are both present and declare that they have been married for eighteen years and have had three children. As well as Harold and Albert, there was Llewellyn Edward aged 8. His father Albert is a house painter and his brother Llewellyn Edward aged 32, born 1879 is living with them, he is also a house painter and was born in Birkenhead. 

Harold enlisted on the 02nd September 1914 at St George's Hall, Liverpool and gave his age as 20 years and six months and his occupation as a clerk. He was five feet eight and a quarter inches tall, weighed 121lbs, with a 35" chest, a fresh complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England. He advised that he had served a 4-year apprenticeship in insurance, expired, and has lived out of his parents' house for at least three years. He gave as next of kin, his father Albert, of 53 Somerville Road, Waterloo.   

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 16008 when he was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 22, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

17^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

The Bn was in support to 19 & 20 Bn K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20^th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17^th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17^th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions)  in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.   

Harold was initially posted as Wounded, to Field Ambulance. His name appeared in the list of K.L.R. Wounded on 11th September 1916 but ten days later, on 21st September, he was reported Killed.

His parents had been informed earlier, according to a notice they placed on 16th September:

“Mr. And Mrs. Albert jones desire to thank all kind friends for letters and sympathy received during their sad bereavement in the loss of their beloved son, Harold, killed in action. 53 Somerville Road, Waterloo.”

The Liverpool Daily Post on 21st September 1916 contained the details that his family had obviously received:

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING, NOW REPORTED KILLED. 

King’s(Liverpool Regiment) - Jones, 16008, H.; 

Harold's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Harold earned his three medals.

His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his father.  From the pension card in the name of his mother it is not clear whether she was awarded a pension.

Tributes to Harold appeared in the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont:

“In loving memory of Private Harold Jones (Pals), who made the great sacrifice July 30, 1916. His friend Muriel.”

“In loving memory of Harold, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Jones, who was killed in action, July 30, 1916. (One of the Pals.)

   Not gone from memory, not gone from love,

   Just gone to his Father’s Home above

   To wait for those he loved.

• Mother, Father, Brothers, Waterloo.”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In loving memory of Harold, 1st Pals, killed in action July 30, 1916. - Sadly missed by Father, Mother, and Brother Bert (in King George Hospital, London), Waterloo."

H. Jones is listed on the Waterloo and Seaforth Memorial.

His brother Albert enlisted on 01st November 1915 in the 17th Bn. K.L.R.  He served overseas, and was discharged as no longer physically fit on 07th December 1918, aged 23.

By 1939 his parents have moved to 119 Lawton Road, Crosby.  His father is 69, retired, and his mother is 72.  Still living at home is Llewellyn, 37, a shipping clerk. Albert is married and lives in Liverpool.

His father died not long afterwards, aged 69, in the March quarter of 1940.  

His mother lived through World War II and died in 1949 at the age of 82.

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