Lives of the First World War

known 1st January 1880

Lance Corporal, 9918, East Lancashire Regiment, 6th Battn. Born Blackburn, residence St Annes, enlisted St Annes. Killed in action on 14/01/17, aged 28. No known grave, but named in the Memorial Chapel at St Annes Parish Church, on the memorial in Ashton Gardens and on the Basra Memorial, Panel 19. Paul (bn 1888Q3) was the eldest of five sons of Paul and Annie Jones (nee Kelly), the others being Thomas (bn 1890Q3), William (bn 1892/Q3), Samuel (bn 1895Q2) and Ernest Royston (bn 1900Q1, died 1900Q4). Originally from Blackburn the family lived in various locations in St Annes-on-Sea, including Nelson St (now Holmefield Rd), and St David’s Rd North (near the gasworks where father Paul was a stoker). Paul was educated at Heyhouses School and served in the army for seven years in India but his time had expired in 1913. He volunteered again when war broke out and was sent to France but was hospitalised with rheumatic fever and in a critical condition. He recovered and was sent to Egypt in 1915. In November 1915 the St. Annes Express published a letter written by Paul from a transport ship: “There are six St. Annes lads on board ship and we are all having a very enjoyable time of it. They are Sydney Walton, the two brothers Harrison. Joshua Barrow, Jake Brookes and myself. It is the first time for the other lads to go into active service, but it is my second time; my first was in France last November.” The news of Paul’s death in 1917 in Mesopotamia was received by his fiancée Miss Mollie Higgins of St. Andrews Rd South. All Paul’s brothers also served in the war but at the time of his death two of them, Tom and Sam, were in hospital. All three brothers survived as is evidenced by a wreath laid at the unveiling of the Ashton Gardens War Memorial in October 1924 with the message: “In loving memory of L/Cpl Jones: from his brothers, Tom, William and Sam. Baby Ernest is buried at St Annes Parish Church. Sources of Information CWG. Soldiers who Died. Census (1891, 1901, 1911), St Annes Express (letter home, 12/11/15, 26/1/17 KIA, WM unveiling Oct 1924), St Annes Parish Church Burial Register.

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