MY WAR DEAD
JONES, Arthur Percy - died 1st October 1915.
Arthur Percy Jones was born in Peckham, Surrey, on 17th June 1895, being the 4th son and 7th child of Charles John Jones, a locksmith, and his wife who was born Emily Constance Weston. Arthur was baptied in Peckham in July 1895 and was recorded in the 1901 census living with his parents in Peckham; sadly, his mother died later in 1901. By 1911, Arthur's father had remarried and Arthur was living with them, still in Peckham, but he subsequently lost his step-mother, too, as she died in 1912.
Arthur's service record has not survived but an entry in the 'National Roll of the Great War' states that he volunteered in London in September 1914, joining the Berkshire Regiment, and this and other sources give further information also. He served in France from 30th May 1915, being deployed with the 5th Battalion of the Regiment at Ypres and Festubert; tragically, Private Arthur P Jones was presumed killed in action near Loos on 1st October 1915, aged 20, but he has no known grave. Arthur is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Arthur left an informal 'Soldier's Will', dated 23rd May 1915, in which he bequeathed £5 to each of his 2 surviving sisters, Nellie Jones and Jessie A J Jones; he left the rest of his property to his father, Charles J Jones. The Register of Soldiers' effects records that an initial sum was shared between Arthur's sisters, Nellie Hangge and Jessie A J Jones, and a subsequent sum was shared between his sister Jessie and brother-in-law Joseph; it is presumed that Joseph was my grandfather, Joseph Hangge.
Arthur Percy Jones was a younger brother of Nelly Alice Jones, first wife of my grandfather, Joseph Hangge, and mother of my uncle, Donald James Hangge.