b. 10/01/1892 Liverpool. d. 07/10/1916 Bancourt, France.
David Jones (1892-1916) was born at 3 Hutchinson Street, West Derby, Liverpool, Lancashire on 10th January 1892. His father, also David, was an iron moulder, and later cotton porter at Liverpool Docks. His mother was Jessie nee Ginochio and they married on 23rd February 1885 at St Nicholas Parish Church, Liverpool. They had eight children, with David the third eldest.
David Jones VC
David was educated at Heyworth Street Council School, Everton. David became a trainee motor mechanic with J Blake Motor Company in Liverpool. He also enlisted in 9th King’s (Liverpool Regiment) Territorial Force on 8th June 1909 and served until 7th June 1913. David enlisted again on 29th August 1914, joining 12th King’s.
On 27th May 1915, he married Elizabeth Dorothea nee Doyle at St Cecilia, Tuebrook. There would be no children. David’s Battalion was inspected by the King at Knighton Down, Larkhill on Salisbury Plain on 24th June 1915. The Battalion was moved to France on 24th July.
On 3rd September 1916 at Guillemont, France, the platoon to which Serjeant Jones belonged was ordered to a forward position and during the advance came under heavy machine-gun fire, the officer being killed and the platoon suffering a great many casualties. The sergeant led forward the survivors, occupied the position and held it for two days and two nights, without food or water, until relieved. On the second day he drove back three counter-attacks, inflicting heavy losses.
David was killed in action near Gueudecourt, France on 7th October 1916 during the Battle of Transloy Ridges. He was buried close to where he died and his body was later exhumed and reinterred at Bancourt British Cemetery, near Bapaume, France. The VC was presented to his widow by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 31st March 1917. The King asked her to wear it, but when she did, she was embarrassed when soldiers saluted her. She re-married in 1920 to William John Woosey.
In addition to his VC, he was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19. His widow presented his VC to his former employer, Joseph Blake & Co, as she was not willing to present it to the amalgamated King’s and Manchester Regiment. The VC was on loan to the Museum of Liverpool from August 1994 and in 2009 was presented to it by the Trustees of Joseph Blake & Co. The campaign medals are not with it.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: MUSEUM OF LIVERPOOL.
BURIAL PLACE: BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY, BANCOURT, FRANCE.
PLOT V, ROW F, GRAVE 20
Acknowledgements:
Kevin Brazier – Cemetery Plan.
James O’Hanlon – Images of the VC Stone and its accompanying information board at Whitley Gardens, Liverpool.
Mark Sanders – Jones VC Medal Card.