Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has provided the following:

Edward’s birth was registered in the December Q 1898 in the registration district of Houghton. He was the eldest child of Samuel and Ruth Jones (nee Marsden) whose marriage took place in the March Q 1898 in the registration district of Houghton le Spring. There were four other children from the marriage:
Henry born March Q 1901. Registered in Houghton le Spring
Annie Jane born December Q 1903. Registered in Houghton le Spring
Robert Marsden born March Q 1905. Registered in Houghton le Spring
John born June Q 1908. Registered in Sunderland.

By the time of the 1901 census Edward, his parents and younger brother Henry were living in two rooms at 15 Old Colliery Row, Chilton Moor, Houghton le Spring. His father Samuel was employed as a coal miner at a local colliery.

On the 23rd March 1908 tragedy struck the family when Edward’s mother Ruth, aged only 28 years, passed away at 3 Wellington Place, Southwick and was buried in Section W, Grave no. 11545 of Southwick Cemetery on the 26th March 1908.

The 1911 census shows Edward’s father as a widower living in four rooms at 15 Oswald Street, Castletown. With him were four members of the Reed family.

On the census return Samuel gave the information that he and Ruth had five children with one child dying. I have found a death registered in Houghton le Spring for John Jones in the June Q 1908. This was around the same time that Ruth passed away so there was the possibility that mother and child died during the child’s birth or very soon after.

I have searched 1911 census for Edward and his siblings without any success.

Prior to joining the Royal Navy Edward was employed as a miner. As no records of his service can be found I do not know when he enlisted into the Royal Navy, but he did serve as a Telegraphist at HMS Victory, Portsmouth, his service number was J/40462.

He would not have served on the flagship itself as the name HMS Victory was used as the name for Portsmouth Barracks.

At some time while in service Edward became ill and was transferred from Portsmouth to Monkwearmouth Hospital, Sunderland. Sadly he never recovered from his illness and passed away on the 26th March 1919. He was laid to rest on the 31st March 1919 in Section 3, Grave no. 775 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place.

On the 1939 Register there was a Samuel Jones residing at 20 Lily Crescent, Boldon, Co. Durham with his wife Esther E. Jones. There was a marriage in the March Q 1912 in Sunderland between a Samuel Jones and Esther E. Gilley. It would appear that William's father Samuel remarried, but further research would be needed.

Edward Jones is remembered in Castletown on C124.01 and C124.04, in Sunderland on S140.048 page 158, in Peter Gibson's book and on our List of Ships’ crews

The CWGC entry for Telegraphist Jones