Thomas James Jones

Rank:

Driver

Regimental number:

11586

Unit at enlistment:

4th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Commemorated at:

Colborne Street Methodist Church

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Lancashire

Birth city:

Greater Manchester, Bolton

Address at enlistment:

8 Park Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

8 Park Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Labourer

Employer:

Brantford Screw Works

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX May 17, 1915

Received Word From Her Boy

Mrs. Peter Jones, 8 Park Avenue, has received the following postcard from her son, Pte. Thomas J. Jones, of the 4th Battalion Canadian Contingent, who was recently reported wounded, written from the British Hospital, Hotel Bellevue, Wimereux:

Dear Mother,

A few lines to let you know that I am in the best of health. I will be at Daubhill, near Bolton, Lancashire, England, as I will be there by the time that you get this. Keep your heart up. I am not dead yet.

Your loving son,
Thomas

He was wounded at the Battle of Langemarck, though no particulars as to the precise nature of the wounds have yet been received by his mother here.

BX May 10, 1915

A telegram announcing the wounding of Private Thomas James Jones in the fighting which took place recently at Langemarck, was received in the city this morning by his mother, Mrs. L. Jones, 8 Park Avenue, from the adjutant-general at Ottawa. No details were given concerning the extent of the injuries, but particulars were promised as soon as received in Canada.

Private Jones lived in Brantford for nine years, during which time he has served several years with the Dufferin Rifles, he being connected with C. company at the time of his enlistment. Four years ago he left the city and for three years served with the First King’s Regiment in England, returning at the end of his term to his home in Brantford. He was formerly employed at the Brantford Screw works.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. Jones, one sister, Elizabeth, and one brother, Peter, a corporal in the Boy Knights, reside at 8 Park Avenue. Private Jones, who wrote home recently, stating that he was a driver on a water wagon in service in France, is 25 years of age.

BX June 28, 1915

Is Returning Home

Word was received by his mother today that Pte. Thomas James Jones of the 4th Battalion, who was recently severely wounded in the leg, would be on his way home by the time she received the letter he wrote. “I have had my dose and am now coming home so don’t worry,” said Private Jones.

BX July 22, 1915

Shock Wound Home – Sufferings of Pte. T.J. Jones Who Has Returned From Front

To come through the terrible fighting at the battle of St. Julien, shot through the leg by a German bullet and afterwards nearly blown out of the trench by the explosion of a shell; were some experiences that Pte. Thomas James Jones of the first Dufferin Rifles contingent passed through. Pte. Jones returned home to Brantford yesterday morning and is now at his home, 8 Park Avenue east, suffering severely from shock.

Pte. Jones left Brantford with the first active service contingent that the Dufferin Rifles sent away. He was employed as a laborer here and lived with his parents on Park Avenue. Born in England and raised there he had seen one and a half years’ service in the King’s Liverpool Regiment. When the call came for recruits last August Private Jones was among the first to volunteer his services, and he left Brantford on August 22.

The sight of the war he says is beyond description, but he came through all safely until the terrible fighting at St. Julien, where so many Canadians were killed or wounded. The effect of the bursting shell was really worse on Pte. Jones that the bullet in his leg, as the dirt hurled through the air by the force of the explosion struck him on the back of the head and on the back, causing paralysis of one hand and great distress from shock. He was taken first to the field hospital, but later transferred to the hospital at Leicester, Eng. It will be some time before Pte. Jones is restored to his normal health, the shock having completely undermined his nervous system.

BX September 8, 1915

Was Taken to Hospital – Private T.J. Jones, Invalided Home, Ill From Effects of Shell-burst

Private Thomas James Jones, son of Mrs. Peter Jones, 8 Park Avenue East, Invalided home after Langemarck, where he was wounded in the leg, has been removed to the General hospital, he having lost consciousness Saturday evening from the effects of earth falling on him after a shell burst. He recovered consciousness later, but his memory has gone almost entirely and his voice and hearing have been greatly weakened. Mayor Spence and the Patriotic league are seeing that he receives every attention and all needed to return him to strength. This morning it was reported that his condition was much improved.

BX September 3, 1918

Mrs. Thomas Jones received word yesterday that her husband Thomas Jones, who enlisted in the navy over a year ago, had been wounded and sustained injuries to his leg which probably will leave him crippled for service. Mrs. Jones resides at 8 Park Avenue East.

BX July 27, 1915

A Man to Take My Place – Pte. T.J. Jones

HAMILTON, July 27 – “Is there a man in the crowd who will take my place?” was the appeal made by Private Thomas Jams Jones, 8 Park Avenue East, Brantford, when he spoke at the recruiting meeting in Gore Park Saturday night.

Jones was wounded in the battle of St. Julien, when hit in the head by shrapnel. He has been invalided home with a paralyzed arm. When recovered from his injuries he expects to return. In the meantime he reiterates the cry from the trenches for more men.

“I want a man to take my place,” he shouted.

“Come on, who will take his place?” asked Lieut. McQueen, the local recruiting officer who was present.

“I will,” replied a lusty voice, and the speaker stepped to the motor truck and gave his name to the officer. Two others came forward, and before the evening was over 25 men had enrolled.

It was a good night’s work, but Lieut. McQueen was far from satisfied, and addressing the crowd he berated the Canadian born in solid fashion for their indifference to the call.

“Private. Jones, wounded in action asked for a man to take his place,” said the lieutenant. “Three men responded. Two of them were Englishmen, and the third a Scotchman.

“Where are the Canadians? I am a Canadian-born myself, but I tell you I never have been so ashamed of my nationality as I have been in the past couple of weeks. If an appeal from a wounded soldier won’t stir you what will?”

There it is in a nutshell. Why the indifference? Why the refusal on the part of the native sons to rally when needed? Have you a reason, or just a coward’s excuse?

BX February 27, 1917

Local Woman’s Protege Killed – Mrs. Peter Jones Notified of Glorious Death of Pte. Louis Goosken

Mrs. Peter Jones, 8 Park Avenue, East, has received the sad news that her Protege Private Louis Goosken’s, of the Grenade Company of the Belgian army, has met a glorious death for his country, being killed in action at Dixmude on December 2. The remains have been interred in the cemetery at Adinkerke.

Some time ago, Pte. Gooskens found Mrs. Jones’ address on the battlefield, apparently on a letter addressed to her son, which had been left on the battlefield when her son, Thomas J. Jones, who was invalided home two years ago, was wounded. He wrote asking if she would be his friend, as he had never been able to find trace of his family after the German invasion. Mrs. Jones met his request, and in addition to sending chatty letters, also sent a parcel for Christmas last year. The parcel contained two pair of socks, and a package of cigarettes. On Saturday afternoon she received a parcel containing one pair of socks and a cake, together with a letter from the Belgian Minister of War, (written in French) informing her that her Protege had died for his country..

Apparently the parcel Mrs. Jones sent became mixed up at the front, as she had not sent the cake, while the cigarettes and one pair of socks were missing.

Though she had never met her son’s comrade in arms, Mrs. Jones was greatly distressed by the news of her Proteges death.

BX April 7, 1917

Two Recruits Secured Here for Navy – T.J. Jones and S.A. Pickering are Both Veterans of this War

Excellent results are being obtained by Petty Officer George Holmes, of the R.N.C.V.R. who is recruiting in this city. Over the holiday he signed up two men, both returned soldiers, these making three recruits since he started recruiting last Wednesday. In addition he has another man in tow and expects to sign him up shortly. He is appealing to the boys of Brantford to remember that Lord Nelson’s signal is still flying at the mast head – “England expects that every man this day will do his duty.” The new jack tars are Thomas James Jones of 8 Park Avenue, who is an Englishman and single, Jones was at the front with the 4th Battalion and returned home with his discharge. He has now recovered sufficiently for further service and is this time going with the navy. The other man, Stanley Addison Pickering, who is a married man, went over with the 125th Battalion and was sent back as medically unfit. He has however, improved in health and is now joining the navy. He lived at 130 Market Street and is an Englishman by birth. He was a chauffeur before enlisting.