James Jones

9116 Private James Jones, 2nd Battalion Oxon & Bucks Light Infantry

Born on 4th July 1891 in Ringshall
Died on 29th November 1947 in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire

Family and Home 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

James Jones was born in Ringshall, Buckinghamshire, the eldest of the six children of George Jones and Isabella Ellen née Hobbs. He was baptised at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Little Gaddesden on 16th August 1891. His father was a Carpenter on the Ashridge Estate.

James’ siblings were:

  • Adelaide, born 22nd May 1895
  • Beatrice Amy, born 23rd February 1897 but died in March 1898 aged 13 months
  • Kathleen, born 25th March 1898
  • Harold, born 31st March 1901
  • Stanley, born 5th June 1903

In the 1891 Census, James’ parents lived at 6 Ringshall. However, the house was re-numbered 30 Ringshall by 1901 and in the 1901 Census, 9 year old James, a School Boy, was at home there with his parents, his sister Kathleen, 3, who was at school and a 24 hour old new baby, his brother Harold.

Education 7

The Little Gaddesden School Log Book notes that, on 2nd October 1894, two new pupils started school: Horace Ruffett of the Park and James Jones of Ringshall; James was then 3 years and 3 months old.

James remained at Little Gaddesden School until 7th March 1904, when he left from Standard 5 with a Certificate of Proficiency. Aged 12 years 9 months, he was then able to go out to work.

Marriage and Birth of a Daughter 1, 5, 6, 8, 15

In the 1st Quarter of 1911, James Jones married Bertha Kate Norwood; their daughter Beatrice Amy Jones was born on 24th April that year. James also became stepfather to Bertha’s son Sidney Ernest Norwood, born 25th March 1905.

Employment 5

The 1911 Census shows 20 year old James working as a Printer and staying as a boarder in the household of his brother-in-law Albert Charles Norwood, a Railway Footman, at 6 High Street, Stantonbury, Buckinghamshire. Albert’s wife Elsie Florence and their 10 month old son Albert Charles were also there. However, on Census night, James’ wife Bertha was staying with her parents William and Eliza Norwood in Cheddington.

The Jones Family in 1911 5

James’ parents George and Isabella Ellen were at 30 Ringshall in 1911 with their children Adelaide, 15, Kathleen, 13, Harold, 10 and Stanley, 7. George lived there until his death in 1921, Isabella until the 1930s and Stanley until his death in 1940.

Birth of two more Daughters 1, 6, 8, 9

James and Bertha’s second daughter, Dora Kathleen Jones, was born on 4th August 1913. The 1914 Electoral Register shows James living at 4 High Street, Bradwell, Buckinghamshire where their third daughter, Irene Martha Jones, was born on 6th March 1915.

Military Service 10, 11, 12, 13

Few records of James’ military service in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry have survived. However, his Service Number was 9116, which indicates that he had joined the regiment in the latter half of 1909. His Medal Roll Index Card shows that he served as a Private with the 2nd Battalion in France from 29th November 1914. A Soldier’s Medical Record entry then notes that, on 1st April 1915, James was admitted to No 4 Stationary Hospital at St Omer, France from the sick convoy suffering from Influenza. He was 24 years old and had completed 5 years’ service. He remained in hospital until 26th April and was then transferred to Ambulance Train No 11, presumably in need of further treatment or convalescence.

On the 1918 Absent Voters’ list for Bradwell, Buckinghamshire, James is recorded as a Bugler in the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. For his War Service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.

Men who have answered their country’s call in defence of a “Scrap of Paper”

James Jones is named on the Roll of Honour, which hangs in St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Little Gaddesden and lists 119 men from Little Gaddesden, Ringshall and Hudnall who served in the 1914 – 1918 War. Although he had moved to Stantonbury and married in 1911, his parents and brother remained living at 30 Ringshall. On the original Roll, James’ entry reads: Jones James, Oxon & Bucks Light Infantry. However, on the Centenary Revision of the Roll, he is recorded more precisely in the 2nd Battalion, Oxon & Bucks Light Infantry, as stated on his Medal Roll Index Card.

Rolls of Honour photos: Jane Dickson, Michael Carver

Birth of a Son 1, 3, 5, 6, 14

James and Bertha’s son William George Jones was born on 28th April 1920. The family continued to live at 4 High Street, new Bradwell and James worked as a Machine Minder at McCorquodale & Co, Envelope Makers and Printers in Wolverton.

Later Life 3, 6, 14

The 1939 Register shows James and his daughter Irene at the Bungalow, Calverton Lane, Wolverton, Buckinghamshire. James was still a Machine Minder (Printer) at McCorquodale’s and his daughter Irene was a Book Folder. His wife Bertha was not at home that night, as she was the Cook on duty at the King’s Head Hotel in Ivinghoe.

James later moved to 143 Church Street, Wolverton, which was his home address at the time of his death. He died in Renny Lodge, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire on 29th November 1947.

References

1. https://www.findmypast.co.uk England & Wales births 1837-2006 Transcriptions

2. Little Gaddesden Baptism Register 1813 – 1947

3. https://www.findmypast.co.uk England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007

4. Little Gaddesden Burial Register

5. https://www.findmypast.co.uk 1891 – 1921 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcriptions 

6. https://www.ancestry.co.uk The 1939 Register

7. Little Gaddesden School Log Books 1887 – 1906

8. https://www.findmypast.co.uk England & Wales marriages 1837-2005 Transcriptions

9. https://www.findmypast.co.uk Electoral Registers 1832 – 1932

10. https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2009/10/ox-bucks-light-infantry-1st-2nd.html

11. https://www.findmypast.co.uk British Armed Forces, First World War Soldiers’ Medical Record image

12. https://www.ancestry.co.uk  British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards 1914-1920

13. https://www.findmypast.co.uk Britain Absent Voters’ lists 1918-21 Image, Buckingham Division, Parish of Bradwell

14. https://www.ancestry.co.uk National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858 – 1995

15. https://www.findmypast.co.uk National School Admission Registers and Log Books 1870 – 1914

Do you have any questions about the information recorded here? Or do you have any further information that you can share with us about those from Little Gaddesden who died or fought for their country? In either case, please contact Jane Dickson at war-remembrance@littlegaddesdenchurch.org.uk.

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Research, text and (unless otherwise credited) photos: Jane Dickson