Name
Walter Thomas Cresswell Jones
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Walter Jones was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Abbots Langley in Autumn 1918. He was initially identified from the Absent Voter Records and was not recorded elsewhere in the Abbots Langley Parish records. In the Absent Voter Records Walter was listed serving with the Royal Marine Light Infantry (RMLI), and his address was given at “Great Westwood” Farm, Abbots Langley.
Walter was born on 31st January 1874 at Fearnley in Hampshire. He was one of five children born to George and Rosamond Jones. In the 1881 Census the family lived at “The Vicarage”, Hartley, Hampshire, where George was the Vicar, and employed six staff – a Governess, Cook, Housemaid, Nurse, Nursemaid and Gardener. By 1891 Walter had moved from the family home and was listed in the Census living at Bradfield College, near Reading. Walter progressed from School to the Army, joining the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 1st September 1893 and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1st July 1894. He served in the South African War and was present at several actions. He was mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette three times and in recognition of his services during the war in South Africa was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 9th November 1900, and was also promoted to the rank Captain.
Between 1900 and 1908 he served on the China Station and in 1911 married Hildred St Glair Buxton. At the time of the 1911 Census the couple lived at the Royal Marine Barracks at East Stonehouse, Devonort, Plymouth. Walter was promoted to the rank of Major in 1911, and by 1913 the couple had three children.
On 17th July 1911 Walter was employed by the Naval Intelligence Department at the Admiralty, and remained there until 2nd April 1915. He then served during the Dardanelles campaign and was again mentioned in Despatches. He became the Assistant Director, Operations Division with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 17th September 1915, and continued to serve through to the end of the War.
The Autumn 1918 Absent Voter Record noted that Walter’s address was “Great Westwood” Farm, which was situated at Bucks Hill, close to Langleybury. Through appearing in the Absent Voter Record for Abbots Langley he qualifies as an Abbots Langley man, but he was not recorded anywhere else in the Abbots Langley Parish records, and was also not recorded in the Langleybury records. Lieutenant Colonel Walter Jones returned to “Great Westwood” Farm after the War, as did Archibald Howe, who also served in the War. It is presumed that Walter owned the Farm, whilst Archibald was employed as a Gardener.
Walter Jones survived the War.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
