Corporal Alfred George Jones
27563 Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)
85166 36th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers
Alfred George Jones b. 1890 was the son of Robert Jones and Sarah Ann Astbury who both originated from Madeley, Shropshire. The family moved from Shropshire to Westwood, Notts just before Alfred was born. They lived at Old Westwood and siblings were:- Frederick Joseph b. 1885, Robert Cecil b. 1887, Reginald b. 1889 all born at Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, followed by Alfred b. 1890, Mary Ann b.1894, Elsie b. 1900 and John William b. 1902, all born at Westwood.
Alfred’s father Robert, a railway plate layer and blacksmith died in 1902, aged 42 and is buried at St. Mary’s, Westwood. Alfred’s mother Sarah is listed on the 1911 Census as a widow, living at Old Westwood. Alfred is still living at home at that time, occupation given as coal miner.
Alfred enlisted with the Sherwood Foresters at Nottingham on 21st June 1915 aged 24 years and 10 months. He gave his occupation as coal miner/loader and employer as James Oakes & Co Ltd. He was 5 foot 6 inches in height and his record notes that he had defective teeth and would be fit for duty subject to dental treatment. He was immediately transferred to the Northumberland Fusiliers serving at home in the UK until 6th March 1916 when he embarked for France. On 30th June 1916 after only a year’s service Alfred was promoted to Corporal. Whilst at the front Alfred was to receive the tragic news that his brother Reginald Francis Jones had been killed in action on 5th July 1916. In early September Alfred sustained a wound to his thigh, gunshot and shrapnel are both mentioned on his record. He was admitted to hospital in Calais and a few days later transported back to the UK aboard Hospital Ship SS Stad Antwerpen. He was first treated in the UK at Middlesex Hospital, Clacton-on-Sea for 14 days and then transferred to Hylands VAD Hospital, Chelmsford where he remained for 103 days until January 1917. After a 10 day sick leave furlough back home at Old Westwood, Alfred returned to Northern Command Depot Ripon in Yorkshire where he served for 75 days.
On 7th May 1918 Alfred embarked from Dover to Calais for a second tour of duty in France. Fortunately he sustained no further wounds but was admitted to hospital in late June 1918 suffering with influenza contracted in the field and did not return to the front until a month later. He remained in France until after the war ended, returning to the UK on 19th December 1918 being finally demobbed to the class Z reserve and returning home to Old Westwood on 17th January 1919. At the end of his service he was examined by a medical board and found to be 40% disabled, the scar tissue on his thigh was in good condition but his leg was still weak from loss of muscular power. He was awarded a gratuity of 6 shillings per week for 52 weeks only, expiring in January 1920. His disability being attributed to his service during the war and not caused by any serious negligence or misconduct on his part. Alfred left with a good conduct record ‘having incurred no regimental entry for misconduct during his service.’
Alfred was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals.
Alfred’s brother Robert Cecil Jones also served and survived WW1.
In 1923 Alfred married Doris Ivy Truman from Selston and in 1924 their daughter Ruby was baptised at St. Mary’s, Westwood.