Mercantile Marine – SS Lizzie
Very little information has been discovered about Reuben Henry Jones. He appears to have been born at Newent, Gloucestershire around the second quarter of 1893. The census of 1901 shows him to be the second son of John and Ann M Jones who lived at 2 Brunswick Terrace, Gloucester, his father being a railway platelayer. By the time of the 1911 Census his parents were living at 56 Chequers Road, Gloucester and John Jones’ occupation was shown as ‘nurseryman’. The census records the couple as having 10 children, with nine surviving up to 1911. Reuben’s name does not feature in the census and being 18 years of age it is highly likely that he had gone to sea.
The only clue as to his fate is contained in a death notice which features in the Gloucestershire Chronicle of 27 July 1918. This announces his death at ‘Sailors’ Home, Falmouth’ on 18 July. This is almost certainly the Royal Cornwall Sailors’ Home, Falmouth, which was located at 3 Bank Place, from 1852-1956. The notice also states that his parents lived at Coney Hill Road, Gloucester. The CWGC Register notes that he was a crew member of SS Lizzie and at the time the register was compiled his parents were living at 1 Stanley Street, Gloucester. Research has yet to yield any information on the SS Lizzie, which was presumably a merchantman of some description.
Reuben Jones was 25 years old when he died (cause unknown — most likely illness) and was buried in Gloucester Old Cemetery, where a CWGC headstone marks his grave.
Researched by Graham Adams 19 December 2015