No 4 Company, Royal Army Medical Corps
Frederick Jones was born at Blakeney in 1898 and baptised, as Fred, at Holy Trinity Church, Drybrook on 8 January 1899. He was the youngest son of Thomas Jones (1860-1911) a Police Constable (later Sergeant) of Gloucestershire Constabulary and Tryphena Ann Jones (formerly Moore) (1864-1919). After his father died on 25 February 1911 the family had to vacate their accommodation at the Police Station in Church Square, Blakeney and move to Pitching Green, near Blakeney. They later moved to Quabbs Lane, Drybrook where they were living when Fred joined the Army in 1917.
Fred Jones attested at Lydney on 29 March 1917 and was given the service number TR7/14060 in 95th Training Reserve Battalion, later 95th Young Soldier Battalion. He gave his age as 18 years and four months, his address as Quabbs Lane, Drybrook, and his occupation as shop assistant. On 12 December 1917 he was re-numbered 136447 and posted to 4th Reserve Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. He was then transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) on 9 February 1918 and posted to No 4 Company RAMC on 2 April 1918 for duty at Victoria Hospital, Netley. Fred did not have an exemplary conduct record being sanctioned on a number of occasions for offences such as disobeying orders and once for throwing a bandage during a lecture.
On 24 August 1918 he was admitted to Victoria Hospital, Netley with appendicitis and he spent the last forty days of his military service in the hospital, dying there at 4.50am on 2 October 1918 of pneumonia contracted as a result of complications of his original illness.
Fred Jones’s remains were returned home and he was buried with his father in Blakeney Parish Cemetery. The grave is marked by a traditional, large, private, Forest stone headstone: the inscription reads: ‘Also of Fred / their youngest son / who died Oct. 2nd 1918 / aged 19 years / Thy will be done’.
Researched by Eric Nicholls 4 October 2019