Our People - Thomas Jones (Wilder) |
29 September 1916 |
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#25214 Sergeant Thomas Jones (Wilder)
18th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps Died 29 September 1916 aged 36 St.Souplet British Cemetery, Nord, France. Ref: II.AA.12. Thomas Jones was born 1879 in Walton-le-Dale to Sarah Jones, who was originally from Liverpool.
Thomas attested aged 38 years and 162 days with the Royal Flying Corps on 21 March 1916 at South Farnborough. He gave his home address as 48 Prospect Terrace (living with his mother) in Walton-le-Dale, and described himself as an aviator. He was 5 feet 3 inches tall and had a chest measurement of 35 inches when fully expanded and an expansion range of 3 inches. On the 9 September 1916 he was graded 1st class flyer and promoted to Sergeant. On 22 September he was reported 'missing', amended to prisoner of war in Germany, and on 29 September 1916 it was remarked that he had died while in captivity in Germany. He is buried in St.Souplet British Cemetery, possibly as the result of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission concentrating graves at the end of the war. There are other Royal Flying Corps men in the cemetery, including the youngest brother of Lawrence of Arabia, 2nd Lieutenant William George Lawrence. His mother was the sole beneficiary from his will and she received £13 3s. 7d., a further payment of 4s. and a war gratuity of £6. Thomas also appears on the Walton-le-Dale, - St.Leonard's C.E. WW1 Plaque. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. |
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