Drv C J Jones (1893 – 1915)

Charles James Jones was the son of George Jones of The Shakespeare Hotel and his wife Sarah Anne. He was baptised at St Leonard’s on 1st March, 1893. When he left school, Charles worked as a butcher.

Charles volunteered as a driver in the Royal Army Service Corps, but he died in hospital of pneumonia on 3rd April, 1915, while still training in the UK. He is buried in Bridgnorth Cemetery.

The funeral of Driver Jones, T4/070482 was reported in The Bridgnorth Journal of 10th April, 1915.

Charles Jones' brothers Mark and Alfred are also commemorated on the Bridgnorth War Memorial.

MILITARY FUNERAL
[Bridgnorth Journal 10th April, 1915.
On Wednesday last the funeral of Private C. J. Jones, A.S.C. (second son of Mr. Geo Jones, Shakespeare Hotel), took place at Bridgnorth. The deceased joined the colours on the 9th ult., and was sent to the training depot at Aldershot, where he enjoyed good health until the beginning of last week, when he contracted a cold which soon developed into pneumonia, from which he died in hospital on Saturday, aged 21. The body, encased in an oak coffin with brass furniture and engraved breast-plate, was conveyed from Aldershot by train, and arrived at Bridgnorth at 8.36 a.m. on Tuesday, when it was taken to the private residence of Mr. Geo Jones in High Street. On Wednesday the funeral cortege left for St. Leonard's Church, headed by soldiers in uniform, under the command of Lieutenant F. R. Cooksey, who preceded the hearse containg the coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack. Six khaki-clad soldiers acted as bearers. [List of mourners.] Arriving at the Church, the coffin was met by the Rev. W. G. Clark-Maxwell (rector), who conducted the service both here and at the Cemetery, where the interment took place. [List of floral tributes.] Mr R. Wilkes was the undertaker.