Private Norman Jones

 

Norman Jones was born (as Robert Norman Jones) on 5 April 1893 at Dernashesk, Ely, County Fermanagh, the sixth of eight children of farmer (previously soldier in the 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers) Samuel Jones and his wife Margaret (née Philips). His father died in the Enniskillen Workouse when Norman was just twelve years old. At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Tullyrain, County Fermanagh, where he worked as a farm servant.

Jones enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 3 March and 9 April 1915 (No. UD/241). On 6 October 1915 the squadron, which was then serving as divisional cavalry to the 36th (Ulster) Division, embarked for France. Jones, however, remained at the reinforcements depot at Enniskillen.

In April 1917 Jones was one of ten men of the reserve squadron who transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) (No.105466) – together with around ten from the South Irish Horse. They embarked for France on 24 April. Nothing further has been discovered about his service with the MGC through 1917 and 1918.

On 13 March 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

By 1921 Jones was living at Derryscobe, County Fermanagh, and working as a labourer. On 29 June that year he married Annie Elizabeth Devlin in the Mullaghdun Church of Ireland Parish Church.

 

This page last updated 4 May 2023.