237138 Pte. Ernest Jones British Army Devonshire Regiment from:Constable Street, Abbey Hey, Manchester Ernest Jones took the Queens shilling at Palatine buildings in Manchester. Volunteered Sept 1914. Believed to have served as a regular soldier prior to WW1 with the Devonshire Regiment. Saw action in Gallipoli and landed at Anzac beach. Took part in fierce fighting and was severely wounded at Suvla bay (most likely awaiting evacuation when the Turkish snipers and artillery took advantage of the exposed troops). Believed to have been rescued by an ANZAC and carried to safety. He was invalided to Cairo and returned to England. Then served in the Labour Corps and one news article at time of his death says he was wounded at Poperinghe, France. Unsure if this is a mistake in the article or not.
He holds the 1914-15 Star, General Service and Victory medals. Also the silver war badge. Mum and her sisters remember dressing his knee wounds which weeded until his death aged 92 in the 1970s. He was a very tough man always immaculately dressed and wore a glove. Mum says he was so soft and warm hearted and very kind but had a tough side which required 3 men to get him into an ambulance as he fought so hard.
His son, also Ernest, married a German girl aged 19 and he took her as his own and taught her English when all other women refused to speak to her. Funny story of him marching off to the butcher and threatening him as he refused to serve my German Gran.
He was a dedicated Christian and carried a prayer written by his Vicar on the back of a card of 2 tommies in uniform walking down a road when the Angel of Mons appears. A cross is formed in the clouds.
A newspaper article on his death says 'he saw service in many lands' and "after toasting the Monarchs health several times with the colour sergeant still had twopence change." Wished I could have met and heard his stories.
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