Percival Martin Jones
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Martin John Jones, a miller and baker and later a farmer was born in Newton. He was first married to Elizabeth Baxter and they had a number of children including Mary Elizabeth born 1865 , William Martin born 1869, John Heathcote born 1870, Robert born 1873, Annie born 187, Kate born 1877, Heathcote born 1880, Minnie Jones born 1882. Elizabeth died in 1882. On 17th October 1888, at Scarrington, Martin married Elizabeth Annie Collishaw and they had three children - Thomas Henry and Emma Bibby born in 1888 and 1889 and Percival Martin born 27th June 1892 who was baptised on 17th July 1892. The family lived in Aslockton area all their lives. In 1911, Martin who was a retired farmer and Elizabeth were living with their son Thomas Henry . Percival was serving with the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards at St Georges Barracks, Hanover Square, London.
Percival enlisted into the army in Nottingham between 2nd February 1909 and 17th February 1910 and served with the 1st Battalion and later the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. He landed in France on 12th September 1914. Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France. grave reference I.B.11
The war diary for his battalion on the date of his death 19th October 1915 reads :- The Battalion took over support trenches from 4th Grenadiers opposite ‘Big Willie’ moved around 3.00pm. No.3 Coy. was in the front line, No.4 Coy. in support. Great difficulty in getting No.1 and No.2 Coys. in owing to no orders having been received as to where they should go. Eventually they were put into same old trenches for the night which were in a very dirty condition and needed a great deal of cleaning. Several unlucky shells caught No.1 Coy as they were coming up. Lieutenant F A W Browning joined. (Lieutenant later Captain Frederick Arthur Montague Browning) Casualties 9 NCO’s and men killed and 8 wounded. The family headstone reads ;- Martin Jones / who died Jan 24th 1915/ aged 73 years / also of Elizabeth Annie wife of the above / who died feb 27th 1916/ aged 65 years/ and of their son / Percival Martin / 2nd Grenadier Guards/ killed in action in France/ Oct 19th 1915 / aged 23 years / peace perfect peace.
