John Jones – Canadian Railway Troops, 1st Battalion

Corporal John Jones – Canadian Railway Troops, 1^st Battalion

Birth and Family Background

John Jones was born in 1894 in Swansea. He was the son of John Jones and Gwen Howells.

1901 Census

At the time of the 1901 Census, the Jones family were residing at 7 Siloh Road, Llangyfelach, Swansea.
John Jones (37) was employed as a coal miner, while his wife Gwenllian (36) managed the household.

Their children were John (7), Mary (6), Catherine (5), Blodwen (2), and Emlyn (1).

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, Gwen Jones was recorded as widowed, and the family had moved to 2 Glayton Terrace, Landore, Swansea.
Gwen (47) headed the household.

The children present were John (18), employed as a cold rolls tinworker; Mary Elizabeth (16), a dressmaker; Catherine Ann (15), working as a housemaid (domestic service); Emlyn (11); Cheven (10); and Gwendoline (6), the younger children all attending school. The census reflects a family adapting to life after the loss of its breadwinner, with the elder children already in employment.

Emigration to Canada and Marriage

At an unknown date after 1911, John Jones emigrated to Canada, settling in Fort William (now part of Thunder Bay). He later married M. Jones, who was residing at 308 Finlayson Street, Fort William, Ontario.

Military Service

John served with the Canadian Railway Troops, 1^st Battalion, attaining the rank of Corporal. The Canadian Railway Troops played a crucial role during and after the First World War, constructing, maintaining, and operating railway lines essential for the movement of troops, equipment, and supplies across vast distances.

Death and Burial

John Jones
Mountain View Cemetery, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
credit - findagrave

John Jones died on 11^th February 1920, several months after the end of the First World War. His death reflects the continued toll of wartime service and its aftermath on soldiers even after active hostilities had ceased.

He is buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

Commemoration

John Jones’ life traces a path from industrial Swansea and the coalfields of South Wales, to emigration and settlement in Canada, and service with one of the most vital support arms of the Canadian forces. His story is a reminder that the impact of the war extended beyond the Armistice, affecting families and communities on both sides of the Atlantic long after the fighting ended