Enoch Thomas Jones
Date of birth: 21.4.1891
Date of death: 13.7.1915
Area: Normanton
Regiment: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Family information: Husband of Sarah Ann Jones nee Statham
Rank: Able Seaman
Service number: KW/98
War Service
Enoch Thomas enlisted and joined the Nelson Battalion Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Formed in August 1914, the Royal Navy Division fought at Antwerp in 1914 and later in 1915 at Gallipoli. The Gallipoli campaign began on 19 February 1915 and ended on 9 January 1916. Fought by Commonwealth and French forces, the campaign was an attempt to force Turkey out of the war and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea.
Enoch Thomas’ records state his cause of death as “killed or died as a direct result of enemy action 13 July 1915” while serving with his division in Gallipoli. Enoch Thomas is remembered on the Helles Memorial in Gallipoli, Canakkale, Turkey.
Sarah Ann and Enoch Thomas had only been married a little over two years when Enoch lost his life. Sarah received the sad news of Enoch’s death at their home at 3, John Street, Altofts.
Family Life
Enoch Thomas was born on 21 April 1891 in Normanton, Yorkshire to Enoch and Hannah Ellen Jones. Enoch’s mother was a native of Pudsey near Leeds, but his father Enoch (senior) was born in Normanton.
In March 1901 Enoch’s parents, older brother Arthur, Enoch Thomas and his younger brother Samuel and baby Willie lived at 406, Castleford Road, Normanton. Older brother Arthur and Enoch (senior) worked at one of the local mines. By 1911 Enoch Thomas was 19 years old and still living with his parents in the family home, but there were now two additions to the Jones family: a little girl named Frances, aged 4 years, and a 1-year-old baby boy named Norman.
Hannah, Enoch’s mother, in twenty years of marriage had given birth to eleven children but sadly only five had survived. In 1911 Samuel, now aged 18, had followed his father and brother to work at the colliery, the two younger children, William and Frances, were both at school.
On 22 March 1913 Enoch Thomas married Sarah Ann Statham at Saint Mary Magdalene Church, Altofts. At the time of their marriage, Enoch Thomas was 21 years old and Sarah was aged 20. The entry in the Marriage Register states that at the time of their marriage both Enoch Thomas and Sarah were living in Altofts, possibly at 28, Silkstone Row.
Helles Memorial