Military Service from 31 May 1928 to 13 April 1946
India/Africa/Middle East Army
Notes: He enlisted in London in the Essex Regiment on 31 May 1928, falsely claiming to be single (although he had a wife and three-year old child). He then promptly deserted (6 August 1928) and wasn't caught until 28th May 1929.
He bolted again very soon (4th August 1929) and wasn't recaptured until 17th October 1932. (During this period he contracted a bigamous marriage and fathered two children.)
Between 14th September 1933 and 25th October 1935 he served in India. He then transferred to Egypt and served there until 17th March 1936, followed by a spell in Sudan until 5th February 1937, and Palestine and Egypt until 23 January 1940 and Sudan until 1 February 1941.
On his return to the UK, he took the opportunity to scarper once more and was AWOL from 26 July 1941 to 25 July 1942, and served 9 months in detention after he was caught in Liverpool. Almost as soon as he was released, he went AWOL again; very shortly after he was re-captured, he was put on a ship to North Africa where he transferred to the East Surrey Regiment on 2nd May 1943 and served in the North African and Central Mediterranean Theatres until 5th November 1945.
The full-time Army washed their hands of him on 13 April 1946, although he wasn't released from the Army Reserve until 10 February 1954 (when all men over 45 were released).
During the periods he actually spent with the Army, he was identified as a Signalman (rank Private), and occasionally promoted to Lance Corporal, only to lose his stripes for misconduct; he was repeatedly charged with misconduct, drunkenness and disgraceful conduct as well losing [his kit] by neglect and of course going AWOL and desertion. His testimonial on impending release originally said "Military Conduct: Fair (!). Has only been with this unit for 2 weeks and I am unable to write a testimonial from personal knowledge. [???] that he has personal references in his possession from his previous employers overseas." The was subsequently crossed out and replaced with "Testimonial: A good worker under supervision. He is honest."
Much of this is based upon a helpful summary of his service provided by the Infantry Record Office on 20th February 1954 in response to an (unseen) letter asking about his service from the Superintendent of Police in Winchester. Was he still being a very bad boy, I wonder?10
Residence from 1930 to 1932
61, George Street, Guildford, Surrey, England
Notes: Thomas was lodging with John and Jane Vincent, his parents-in-law from October 1930 onwards.11
Notes: Woman's age: 17y Man's Age: 22y The descendants of Alice Vincent have always known that the husband in her first marriage had committed bigamy, which would explain the misleading details on his marriage certificate (age, name and father's occupation) . Thomas Jones named Miss Alice May Louisa Vincent as his next of kin to the Army in circa 1941, calling her his 'stepsister' (which was not true).8,10
138, Aubrey Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, England
Notes: He gave this as his address on demobilisation.10
Death before 18 September 1954
Notes: Although his daughter Peggy stated that he was deceased at her wedding in 1954, this hasn't been verified as I've been able to find no death record for him.1
Citations
[S3] England, marriage certificate (certified copy) for Ronald Charles Wright & Agnes Margaret Jones, married 18 September 1954; Birmingham 9c/73, in the Parish of Acocks Green, County Borough of Birmingham; General Register Office, Southport.
[S11] Wales, birth certificate (certified copy) for Agnes Margaret Jones, born 19 January 1925; registered 3 March 1955, Merthyr Tydfil district 11a/1369, Lower Merthyr Tydfil Sub-district, County of Merthyr Tydfil C.B.; General Register Office, Southport
[S40] Wales, marriage certificate (certified copy) for Thomas Jones and Margaret Ellen Roberts, married 9 February 1924; Merthyr Tydfil 11a/1005, Glamorgan. General Register Office, Southport
[S41] Wales, birth certificate (certified copy) for Thomas Jones, born 3 March 1905; registered Mar quarter 1905; Merthyr Tydfil district 11a/775, Merthyr Tydfil Lower Sub-district, County of Glamorgan; General Register Office, Southport.
[S42] 1911 census of Wales, Glamorgan, Merthyr Tydfil, Thomas Jones; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 27 September 2016); citing Class: RG14; Piece: 32429 Schedule Number: 59.
[S46] Wales, death certificate (certified copy) for Margaret Ellen Jones, died 27 October 1931; registered Dec Quarter 1931, Merthyr Tydfil district 11a/693, Lower Merthyr Tydfil Sub-district, County of Merthyr Tydfil C.B.; General Register Office, Southport.
[S142] England, marriage certificate (certified copy) for Thomas Jones and Alice May Louisa Vincent, married 15th October 1930; Guildford 2a/289, Glamorgan. General Register Office, Southport
[S140] Thomas Jones, born 3/3/1905, Army number 6007690; [UK] Army forms (various); photocopy; Army Personnel Centre (Support Division Historical Disclosures), Glasgow.
[S154] ancestry.co.uk, Surrey, England, Electoral Registers, 1932-1962. Digital images, ancestry (http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 28 November 2016) citing Surrey Electoral Registers. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England.