BORN HULL 1885. SON OF MICHAEL & MARY BHONES, OF 1 LIONS PLACE CANNING STREET, HULL. HIS PARENTS WERE BOTH FROM IRELAND. PRIOR TO THE WAR HE HAD SERVED IN THE 3RD EAST YORKSHIRE TERRITORIALS AND WORKED ON THE LEITH BOATS. HE HAD ENLISTED AT HULL, ON 06/11/1902, AGED 18 YEARS AND AND 8 MONTHS. TRAINED AS A TELEPHONIST. SERVED AS GUNNER, 130009, IN THE ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY. HIS ARMY RECORDS DESCRIBED HIM AS 5 FOOT, 8 INCHES TALL, 130 LBS WEIGHT, 35 INCH CHEST, GREY EYES, BROWN HAIR, A ‘SNAKE’ TATTOO ON HIS LEFT FOREARM, AND A ‘VERY GOOD’ CHARACTER. HE WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE RESERVES ON 06/11/1915, AFTER 13 YEARS SERVICE.
HIS SISTER MRS FREER, OF 15 POPLAR STREET, HULL, REPORTED HIS DEATH IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 02/10/1918, WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPH. HE DIED OF BOMB WOUNDS TO THE HEAD AND SHOULDER AT THE 48TH CLEARING STATION. HE IS BURIED ON THE SOMME. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “ON WHOSE SOUL SWEET JESUS HAVE MERCY R.I.P.”
HIS BROTHER, THOMAS BHONES, 3/6574, 1ST EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, ‘D’ COMPANY, WAS KILLED ON 11/02/1917, AGED 34. HE LIVED AT 12 ST THOMAS PLACE, COLLIER STREET, HULL
