Although evidence on Navy records say that Joseph Jones was born in West Hartlepool, this does not appear to be correct. In 1890 a child of that name was born in Brierley Hill Staffordshire. On the 1901 census of Hartlepool, a Joseph Jones is 11 and living with his parents and siblings at 20 Winter Street. All gave their place of birth as Brierley Hill.
In 1891, the family were in Brierley Hill and Joseph was a baby. It seems very likely that they moved to Hartlepool soon after this date and Joseph possibly assumed that he was born in the town. His father Thomas was a labourer in the steel works.
In 1911, Joseph married Catherine Kelly and the witnesses were William Jeffries and Sarah Llewellyn. William, listed on these pages, also joined the Queen Mary probably at the same time as his friend Joseph who became a stoker in the RNR.
On 31st May 1916, Joseph was on board HMS Queen Mary,the last battle cruiser built for the Royal Navy before the 1st War. He was a stoker and the ship was taking part in the Battle of Jutland when it was hit twice by the German battle cruiser Derfflinger causing it to explode.
His wife Catherine, then at 16, Bramley St, was informed of his death of her husband and father of their two children.
