Gordon Highlanders

[jim1]

I think you need his death cert.
I would stand by my comment earlier that's it's not him.

[GR2]

If he died in a work accident, there may be a newspaper article about it. Perhaps it might mention any previous military service.

[Flattybasher9]

It is reported that he died 3rd December 1916 at the Normanby Ironworks.
If you go to

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=481840.0

and look at Sillgen (Andrea) posts, she may have some information. She was last on the site yesterday at 18:13 hrs.

Malky

[Bill 4423]

It is reported that he died 3rd December 1916 at the Normanby Ironworks.
If you go to

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=481840.0

and look at Sillgen (Andrea) posts, she may have some information. She was last on the site yesterday at 18:13 hrs.

Malky

The help on here is just unbelievable and very much appreciated.
His youngest daughter Rosetta is my relation, she was born on 27.3.1917 as mentioned earlier she never knew him (obviously) but was given the picture of him in the first post. I find it hard to believe she would be given it, if it was not her father.
I have a scan of Walters marriage certificate from 25.12.1911 it states his occupation as “coke oven worker” of 39 Tees street North Ormesby   (around a mile west of cargo fleet - Malky)
The 1911 census gives his occupation as labourer blast furnace. All fit quite nicely.
As others have mentioned his call up may have been delayed, I would have thought steel would be of utmost importance at that moment in time.
I will do more research and maybe contact that lady when I can.

[Bill 4423]

As a follow up to flattybasher9’s advice, I now know how Walter died

https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=481840.9;PHPSESSID=5bsijl28998gafgljnvislbin6

I think you need his death cert.
I would stand by my comment earlier that's it's not him.

After thinking about jim1’s post above, weeks later I thought what if the picture is of Rosetta’s stepfather. How I did not think of that at the start I don’t know!
Her stepfather was Thomas Bird, born in 1887, a native of Middlesbrough.   
Would someone be kind enough to see if there was a Thomas Bird of Middlesbrough who served with the Gordon Highlanders during WW1 please; it looks very likely that jim1 is correct and the picture is in fact not Walter Jones. 

[jim1]

Just 1 Thomas Bird Gordon Highlanders.
Attested in the 6th. Batt. as Pte. 12737.
Transferred to the 5th. & ending his service with the 9th.
In 1917 he was re-numbered 266606 as the 5th. & 6th. were TF.
All TF Batts. underwent re-organisation at this time.
Whether it's your man or not I can't say at this time.
I'll search around for a service record for him.
Later:
I'm not seeing a service record which isn't unusual as around 70% were destroyed in WW2.

[Bill 4423]

Thank's once again Jim, it has to Rosetta's stepfather - Thomas Bird, it absolutely has to be him, Too much of a coincidence. I'll see what information (if any) I can find myself.