Albert Hugh Brabner Jones

Mr Albert Hugh Brabner Jones was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England on 8 August 1894.

He was the eldest child of Hugh Lewis Jones¹ (b. 21 January 1870), a marine steward, and Elizabeth Brabner² (b. 1871), both natives of Liverpool who had married in 1893. With English heritage on both sides of his family, on his paternal side he also had Welsh ancestry whilst on his mother’s side he had Scottish roots.

He had two siblings: Harold (b. 1897) and Robert Brabner (b. 15 December 1901).

Bert first appears on the 1901 census living at 9 Spellow Lane, Walton, Liverpool and by 1911 his family were living at 29 Devonfield Road, Orrell Park, Liverpool but Albert was absent and presumably at sea. The family appear to have moved to Southampton shortly after and lived at Woodfield on Charlton Road, appearing at that address on the 1912 Street Directory.

When he signed-on to the Titanic on 4 April 1912 Jones gave his address as Woodfield, Charlton Road, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Majestic and as a second class steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s.

Albert Jones was lost in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

JONES—April 15, at sea, on s.s. Titanic, Albert (Bert) Jones, eldest son of Hugh and Elizabeth Jones, of Woodfield, Charlton-road, Southampton. Deeply mourned by family and friends. Liverpool papers please copy. - Hampshire Independent, 4 May 1912

Bert’s parents remained in Southampton in following years and his father Hugh continued to work at sea and was decorated for his service during WWI. His mother Elizabeth died in 1930 and his father moved to Romsey to live with Bert’s younger brother Robert. Hugh continued to work up until late in life and by 1939, then aged 69, he was still described as a steward at sea. He died in 1942.

What became of Bert’s brother Harold is uncertain. His youngest sibling Robert later saw military service and also served at sea in the merchant fleet before becoming a postman. In 1933 he married Flora Esmeralda Saunders (b. 1907) and the couple lived in Romsey for several years. He died in Buckinghamshire in 1989.