Victor Reginald Jones

Mr Victor Reginald Jones, better known as Reginald, was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England in the closing months of 1891. 

He was the only surviving son of Edward Jones (b. 1859) and Edith Laura Hill (b. 1863), natives of Portsmouth and Southampton, respectively, who were married in the latter city at All Saint’s Church on 10 May 1883. His father Edward worked as a piano tuner and was also a musician, being a gifted violinist, clarinettist and orchestra conductor with the Southampton Amateur Orchestral Society; on the 1891 census he described himself as a professor of music. 

Mr Edward Jones gave two violin solos, and his skilful performances met with due acknowledgement. The band of the Southampton Amateur Orchestral Society played several selections on both evenings, under conductorship of Mr Jones, and added much to the pleasure of the entertainments.
Hampshire Independent, 29 March 1884

Hampshire Advertiser, 23 June 1906

Reginald had five siblings: Edward Stanley (1884-1888), Edith Winifred Violet¹ (1886-1935), Dorothy Margaretta² (b. 1889), Gertrude Stella (b. 1893) and Ethel Muriel (b. 1900).

On the 1891 census, taken a few months prior to Reginald's birth, his family were living at "Harvard" in St Mary, Southampton. When Reginald appeared on the 1901 census he and his family had relocated to 160 Portswood Road, Portswood, Southampton. 

Perhaps as the only boy of the family, young Reginald was a mischievous boy, causing his parents numerous worries. At age thirteen, after a seeming string of troublemaking antics, young Jones found himself in front of the magistrates for stealing from his own parents:

A TROUBLESOME BOY
Reginald V. Jones, schoolboy, Portswood-road, was charged by PC Price with stealing a violin, bow and case, value £10, from 160 Portswood-road, the property of Edward Jones, of the 15th ult., and further with stealing a pair of lady’s brown boots, value 10s 9d, the property of Edith Jones.—The father of the boy said they had had a good deal of trouble with him. He proposed taking him down to a training ship tomorrow.—The Bench dealt with defendant under the First Offender’s Act, and he was dismissed.—An assistant employed by Messrs Cotton and Co. stated that they boy had brought the violin and case to their shop, and gave the name Jones.—Thomas Lambert, a wardrobe dealer, said the boy brought the boots to him and he gave him 4s for them. It was usual for mothers and fathers to send their children with little odds and ends.—The Magistrate’s clerk said the boots were quite new, and were marked Oliver and Co., 10s 9d.—Lambert stated he had sold the boots to a person for 6s 6d and a shifting had been left on them. The boy, when he brought them, said the boots were too small for his mother.—The Chief Constable expressed the opinion that Lambert should be more careful, in which expression of opinion the Bench concurred. - Hampshire Independent, 9 April 1904

His father Edward died from pneumonia on 19 November 1908 aged 49 and at that time he and his family were living at 11 Osborne Road in Portswood.
By the time of the 1911 census Reginald's mother was listed as an inmate at Southampton Union Infirmary, Chilworth Road and died aged 47 a short time later. Reginald was not listed on the census, perhaps at sea, whilst his siblings were shown at different address across the country.

When he signed on to the Titanic on 4 April 1912 Jones gave his address as 7 Portland Terrace, Southampton. His previous ship had been the Oceanic and as a saloon steward he could expect monthly wages of £3, 15s.

Reginald Jones died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.