Research carried out by Lynsey Slater, the Regimental Archivist at Doncaster's Danum Gallery, Library and Museum, has revealed singer and song writer David Bowie's connection to the KOYLI through his grandfather Private Robert Haywood Jones of the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
Born in Armley, West Yorkshire, Robert Haywood Jones settled in Doncaster with his wife and two children. He was killed in action during the final phases of the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and never got to meet his famous grandson - David Bowie.
In November 1916, Private Robert Haywood Jones of the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was lost on the battlefields of the Somme. He is remembered among the more than 70,000 names on the Thiepval Memorial, the memorial to the missing of the Somme. Like many casualties of the First World War, Robert left behind a wife and two young children. His death aged just 34 meant he never met his famous grandson, David Robert Jones, better known to the public as David Bowie. Read the full article here.
Today (8th of January) would have been David Bowie’s 75th birthday. Bowie's son is award wining director, producer and screenwriter. He is best known for directing the films Moon, Source Code, Warcraft, and Mute.
Robert Haywood Jones is remembered on the family grave in Doncaster's Hyde Park Cemetery, which can be found on the Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery page here; Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery – Posts | Facebook.
The photo's below are used with the permission of the Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery and The Imperial War Museum.