Early Life

Robert WIlliam Jonas was born in Sheffield in July 1910 and was baptised a month later at St Mark’s Church in Broomhill.

His grandfather was Joseph Jonas who had immigrated from Germany and risen to become both Master Cutler and Lord Mayor of Sheffield.

He was one of three children of Robert and Mary Jonas. His younger brother Geoffrey was killed during the war. His biography is here

The family lived at No. 18 Oakholme Road, Broomhill.

Robert was a pupil at Uppingham School between 1924 and 1928.

In 1937, he married Edith Grey at St. John’s Church, Ranmoor. They moved in to a house on Stone Delf.

According to the 1939 register William was an assistant works manager at a Sugar Confectionary Manufacturer, very likely to be Bassett’s of Allsorts fame. He was a member of the “Cadet Officers’ Reserve” attached to the Royal Army Service Corps.

War Service

He was on active service almost immediately war was declared, being appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in January 1940. He was with the Eighth Army in North Africa

Captain William Robert Jonas was killed ‘on active service’ on 20th June 1941. He is buried at the Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery which is close to the border between Libya and Egypt at the coast.

He is commemorated on the Memorial at Fulwood Church.