Joseph Reginald Jones
From Our Contribution
Personal Information | |
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Date of Birth | not known |
Place of Birth | Drouin, Victoria |
Death | 31 Oct 1917 |
Place of Death | Broodseinde, Belgium |
Age at Enlistment | 35 years, 3 months |
Description | 5'8½" (1.74m) tall; weight 139 lbs (63kg); dark complexion, blue eyes, black hair. |
Occupation | timber faller |
Religion | Church of England |
Address | Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
Next of Kin | Mother Mrs Elizabeth Jones |
Military Information | |
Reg Number | 5616 |
Date of Enlistment | 10 Apr 1916 |
Rank | Private |
Unit/Formation | 28th Battalion, 15th reinforcement / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division |
Date of Embarkation | 22 Sep 1916 - 20 Nov 1916 |
Ship Embarked On | HMAT A52 Surada |
Fate | Killed in Action 31 Oct 1917 |
Monument | Jarrahdale |
Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Contents
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1912 Mornington Landing, faller; 1915 - 1916 Mornington, fettler
War Service
Original attempt to enrol rejected due to condition of his teeth. Six weeks later he was accepted and entered Blackboy Hill camp on 10 Apr 1916. On 1 May 1916 he was allocated to the 15th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion.
On arrival in England Joe was sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone to prepare for trench warfare in France and Belgium.
On 21 Dec 1916 Joe proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone aboard HMT Princesse Clementine and entered the 2nd Division's Base Depot at Étaples. On 18 Jan 1917 Joe was taken on strength by the 28th Battalion who were in billets at Buire. Joe was one of 101 reinforcements who arrived that day, and one of 329 for the month of January. Wastage during the month (with no major actions due to weather) was 166 men.
The battalion war diary for 31 Oct 1917 reported the 28th Battalion to be holding the front line near Broodseinde, south of the Ypres-Roulers Railway. At 1:00am they were subject to very heavy gas shelling - more than 300 gas shells counted. However, most of the daylight hours were relatively quiet, and between 9:00pm and 10:15pm they were relieved by the 27th Battalion.
Their loses for the day were 3 Killed in Action, 5 wounded and 1 gassed. Joe was one of the unfortunate ones, a casualty of enemy shelling during the day.
Notes
Mother as his NOK received a pension of 40/- per fortnight from 17 Jan 1918. She died 23 Aug 1919, his father having died in Kelmscott prior to his enlistment.