Joseph Reginald Jones
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | c1880 |
| 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 ; 139 lbs 63.049 kg ; 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 Honour Roll Menin Gate Memorial ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Australian War Memorial |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Contents
Pre War
Electoral Roll entries - 1912 Mornington Landing, faller; 1915 - 1916 Mornington, fettler
War Service
Joe's original attempt to enlist was rejected due to the 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. He 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.
Joe's Red Cross file [1]. held by the Australian War memorial has details only relating to his burial.
"Another of my stretcher bearers was killed on the night of Oct 31st, 1917, and they were both buried on the spot where they were killed by Pte Davis of our Coy. It was just on the right of Zonnebeke Church, about a half a mile from Passchendaele Ridge, so do not think it will be registered, but it may be later, as both A.P. Greig and J.R. Jones 5616, both stretcher bearers, names were put on a piece of board over them. LCpl W.J. Grigson.
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.
- ↑ "Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - Joseph Reginald Jones". Australian War Memorial. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.