Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Suevic’ A29 to UK 6.6.1916.
Roll Rank Sergeant.
Roll Unit 44th Battalion. ‘B’ Coy.
Jones disembarked in Southampton. He marched in to the divisional Training School of Instruction 25.9.1916. He rejoined his Unit 7.10.1916. Jones proceeded overseas to France 2.4.1917. He was wounded in action in the field at Messines 9.6.1917 with a severe gunshot wound to his left thigh (Reported West Australian Newspaper 11.7.1917). He was invalided to England per HS ‘Panama’ and admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth. On recovery, he was sent on command to Tidworth Officer Training Corps 22.10.1917. He transferred to Cambridge and was placed in charge of the No 5 Officer Training Battalion at Cambridge 6.12.1917. Jones proceeded to France 11.6.1918. He suffered from an acute appendicitis 2.1918. The 44th Battalion took part on the Allied offensive launched 8.8.1918. Jones was wounded in this action at Hamel 8.8.1918 (wounded a second time). He received a gunshot wound to his forearm. Jones was invalided to England 1.10.1918 and admitted to the 20th General Hospital in London (West Australian Newspaper 31.8.1918). On recovery, he rejoined his unit in France 19.9.1918. Jones was wounded a third time when his Battalion took part in the offensive that breached the Hindenburg Line along the canal at St Quentin. He received a gunshot wound to his neck and shoulder 30.9.1918 (West Australian Newspaper 22.11.1918). Jones was invalided to England and admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. After discharge from hospital he convalesced until 7.11.1918. Jones was listed for return to England 28.2.1919
Embarked for Australia per ’Anchises’ 28.2.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Albany 7.4.1919.
Discharged 26.4.1919.
Final Rank Sergeant 44th Infantry Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Medical Condition Invalided GSW neck and shoulder.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Notes Jones received a distiction in electrical engineering and engineering drawing at the University of Western Australia in 1920 (West Australian Newspaper 6.9.1920 p10). When first wounded he was sent to the 5th Southern General Hospital- a generic term for the Military Hospitals in the Portsmouth and Gosport areas. Jones attended Scotch College (West Australian Newspaper 5.1.1912 p7).

Photo  E.E. Jones. The Sun, Kalgoorlie 13.6.1916 p16
            HMAT 'Suevic'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM A03216
            Outskirts of Messines c1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced  AWM E01294
            Australian and American soldiers in Pear Trench Le Hamel 4.8.1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E-02844
            HMAT 'Anchises'. Photographer A.C. Green, photograph sourced and reproduced with permission of Great Southern Cards


Information Source
AWM A03216.HMAT 'Suevic'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01294.Outskirts of Messines c1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced  from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E02844. Australian and American soldiers in Pear Trench Le Hamel 4.8.1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls: Eric Edmund Jones
Great Southern Cards. HMAT 'Anchises'. Photographer A.C. Green, photographs sourced and reproduced with permission of Great Southern Cards
Guildford Volunteer Fire Brigade Honour Roll, www.greatsoutherncards.com.au/
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Jones E E
The Sun Kalgoorlie
Wesley Chapel Honour Roll
West Australian Newspaper
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

2 Station St. East Guildford. WA.

Associated Images