Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Persic’ A34 for UK 29.12.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 39th Infantry Battalion 6th Reinforcements Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Jones disembarked at Devonport 4.3.1917. He was sent to Unit Details at Sutton Mandeville, then marched in to 10th Training Battalion at Larkhill 23.3.1917. Jones was promoted to Acting Lieutenant Corporal 8.4.1917. He was admitted to hospital at 12 Camp with mumps 13.5.1917. On recovery Jones proceeded overseas from Southampton to France 20.8.1917. He was taken on strength with the 39th Battalion from 6th Reinforcements 1.9.1917. The 39th Battalion fought at the Third Ypres Offensive at Passchendaele in appalling conditions from 4.10.1917. They continued at Passchendaele until November 15th, when with mounting casualties and exhaustion, they were withdrawn and their position was passed to the Canadian forces (AWM 39th Bn. ) Jones was wounded in action in the Field at Passchendaele 20.10.1917. He was transferred by Hospital Ship (HS) ‘Essequibo’ to UK as an invalid. Jones was admitted to the War Hospital at Exeter with a severe gunshot wound to his left foot (after being wounded in the field 8 days earlier). He was discharged from hospital to the overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge in April 1918. He proceeded overseas to France 19.6.1918. Jones marched in to the Base Unit at Rouelles 21.6.1918. The 39th fought in their last major action that breached the Hindenburg lines along the St. Quentin Canal between September and October 1918 (AWM 39th Bn. ) Jones marched out for from France for return to Australia 17.2.1919.
Embarked UK for Australia per ‘Sudan’ 28.12.1919.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 21.6.1919.
Discharged 29.7.1919.
Final Rank Private.
Medical Condition NK (previously wounded)
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes  The family home is no longer standing
Photos HMAT Persic leaving Melbourne Wharf. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph source AWM P00997.013
             Zonnebeke, First Battle of Passchendaele. Photographer unknown, photographer sourced AWM E01200
             Mont St Quentin Village shell damaged trenches and town wall 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E05311
Information Source
AWM P00997.013. HMAT Persic leaving Melbourne Wharf. Photographer Josiah Barnes, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01200. Zonnebeke, First Battle of Passchendaele. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E05311Mont St Quentin Village shell damaged trenches and town wall 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls Arthur Ernest Charles Jones
NAA: B2455, Jones A E C
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

34 East St, Guildford. WA. (Home no longer extant)

Associated Images