Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Runic’ A 54 for Egypt 26.2.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 16th Infantry Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Jones disembarked at Alexandria 26.2.1916. He marched in to Zeitoun 26.2.1916. He was transferred from the 16th Battalion. to 48th Battalion as part of the re-organisation that occurred with the doubling of troops after Gallipoli. He was taken on strength with the 48th Battalion ‘A’ Coy. 2.4.1916. Jones entrained to Alexandria, joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and embarked per HT ‘Caledonia’ for France 2.6.1916. He disembarked at Marseilles, France 9.6.1916. The 48th Battalion had its first major battle at Pozieres on the Western Front in August 1916. Jones was reported missing in action 8.8.1916. The Court of Enquiry held on 4.5.1917 ruled he was KIA 8.8.1916. Red Cross files confirmed he was killed in the trenches at Pozieres France 8.8.1916 (AWM Red Cross File). His wife received his disk and personal letters removed from his body, but received no official details of his place of burial.
He is commemorated at Villers-Bretoneux- Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France, MR 26 Part III G-J.
Final Rank Private, 48th Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medals, Victory Medals.
Notes Jones had a brother of Wilfred Dray Jones who was KIA.
‘He gained his crown, we must beat our cross’
(West Australian Newspapers In Memoriam 8.8.1918)

‘We cannot clasp your hand dear father,
Your face we cannot see,
But let this little token tell
We will always remember thee.’
(West Australian Newspaper In Memoriam 14.6.1918)
Photos  HMAT 'Runic'. Donor R. Teague. Photograph source AWM P00707.027
               Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E0531
               Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photogapher unknown, photograph source H17454

    
Information Source
AWM P00707.027 HMAT 'Runic'. Donor R. Teague. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E05391. Pozieres Battle Field June 1916. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H17454. Villers-Bretonneux Australian Memorial, dedicated in 1938. Photogapher unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls Harry Waters Jones
AWM Roll of Honour- Harry Waters Jones
AWM Red Cross File Harry Waters Jones
NAA: B2455 Jones H W
West Australian Newspaper
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories.

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Hubert Street, Guildford, WA. (Family Home)

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