Sapper Edgar Allen Jones

SAPPER EDGAR ALLEN JONES 7580 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

Cairns, North Queensland was the birthplace of Edgar Allen Jones on December 18, 1896 the son of David and Margaret Ann (nee John) Jones. He had previously been rejected for service due to Cardiac affection.

At the Recruiting Depot in Cairns, N.Q. on January 17, 1917 the twenty-one year old Battery Hand filled in an application to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the preliminary medical examination personal particulars taken give details of height 179cms (5ft 11½ins) with a chest measurement of 83- 90cms (32½- 35½ins). The young man whose vision was good was single living at Wolfram Camp, N.Q. Declared fit for service his application was accepted by the recruiting officer.

Attestation Forms were completed the same day shows further information of his weight at 70kgs (154lbs) and having a fresh complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. Church of England was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his father David Jones of Wolfram Camp N.Q. and later changed to Post Office, Tolga, N.Q. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ on January 27, 1917.

On arrival at Enoggera camp, Brisbane he was unallotted then sent to train with the 11 th Depot Battalion on February 3 to February 27, 1917. During this time he was found to be dentally fit and transferred to the Miners’ Depot for further training from February 28 then Final Home Leave was granted from March 5 until March 14, 1917. On April 5 he was sent to the Miners’ Training Camp at Seymour, Vic and assigned to the April, 1917 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies but on April 30 was transferred to Ascot Vale Isolation camp at MacLeod remaining until May 28. On his return joined ‘B Coy’ on June 11 where his regimental number was 7580 in the rank of Sapper and on August 23 his Will was filed at Base Records.

The April Reinforcements consisted of 168 members who embarked on the troopship HMAT A68 Anchises on August 8, 1917 from Sydney, NSW. Colds and influenza were prevalent at the commencement of the voyage. Crossing the Pacific Ocean the vessel arrived at Colon, Panama on September 2, 1917 departing six days later. Halifax, Nova Scotia was reached on the 18 th and after three days in port departed on September 21, 1917. The final journey to England was completed after a 55 day voyage when they docked at Liverpool on October 2, 1917. The troops were detrained to Tidworth. The following day they arrived at No. 1 and 3 Details Camps at Parkhouse for further training for the front. Sapper Jones went to the 1st Western General Hospital, on St James Road turn off in Liverpool for treatment of Follicular Tonsillitis.

On January 18, 1918 he was transferred to the 3rd Aust. Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford and three days later to the No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott. He marched out for the Overseas Training Brigade on February 2 where he remained until the end of May.

He proceeded from Longbridge, Deverill and departed Southampton for France on May 31 arriving at the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles then to the Aust Corps Depot two days later.

Sapper Jones was taken on strength in the field with the 2nd Tunnelling Company on June 6, 1918.

During his service he suffered no further illness, injuries or wounds and was with his unit when Peace was declared. The Tunnelling Companies remained as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of their area by clearing roads and bridges of bombs and explosives left by the enemy.

He proceeded on leave from France on March 1, 1919 and returned to duty on March 17.

On April 30, 1919 he was admitted to the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford for treatment of a Social Disease and after 52 days curative care returned to Parkhouse camp on June 20, 1919. He left for the No. 2 Group camp at Sutton Veny on July 1, 1919 and demobilised.

Sapper Jones embarked for home on January 5, 1920 on board H.T. Cap Verde. During the voyage he was admitted to the ship’s hospital on February 20 for an overnight stay due to Tonsillitis and returned to duty the following day. Base Records notified his father on January 19, 1920 that he was returning home.

The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday February 28, 1920 advised briefly when the ship was due in port:

RETURNING SOLDIERS CAP VERDE DUE TOMORROW Troops by the Cap Verde are expected to disembark to-morrow morning. Friends and relations will be admitted to the Anzac Buffet at 8.45 a.m. Motor cars numbered on the Red Cross register from 279 to 370 are required to be at No. 1 Wharf, Woolloomooloo, at 9.15 a.m. to-morrow.

The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on February 29, 1920 and he returned to Brisbane soon after.

Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on the termination of his period of enlistment on April 8, 1920.

He married in Queensland on August 22, 1921 to Winifred Gertrude Freda Shiels.

For serving his country Sapper 7580 Edgar Allen Jones, 2nd Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (31339) and the Victory Medal (29586).

In 1933 they were residing at 15 Westbourne Street, Annandale South, NSW and in 1936 were at 80 Birchgrove Road, Balmain, NSW

A Statement of Service was sent by Base Records to the Repatriation Commission in Sydney, NSW on September 22, 1938.

Edgar Allen Jones passed away about May 2, 1938 aged 52 years. Funeral arrangements appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday May 3, 1938:

FUNERALS JONES—the Relatives and Friends of Mrs WILIFRED JONES, EDWIN and BETTY, are invited to attend the Funeral of her deeply beloved HUSBAND and their FATHER, Edgar Allan; to leave our Funeral Home, 24 Enmore Road, Newtown, THIS MORNING at 10 o’clock, for the Crematorium, Northern Suburbs. LABOR MOTOR FUNERALS LIMITED 24 Enmore Road, Newtown.