Alfred Stanley Jones 7213

SAPPER ALFRED STANLEY JONES 7213 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

At the Townsville Recruiting Office, Queensland on January 4, 1917 a single, thirty-two year old miner passed the medical examination. Alfred Stanley Jones was born in Charters Towers, Qld on November 19, 1884 the son of Steven and Mary Ann (nee Hogsflesh) Jones.

The 1913 Electoral Rolls records Alfred Stanley Jones, Labourer, living at Mt. Benham, Queensland.

Attestation papers give his height at 174cms (5ft 8¼ins), weight of 60.5kgs (133lbs) with a chest expansion of 84-90cms (33-35½ins). A medium complexion with grey eyes and brown hair were his features and Methodist nominated as religion. His father Steven Jones of Leigh Street, West End, Townsville was named as next-of-kin. Allegiance was sworn on January 29, 1917 before leaving for camp.

Basic training began at the 11 Depot Battalion, Enoggera, Brisbane, Qld from February 2, 1917 and concluding on February 28, 1917. On March 1, 1917 was transferred to the Miners 1st Military District Camp where Home Leave was granted between March 5 and March 14, 1917.

Further training began on April 5, 1917 at the Miners’ Reinforcements Seymour Camp, Vic until April 30, 1917 then to Ascot Vale until June 11, 1917. Between June 11 and July 15, 1917 joined the preparation for service overseas.

He was assigned to the March Reinforcements with the Regimental number 7213 and the rank of Sapper. His Will had been lodged with his sister Mrs A.H. Smith, Fernholm, Bellenden Kerr, via Cairns, Qld.

The troopship HMAT A32 Themistocles departed Melbourne, Vic on August 4, 1917 with 167 men of the Reinforcements aboard. Their voyage was rough and stormy for four days out creating much sea sickness. Colon, Panama was reached on August 31, 1917 and the nine days in port experienced very heavy rain and muggy heat.

Themistocles departed Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 21, 1917 and good weather across the Atlantic completed their fifty-nine day voyage to Glasgow, Scotland on October, 2, 1917. One of the Tunnellers, 7427 Spr William James McPeak, died of acute transverse myalitis on 14 August and was buried at sea. He was one of 4 soldiers to die on this voyage.

The troops were detrained to Tidworth, England and the following day marched in to Nos.1 and 3 Details Camp, Parkhouse to begin further training for the front.

Alfred proceeded overseas via Southampton to France on November 22, 1917 and marched in to the Aust. General Base Depot, Rouelles the next day. On December 3, 1917 Sapper Jones was attached to the 1 Aust. Corps Depot and was taken on strength with the 2nd Tunnelling Company on December 12, 1917.

Early in 1918 he was due his Blue Chevrons. Each blue Service Chevron denoted one year’s service from 1 January 1915. A red Chevron denoted service before 31 December 1914.

The following misdemeanour was recorded on April 11, 1918:

Crime: W.O.A.S. [While on Active Service] Drunkeness 10/4/18 Award: 20 days F.P. No 2 by C.O.

He was taken to hospital sick on July 4, 1918 to the 15 Aust. Field Ambulance for treatment of Scabies and was discharged to duty on July 30, 1918 and returned the next day to his Unit. On August 6, 1918 was taken sick to the 9 Canadian Field Ambulance and admitted with P.U.O. (Pyrexia (Fever) Unknown Origin). He was transferred to the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance and discharged to duty on August 13 and rejoined his unit the following day.

On the 29th and 30th of September, 1918, elements of the 1st and 2nd Australian Tunnelling Companys, supporting the Infantry attack on the Hindenberg Line at Bellicourt and Bony, charged with the usual Engineer tasks of clearing enemy mines and booby traps from roads and dugouts following the attacking Infantry, clearing and maintaining the tactical roads, clearing wells and setting up water points.

When the attack stalled and became disorganized, the Sappers continued with their assigned tasks, assisted to re-organise the line, captured prisoners, carried messages for their own and other units, organized a party of American Infantry, helped feed an artillery battery with ammunition, assisted and carried wounded, all being achieved under heavy shell and machine gun fire and while their own sections suffered 50 and 75% casualties.

During the action on the Hindenberg Line on 29/30 September 1918, the 5th Pioneers lost 3 officers and 61 other ranks; 105th Regt lost 2 officers and 46 other ranks; 1st Aust. Tunnelling Coy lost 1 Officer and 2 other ranks and the 2nd Aust. Tunnelling Coy lost 1 other rank.

The Australian Tunnelling Companies were awarded 10 Alfred Stanley Jones c. 1916 Military Crosses, 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals and Photo courtesy Clarrie Green, great niece of Alfred Jones 12 Military Medals for their support of the Infantry attack that day.

A few days before the Armistice Alfred proceeded on leave from France from 9 until 23 November, rejoining his Unit in the field on December 6, 1918.

2ATC had relieved the 172nd Tunnelling Company, R.E. in May 1916 in the Neuville St Vaast/Vimy area. They supported the Australian 5th Division at Fromelles and relieved the Canadians at the Bluff in January 1917.

The Company moved to Nieuport in the same month, to construct subways for Operation Hush and were involved in enemy attack - Operation Strandfest - in this coastal sector in July 1917, recorded in the official histories as ‘The Affair at Nieuport Bains’. In April 1918, troops of the Company fought a large fire in Peronne.

Following the Armistice, members of the company were involved in the clearance of mines and delayed- action booby-traps and in the re-construction of civilian infrastructure until the Company was recalled to Base on May 23, 1919 to organize their departure from France.

On May 30, 1919 Alfred left the 2nd A.B.D. and embarked from Le Havre for England marching in the next day to No.2 Group, Sutton Veny for demobilisation. Sapper Jones set out from Devonport, England on September 27, 1919 on board H.T. Bakara to return to Australia. During the voyage admitted sick to the ship’s hospital suffering from Boils on August 16, 1919 and discharged to duty by September 1, 1919. His next-of-kin was advised of his impending return on August 19, 1919.

Disembarkation took place in the 2 Military District (NSW) on September 30, 1919. He was discharged in the 1st M.D. (Qld) on November 1, 1919.

Sapper 7213 Alfred Stanley Jones 2nd Tunnelling Company was awarded the British War Medal (31019) and the Victory Medal (29342) for his overseas service.

The 1919 Electoral Rolls records Alfred Stanley Jones, Labourer, living at Mt. Benham, Queensland.

In 1925 the Electoral Roll records Alfred Stanley Jones, Miner, living at Taravale, Ravenswood Junction, Queensland.

1936 Electoral Roll records Alfred Stanley Jones, Miner, living at Ewan, via Ingham, Queensland. Also at Ewan, though not apparently related, are Patrick Jones and William Alfred Jones, both Miners.

1943 Electoral Roll records Alfred Stanley Jones, Miner, living at Ewan, via Ingham, Queensland. Also at Ewan is William Alfred Jones, Miner.

A Statement of Service was sent to the Repatriation Department on March 31, 1948.

1949 Electoral Roll records Alfred Stanley Jones living at Taravale Cattle Station, via Ingham, Queensland.

He was living in the rainforest village of Paluma, north of Townsville, Qld when he passed away early in January, 1956.

The Central Queensland Herald, Rockhampton – Thursday 12 January 1956:

Thigh Broken; Starved To Death TOWNSVILLE, January 10. - One of two men whose bodies were found on lonely Taravale Station, 60 miles from Townsville, had a fractured thigh, a post mortem held by the Government medical officer (Dr L. Halberstater) revealed on Monday night.

Police believe the man, Alfred Sydney (Stanley) Jones, 71, prospector, fractured his thigh on the veranda of the station homestead and, unable to move, lay there until he starved to death.

The post mortem revealed he had been dead for five days. The other body, that of Bernard Morehouse Guild, 41, owner of the station, was found in the yard nearby. The post mortem failed to ascertain the cause of death, but the man's stomach contests were sent to Brisbane by plane on Tuesday for examination by the Government analyst.

Constable Lendrum, of the Ewan police, discovered the bodies on Saturday. Police said Guild had been reported missing and the constable went to the station in the course of inquiries.

On Wednesday, Sub-Inspector N. Bauer, with Detective Sergeant W. Barnett, will inspect the spot where the bodies were found. Guild's widow will accompany them. Police say there are no suspicious circumstances. The Argus, Melbourne, Vic – Monday 16 January 1956:

HE DIED OF THIRST IN A BUSH 'OASIS' TOWNSVILLE, Sunday: A 70-year-old prospector, crippled by a broken thigh, died of starvation and thirst after lying for over a week with a dead man, on an outback Queensland farm. He was unable to reach food stacked on a high shelf, and was too weak to get water. Police found the bodies of the two men at Taravale Station, a lonely property on Mt. Spec, 70 miles from Townsville, last week. They were Bernard Morehouse Guild, 41, married, owner of the property, and Alfred Stanley Jones, the prospector. A doctor estimated that Guild had been dead at least three weeks, and Jones about two. Fall from horse? Police found Jones' saddle horse, still saddled and bridled, in the horse paddock, but his pack horse, with the pack still on, was dead. They believe he fractured his thigh in a fall from his horse when he arrived at Taravale from another property, 12 miles away, on December 23. His whip and spurs were found 150 yards from the house, and he apparently crawled this distance for help. But, 35 yards from the house, Guild was lying dead. The cause of Guild's death is unknown, but his stomach contents are being analysed. Foul play is not suspected. Close to the back door was a rope between a water tank and a flight of four steps. Police think Jones, rigged the rope-to help him reach water. He was found under the tank. Apparently he was too weak to reach up and turn on the tap.

The Townsville Daily Bulletin on Tuesday January 10, 1956 advised the following:

FUNERAL NOTICE JONES—The Relatives and Friends of Mrs C. Masters (Brisbane), Mr Arthur Jones (Cooktown), Mr and Mrs Albert Jones (Senior), Mr Albert Jones (Junior), Mr and Mrs R. Coates and Family (South Blackburn, Victoria), Mr and Mrs G.H. Watson and Family, Mr and Mrs D. Smith and Family (Brisbane), and Mr and Mrs G. Redmond and Family (Port Moresby), are respectfully invited to attend the FUNERAL of their beloved Brother, Brother-in-law and uncle, ALFRED STANLEY JONES, late of Paluma, which will moved from The Mortuary Chapel, Hanran Street, City, THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING at 11 o’clock. Interment at the New Cemetery. TOWNSVILLE FUNERAL DIRECTORS Phones: Day 4037, Night X1441

R.S.S.A.I.L.A Townsville Sub-Branch MEMBERS of the above are respectfully invited to attend the FUNERAL of their late Comrade in Arms, ALFRED STANLEY JONES, which will move as above. B. COPELAND, Sub-Branch Secretary