Jones, Edwin
2353 Private Edwin Jones - 44th Battalion AIF
Edwin Jones was born on the 1st January 1878 in Cheshire England (though some sources do state Fremantle) to William and Hannah Jones. His mother died in 1883 while he was just five years old.
It does appear that the family did arrive in Western Australia while Edwin was young. Edwin was educated and grew up in Fremantle;
Edwin was married on the 1st January 1902 in Fremantle to Florence Emma Ball and they would have four children, Lucy 1903, Dorothy 1904, Edwin 1907 and Audrey 1917.
They lived in Fremantle through the 1900's at 21 Stanley Street Beaconsfield/South Fremantle. (later renamed to Silver Street). In 1911 Edwin went farming in Merriden for a few years before returning to live in Fremantle, with the family residing at 258 South Terrace South Fremantle (later renumbered to 220 South Terrace). Florence was running a boarding house at this address.
On the 19th June 1916 Edwin enlisted for service in the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner, recording Edwin's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 4 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 140lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Dark.
Upon his successful enlistment, Edwin was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.73 Training Depot. Edwin spent the next five weeks being taken through the basics of infantry training. On the 22nd July 1916 he was then sent to the 4th reinforcements to the 44th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA over the next few months.
On the 13th October 1916 Edwin entrained to Fremantle Harbour where he boarded the transport ship Port Macquarie. The ship then sailed for England, reaching Plymouth on the 12th December 1916.
After being disembarked Edwin was sent to the 11th Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. On the 4th February 1917 Edwin was sent from England to France where he was initially sent to the 3rd Australian Division Base Depot Camp at Etaples. He only had a few days here, and was taken on strength of the 44th Battalion on the 8th February 1917.
The 44th Battalion were then in the vicinity of Armentieres. On the 19th February 1917 Edwin was wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen and buttocks. He was taken by stretcher bearers to the 10th Field Ambulance and then the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He was then put on an ambulance train and taken to the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux.
On the 10th March 1917 Edwin was shipped to England and on arrival was sent to the Graylingwell War Hospital. The wound would prove to be the end of Edwin's war service. He spent a few months in Graylingwell and on the 11th June 1917 was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield.
On the 3rd July 1917 Edwin boarded the hospital ship Karoola for the journey home, reaching Fremantle on the 18th August 1917. After being disembarked Edwin was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for more medical work. The good news was his family were only down the road and visits were many.
On the 18th February 1918 Edwin was discharged from the AIF.
By the mid 1920's the family had moved to 82 East Street Fremantle (later renumbered to 54 East St). Edwin was now working for the Fremantle Harbour Trust.
Sadly Florence Jones died in Fremantle in 1931.
Edwin died on the 5th October 1946 in Fremantle aged 80. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.
Pictured below with his family post Great War - courtesy of family ancestry page.