Jones, James Daniel

Lieutenant James Daniel Jones - 36th Heavy Artillery Group

James Daniel Jones on the 18th April 1881 to William and Ellen Jones, being one of twelve children in the family. Grew up in Victoria and joined the permanent forces of the Australian Army right after federation. He was posted to the Permanent Artillery. His Father died in Victoria 1903.

James began his service and was initially posted to Queenscliffe in Victoria before heading to WA and being posted to the Albany forts at Princess Harbour.

He married in 1905 in Albany to Constance Mildred Cogdon and a daughter Constance was born 1905 and a son William in 1908. James was soon posted to Fremantle Artillery Barracks where he had a rank of Warrant Officer. The family lived at 27 Burt Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 7 Burt Street).

When war was declared in 1914, the Officers and Men of the Australian Permanent Artillery were kept at their coastal bases due to the fear of the German Navy and the possibility that they may raid the Australian ports. However by 1915 this fear had abated and the experienced permanent Artillerymen were able to enlist for service overseas.

Many of the Permanent Artillerymen at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks, including James enlisted on the 1st June 1915. The medical officer recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 6 feet 3 inches tall;

Weight - 217lbs;

Chest Measurement - 41-44 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark.

James was appointed to Regimental Sergeant Major and was given the service Number 1.

As the Artillerymen were all around Australia, they were gathered in Victoria for a few weeks of training as a unit before they would embark overseas. They embarked on the H.M.A.T. “Orsova” on the 17^th July 1915. From September 1915 to February 1916 the men of the 36^th Heavy Artillery Group trained in England in preparation for their service in England. 

After arriving in England in September 1915, the men were disembarked and sent to the Artillery training Depot. They were initially stationed at Lydd, then Taunton in Somerset where they spent the Christmas of 1915. The men were then organised into the 54th and 55th Batteries of the 36th Heavy Artillery Group.

The photo below shows a section of the 36th HAG in England. Regimental Sergeant Major James Jones is pictured in the 2nd row.

Prior to leaving for France, James had been promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. On February 27th 1916 James, as part of the 54^th Battery, arrived at Boulogne France. They spent three days here and on March 7^th left with their guns and travelled to Mont St Eloy near Arras where they went into billets. On March 16^th 1916 the men of the 55^th Battery of the Siege Brigade suffered their first casualties when the Germans shelled their billets at Mont St Eloy. Three of the Gunners were killed and fourteen were wounded. James came through this unscathed.

James served at the Battle of the Somme from July 1916 onwards supporting the British and Australian forces. they remained in this sector for the remainder of 1916. The first two months of 1917 James spent away from his unit, having new dentures fitted and being on duty at the Base Depot at Etaples. He then returned to his unit and served with them till the 29th June 1917.

He was then temporarily detached to the Heavy Artillery HQ of 15 Corps. James returned to his unit on the 11th September 1917. James then served with his unit during the Third Battle of Ypres in September/October 1917 and at the Battle of Cambrai in November/December 1917.

On the 9th December 1917 James was sent to England where he attended an Ordnance Couse at Woolwich. James would remain in England for the next seven months at the Artillery Training unit. He then returned to France in July 1918.

On the 19th August 1918 James joined the Australian Army Ordnance Corps in France. He would serve with this group for the remainder of the war. In February 1919 he returned to England and then commenced a period of attachment to the High Commissioner at Australia House.

On the 18th May 1919 James left England aboard the transport ship Orontes, bring him home to Fremantle. James was discharged from the AIF on the 9th September 1919.

News soon came to James of his mothers death in Walhalla Victoria in 1919.

James continued to serve in Fremantle for a few years but then returned to Victoria. He remained a member of the Permanent Forces and by World War two had reached the rank of Major. He enlisted early in the war and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1944 and was detached for duty with the Department of Munitions.

James died in Heidelberg Victoria 8th October 1953. He was buried at Springvale Cemetery Victoria.