Jones, Samuel
Lieutenant Samuel Jones (Mentioned In Despatches x 2) - 28th Battalion AIF
Samuel Jones was born in Adelaide South Australia on the 10th January 1888 to Samuel and Elizabeth Jones, being one of eight siblings born into the family.
He had his early years in Adelaide but by 1900 the family had moved to the WA Goldfields.
His father died in Boulder in a mining accident on the 25th May 1904. As reported in the Kalgoorlie Western Argus;
Further sad news happened for the family with Sam's brother William dying in October 1904 aged 14. His mother died Kalgoorlie on the 17th January 1914.
After leaving school, Samuel took up work as a Clerk.
He was married in Fremantle to Elsie Jane Elizabeth Claxton in 1914 and took up residence at 39 Alma Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 15 Alma Street)
On the 30th September 1914 Sam enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 140lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;
Complexion - Sallow;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment, Sam was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially assigned to No.3 Depot Company. He was here till the end of 1914 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal. It appears that Sam was being utilised for training purposes as he was now promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was at the depot till the 24th March 1915.
On the 24th March 1915 Sam was assigned to “C” Company of the 24th Battalion. Initially WA soldiers were to form “C” & “D” Companies of the 24th Battalion of the 6th Brigade, however this was changed when it was realised that there were enough men available in WA to form a whole new Battalion. The 24th Battalion therefore became solely Victorian and the new unit to form in WA was known as the 28th Battalion of the 7th Brigade. Sam was then assigned to "A" Company of the 28th Battalion AIF and had the service number 777.
This battalion trained in WA until the end of June 1915. On the 29th June 1915 the 28th Battalion embarked from Fremantle WA aboard the H.M.A.T. “Ascanius” and made their way to Egypt. Upon arrival in Egypt the 28th Battalion spent August training in the desert.
On the 4th September 1915 the Battalion embarked from Alexandria Egypt aboard the Ivernia and made their way to the peninsula. After their arrival they were sent to part of the newly captured territory to hold the new trenches around positions such as the Apex and Cheshire Ridge. The 28th were not involved in any major actions on Gallipoli but still had a steady stream of casualties. Sam was evacuated sick on the 7th December 1915. He was said to be suffering from what the doctors described as a 'PUO' or pyrexia of unknown origin.
He was sent by hospital ship back to Egypt where he was admitted to No.1 Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis. He was there for a few weeks and was then discharged to the AIF Base camp on light duties. He only rejoined the 28th battalion on the 6th March 1916.
On the 16th March 1916 the 28th Battalion boarded a transport ship in Alexandria which took them to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 21st March 1916. The 28th Battalion as part of the 2nd Division were sent to the north of France where they went into the line near Armentieres and Fleurbaix. They would spend the next few months in this area, during which time they also conducted the first Australian trench raid in France on June 6th 1916. On the 7th June 1916 Sam was promoted to Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant.
In early July the 28th Battalion were then transferred to the Somme battlefield. On July 23rd the 1st Australian Division had captured Pozieres village and they remained under heavy German shellfire until they were relieved by the 2nd Division a week later. The 28th Battalion came into the line and almost immediately were ordered to attack the German trench line known as OG1 as part of a general advance by the 2nd Division. The 28th Battalion had the hardest task as they were attacking along the highest elevation on the battlefield and were subject to heavy German machine gun fire. The survivors made it to the German line and found an unbroken stretch of thick barbed wire and as they were attempting to get through, many men were shot down.
Sam was one of the fortunate men to survive this assault unscathed though there was to be no rest for the 28th Battalion. The next attack being ordered for August 4th, and while the 28th Battalion; due to their heavily reduced numbers were kept in reserve, when the other battalions got into difficulty the 28th Battalion were again sent forward and amazingly they managed to capture the majority of the heavily defended windmill position. Sam again survived this latest attack and further action against Mouquet Farm in August 1916.
The 28th Battalion then spent several weeks in Belgium before returning to the Somme battlefield in October 1916.
Sam was involved in an attack on Flers on November 5th 1916, though again survived unscathed. He remained with the 28th Battalion through the freezing cold French Winter on 1916/17.
In February 1917 the Germans began to withdraw to their pre-prepared defensive positions at the Hindenburg Line. They conducted a fighting withdrawal and hotly contested the advance of the Australians and British. The Australians fought bravely to capture the Hindenburg Line Outpost villages.
On the 26th March 1917 Sam and the 28th Battalion supported the 26th Battalion to capture Lagnicourt. The 28th Battalion saw further action through April and May 1917 including at Bullecourt. The 28th battalion were then sent on a three month rest period out of the lines and much time was taken on resting up after a strenuous last twelve months and then on training and sporting activities.
On the 16th July 1917 Sam was evacuated to hospital with venereal disease, he was sent to Le Havre where he was admitted to No.39 General Hospital. On the 14th September 1917 he was released from hospital and was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot Camp. He then rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 17th October 1917.
In October and November 1917 the 28th Battalion served at Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele. On the 8th November 1917 Sam was promoted to Quarter Master and Honorary Lieutenant.
From December 1917 to March 1918 the 28th Battalion helped to hold the front line south east of Ypres between Hollebeke and Messines. On the 20th February 1918 Sam was given a two week furlough to England and he returned on the 6th March 1918.
On March 21st 1918 the Germans had broken through the British front further south and the Australian divisions were sent to the Somme region to help stop this German advance. Sam and the 28th Battalion came into contact with the Germans around Dernancourt and Ville-sur-Ancre in April 1918 and were in this region for a few weeks. They then remained around Morlancourt through May and June 1918, taking part in the capture of that village.
Fred and his unit were now sent to Villers-Bretonneux and in July 1918 the 28th Battalion successfully captured Monument Wood. A large advance was due to commence on August 8th 1918 and the 28th Battalion advanced from Villers-Bretonneux and took all their objectives. They then continued to advance for the next few weeks. Sam then served at the capture of Mont St Quentin in early September 1918 and then the drive to the Hindenburg Line. The 28th Battalion's fought their last action of the war on October 3rd 1918 at Montbrehain.
The 28th Battalion were then sent on a well deserved rest period. The Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918 and after the Germans withdrew behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. The 28th Battalion were sent to near Charleroi in Belgium.
On the 5th January 1919 Sam was given a leave period in England and returned on the 25th January 1919. He spent the next two months in Belgium and France and then returned to England on the 26th March 1919. He then went to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny.
During his service on the Western Front Sam was Mentioned in Despatches twice for his work.
On the 16th June 1919 Sam boarded the transport ship Ormonde and set sail for home, arriving home in Fremantle in August 1919. Sam was then discharged from the AIF on the 22nd September 1919.
While he had been away at the war, his wife Jane had moved home from Alma Street to 50 Alexander Road East Fremantle and they would be here for a few years and their Son Roy was born in East Fremantle in 1920.
In the mid 1920's the family moved, to Leederville. On his return Sam had been working as a Clerk but soon progressed son by the 1930's was working as a Company Manager.
Samuel served again in World War Two. (W68817) He enlisted in 1941 and served in the Swan Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps between 1942-1945.
Sam died in Perth on the 26th March 1960 and was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery. His wife jane died the following year in 1961.