Jones, William
6102 Private William Jones - 28th Battalion AIF
William was born in Manchester Lancashire England circa 1877/78 to William and Hannah Jones. He was educated in Lancashire and took up work locally as a labourer.
The 1901 census has him living in Blackpool Lancashire with wife Esther. He was a general labourer/worker. The 1911 census also has him living with his wife Esther at Salford Lancashire and was listed as general labourer/worker.
He came to WA prior to the Great War and worked as a Lumper on Fremantle wharf and was living at 83 Fitzgerald Tce Fremantle (Marine Terrace). During this time his wife Esther was still residing in Blackpool England.
On the 31st March 1916 William enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 6 inches tall;
Weight - 152lbs
Chest Measurement - 35-38 inches;
Complexion - Ruddy;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Black.
After his successful enlistment, William was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.64 Training Depot. He spent a few weeks here being taken through the basics of infantry work.
He was initially assigned to the 16th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion and he trained with tis group for a few months. However he was sent back to the training depot and was then assigned to the 17th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF.
On the 9th November 1916 William and his group then embarked from Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship Argyllshire and set sail for England, reaching Devonport England on the 10th January 1917. After being disembarked William and his group were sent to the 7th Training Battalion Camp at Rollestone.
He trained there for the next month but was then sent to Fargo Military Hospital suffering from influenza. After being released from hospital on the 15th February 1917 William was sent to Sutton Veny Camp and then returned to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp in April 1917. He remained training here till the 16th July 1917. William was then sent to France.
On arrival he was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot Camp at Le Havre. He spent the next month here during which time he got into trouble for going absent without leave for three days and also losing his rifle and equipment. He was awarded 7 days of Field Punishment No.2 as a result which meant more duties and work while at camp.
William was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 2nd August 1917. In September 1917 the 28th battalion headed for Belgium where they would be taking part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th September 1917 the 28th Battalion took part in the action at the Battle of Menin Road. William came through his first major action safely, and in October 1917 the 28th Battalion continued in the front line near Zonnebeke.
On the 2nd October 1917 William was wounded when shrapnel struck him in the arm. After treatment at the Field Ambulance and Casualty Clearing Station, William was sent to Boulogne where hew as admitted to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital. He was only there for a few days and was then shipped to England.
After arriving in the UK on the 5th October 1917, William was admitted to King George Hospital in London. It was a severe wound and he would spend the next three months there recovering from his wound. On the 5th January 1918 he was then transferred to the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital at Southall. It appears they saved the arm from amputation but he had suffered a compound fracture of the radius.
On the 24th January 1918 William was sent to the Hospital Ship Karoola and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 4th March 1918. He was then disembarked and sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital South Terrace Fremantle for more medical treatment. He was then discharged from the AIF on the 24th August 1918.
William remained in Fremantle after the war and resumed his role at Fremantle harbour as a Lumper.
William died on the 2nd August 1933 aged 57. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MON A3 0354.