Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Thomas Jones was born on the 22 February 1869, in Launceston, Tasmania, to Elizabeth and John Jones.

Sometime prior to December 1898 he moves away from Launceston and has little contact with his family, before the outbreak of WW1.

1915.

William, a horse trainer, enlisted in the 12th Infantry Battalion (8th Reinforcements) on the 22nd June 1915, in Perth, Western Australia. He gave his age as 39 years and 3 months; he was actually 46 years and 4 months old.

In June 1915 the authorities raised the maximum age, from 35 to 45 years and lowered the minimum height, from 5ft 6ins to 5ft 2ins; for enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force [A.I.F].

Established in Aug-Sep 1915, half of the original 12th Inf Bn was recruited in Tasmania.

He resides at the Pingelly Hotel, Pingelly W.A., prior to enrolment.

Unaware that his only sister, Mrs Elizabeth Granger, moved to Strahan in 1898 and died 7th March 1902; William lists her as next of kin and her address as P.O. Launceston, Tasmania. .


On the 1st August 1915 Private 2623 William Jones boarded the troopship HMAT ANCHISES (No. A68), bound for the port of Mudros, on the island of Lemnos, in the Aegean Sea (near Gallipoli). .


27th November - He is taken on strength from the 12th battalion at Mudros. .


1916 .


6th January - He disembarks from the HMT Lake Michigan, in Alexandria, Egypt. .


31 January - He is transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps [I.C.C.], in Kebir [Tel el Kebir], Egypt. .


The men of the ICC had a rough reputation, largely because when the Corps was originally formed Australian battalion commanders had seized upon it as an opportunity to offload some of their more difficult characters..


1st Feb - He is taken on strength from the I.C.C., to Abbassia, a suburb of Cairo. .


1st May - He is award 14 days F.P. [forfeiture of pay] No.2, for “using insubordinate language” at Matruh [Mersa Matruh], Egypt. .


24th July - He is struck off strength of I.C.C. .


29th July - He is sent overseas, with the Australian Imperial Force [A.I.F.]. .


He boards the HMT Arcadian, in Alexandra, bound for England, to join the British Expeditionary Force [B.E.F.] .


9 August - He is taken on strength from the 3rd Training Battalion, Egypt to England. .


1917 .


4th December - William proceeds from the 1st Training Battalion at the Sutton Veny military camp [Wiltshire, England]to France, via the port of Southampton. .


6th December - He is marched in (ex England) to 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot [1.A.D.B.D.], in the port city of Havre [Le Havre], France. .


7th December - He then proceeds to unit [12th Battalion] in Havre. .


11th December - He is taken on strength of 12th Battalion A.I.F (ex I.C.C.) from 1.A.D.B.D. .


1918 .


23rd May - He proceeds to Australian Infantry Base Depot [A.I.B.D], at Havre from 12th Battalion A.I.F. for classification by Medical Board. .


24th May - He is marched in from the A.I.B.D, at Havre. .


7th June - He is transferred to England (ex A.I.B.D.), following reclassification, as age 43 [actually 49], Debility Class B3. - [Medical category “B” meant soldiers were fit for service on the Lines of Communication only.] .


8th June - He is marched into the AIF No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth, England, after arriving from France. .


8 August - Pte William Jones is returned to Australia, per D19, for discharge, with Premature Senility.

[D19 appears to be a reference to the steam ship SS Carpentaria, which was used to return invalid soldiers to Australia. It departed Plymouth 8th Aug, arrived Cape Town 9 Sep, Melbourne 4 Oct and Sydney 7 Nov.] .


18 October – Pte William is discharged..


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Version updated: 10 Dec 2014