Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Draper Jones was born in Gympie, Queensland in February 1886. His father was also called William. In some versions of the Australian War Memorial records, William’s middle name is spelt ‘Drake’.

William was employed as a stockman when he enlisted in Brisbane on the 18th of March 1915, and was allocated to the 6th reinforcements of the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion. He was described as being five feet, six and a half inches tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He weighed 133 pounds (60kg).  William embarked from Brisbane on the 12 of June 1915 aboard the troopship HMAT A63 Karoola. He and the 6th reinforcements joined the 15th Battalion at Gallipoli on the 30th of July 1915.

Just over a week after entering combat, William was scrambling up the steep slopes of hill 971 (known by the Turks as Koja Chemen Tepe) in an attempt to gain ground as part of a divisional attack. The attack on Hill 971 had been in plan since May 1915 and it was recognised that this particular area was full of heavy scrub and deep ravines and that the Turkish trenches were covered in places. It was also recognised that men were very likely to get lost in a night attack but this ‘Was of no consequence’ as all they needed to do was to continue to climb upwards and they would meet Turkish trenches. The 15th Battalion was part of the 4th Australian Brigade and formed the left column. The attack commenced on the night of the 6th of August but had not achieved objectives by the 7th of August and the final assault on the summit on the 8th of August was costly failure.

During the attack, William was wounded in the left hand and in the confusion of the withdrawal he was captured by the Turks sometime between the 8th and 9th of August 1915. Marched away to Constantinople, William was hospitalised and his wounds treated, although conditions in the hospitals were rudimentary, and hygiene poor. He was also paraded through the streets of Constantinople as a morale booster for the local civilian population.

William’s father was notified that his son was suspected to be a prisoner of war, the first was a simple one-line telegram on the 5th of September 1915 stating:

REGRET REPORTED SON PRIVATE W.D.JONES PRISONER OF WAR IN HOSPITAL AT CONSTANTINOPLE WILL ADVISE UPON RECEIPT FURTHER PARTICULARS

William’s picture appeared on page 26 of The Queenslander, a regional newspaper, on the 2nd of October 1915, listed as a prisoner. This was followed by a more detailed letter in November 1915 stating his date of capture and that he was now in Constantinople.

Then throughout his internment there were further notices such as on the 27th of March 1916 stating that William was in hospital in Angora, 28th of April 1916 reporting that he was transferred to Bozanti, on 27th of July 1916 that he had moved to Angora, 28th of April 1917, stating that he was captured on 30th of August 1915, however we know that this is incorrect as William was certainly captured on during the attack on Hill 971 8th/9th of August 1915.

It seems strange that it took 20 months to provide an ‘Official’ notification to William’s Next of Kin, and even then it was incorrect. Additionally, all of the notifications conflict with the actual location of William during this time. This illustrates the difficulty that the AIF had in seeking information via the various informal channels such as the American Ambassador in Constantinople and the Red Cross/Red Crescent. It would have been a worrisome time for the Jones’ family in Gympie.

Transferred to Bilemedik for a time and then on to Bozanti in April 1916, William was eventually moved to Angora in May 1916. Angora was a notoriously disease ridden camp, being located on swampy ground to the South East of Constantinople. He spent some time in hospital in Angora and then around January 1917 William was transferred to Afion-Kara-Hissar. This camp was South of Constantinople and whilst considered to have better conditions than most of the other camps, the men still suffered from the communicable diseases prevalent in tight packed living conditions, poor food, and poor hygiene.

In August 1916 William’s father wrote to the AIF:

Calton Hill, Gympie, 29th Aug 1916

Dear Sir,

Would you kindly inform me if there is any person in or around Gympie who has a relative a prisoner of war in Turkey. Although Pte W.D Jones 2106, 6th of 15th Battalion has been a prisoner in Turkey for over 12 months he has not received a single communication from home or friends, though numerous letters and cards have been sent to different addresses.  If you could assist me in this matter I shall be very grateful, yours respectfully W C Jones

The AIF replied on 7th of September 1916:

Dear Sir,

In reply to your enquiry dated 29th ultimo, I beg to inform you that forwarding letters to your son who is reported to be a prisoner of war in Angora, Turkey, the following address should be used:-

                 No. 2156 Private W.D. Jones,

                15th Battalion,

                Australian Imperial Force,

                British Prisoner of War,

                Angora, Turkey,

                C/o International Committee of Red Cross,

                Geneva, Switzerland

The letters must not contain more than four lines of writing

William contracted dysentery and succumbed to the disease on 31st of January 1917 aged 30. Today Dysentery is generally treated with intravenous fluids and sometimes antibiotics. It is likely that William became extremely dehydrated and could not keep fluids down, dying as a result. Although intravenous therapy was known, it was not widely available as it is today, and certainly not in a remote prisoner of war camp.  He was buried in the Armenian (Christian) cemetery. His grave was next to fellow prisoners No. 1379 Private George Burdett King from the 9th Australian Infantry Battalion, and No. 1510 Private Robert Kerrigan, his mate from the 15th Australian Infantry Battalion.  His mates took a photo of his original gravesite which consisted of a white wooden cross with a border of local stones.

The inscription on the cross read:

                R.I.P 2156 WD JONES 15TH BATT – DIED 31/1/17

Appearing on page 6 of the Brisbane Courier on the 31st of January 1918 was the following family notice:

JONES – In loving memory of William Draper Jones, who died whilst prisoner of war in Turkey on January 31st, 1917.

Only the grave of a hero,

Only a mould of earth,

Far from the land of the wattle,

The place that gave him birth.

Somewhere in Turkey he’s lying,

He answered his country’s call,

And died an Australian hero,

Fighting to save us all.

Inserted by his loving brother, T.C. Jones

William was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the Victory Medal, and the British War Medal. William’s father received his Victory medal in 1922, his memorial scroll in 1922, memorial plaque in 1924

Mr Jones applied for a war pension but it was rejected on the grounds that he was not dependent on his son during the 12 month prior to his enlistment.

William’s remains were exhumed in 1927 as part of the War Graves consolidation and reinterred in Baghdad’s North Gate Cemetery. His father was notified officially of this in August 1927. He now rests in Plot 21, Row B, Grave number 3.

As at 2019 his headstone was in new condition having been replaced due to vandalism.