JONES, Ernest Henry
| Service Number: | 968 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | North Carlton, Victoria, Australia, July 1885 |
| Home Town: | Fitzroy, Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Horse driver |
| Died: | Melbourne, Victoria, 28 February 1958, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria Fawkner Cemetery |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 968, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 968, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 968, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Melbourne | |
| 26 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 968, 8th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , GSW, left leg amputated at thigh, 27/2/1917 Farnborough | |
| 2 Aug 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 8th Infantry Battalion, Medical discharge as a result of left leg amputated at thigh. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Christine Dodson
Ernest Henry Jones enlisted for the AIF on 7 September 1914, at the age of 29, and was allocated to D Company, 8th Battalion (under Colonel Bolton) in the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the 1st Division. Leaving behind his wife and young daughter, he sailed for Albany, WA, on 14th October and was in the first convoy of ships to depart Australia for the training camp in Egypt.
After several months of training in Cairo, Ernest took part in the 2nd landing at Anzac Cove on the morning of 25 April 1915. Heavy casualties almost brought the 8th battalion to its knees but, bolstered by giant shells put out by the battleship Queen Elizabeth on Monday 26 April, they held on. Ernest, as part of the 2nd Brigade, was then sent to Cape Helles to assist the British troops with their objective of capturing Krithia. The main charge failed and again there were many casualties. Nonetheless, the bravery of the 8th Battalion was recognised as they did want to abandon the attack without being certain that, even if the entire Brigade was sacrificed, they could not achieve their objective.
In mid-May they were sent back to Anzac, which was now a stable front. In August the 8th Battalion supported the 1st Brigade’s offensive at Lone Pine. Ernest then continued life in the trenches until he fell ill, possibly with glandular fever, and spent 6 months, mostly in Egypt, on the sidelines.
Ernest re-joined the 8th Battalion at the end of March 1916 as they made their way to Western Front in France. Sadly, he suffered bomb wounds, just days before the Battle of Pozieres, from nuisance shelling. It is said the men were playing two-up at the time! After having had his spleen removed in Calais, he was stabilised and sent to Leeds where, on 26 July, he had his left leg amputated. He was eventually repatriated back to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on 2 August 1917, after which he was discharged from the AIF. Re-united with his wife and daughter, he lived out his life, working in a kiosk in central Melbourne and supporting other ex-servicemen. He died on 28 February 1958.
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