JONES, Sydney Victor
| Service Number: | 1769 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 January 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Nathalia, Victoria, Australia, 1896 |
| Home Town: | Finley, Berrigan, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Finley Public School, New School, Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Motor Mechanic |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 10 June 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Lone Pine Cemetery, ANZAC Plot 11, Row C, Grave 9 Rev. W. McKenzie officiated Headstone inscription reads: He lives with us in memory & will forever more his loving mother, Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Finley War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1769, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Apr 1915: | Involvement Private, 1769, 2nd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 10 Apr 1915: | Embarked Private, 1769, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney |
Help us honour Sydney Victor Jones's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Evan and Mary Ann Jones of Finley, NSW
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Sydney Jones had five brothers who all enlisted, one of them 274 Pte. Norman Percy Jones 29th Battalion AIF was killed in action 23rd October 1916, age 29.
His older brother 267 Private Alfred Evan Jones had enlisted with Percy in the 29th Battalion and was eventually returned to Australia, with chronic rheumatism and myalgia during March 1918.
Another brother, 180 Sergeant Arthur Cyril Jones had enlisted in 1914, and was an original of the 13th Battalion. He served at the Anzac Landing and was badly wounded on the 26 May 1915 when a bullet removed some fingers and smashed his wrist up.He was returned to Australia 2 July 1915. (compound fracture arm and hand)
Another brother, 181 Harold Leswell Jones, joined up the same day as Arthur in original 13th Battalion an also served at Gallipoli. He too was wounded in action Gallipoli, and had a finger amputated, and was eventually sent home medically unfit during November 1917.
A sixth brother, John Myrtle Jones, born Yarroweyah, was discharged medically unfit in Broadmeadows, after twice trying to enlist.
Their father died in November 1915 and the following article was written about him, in the Farmer and Settler 24 December 1915.
A FIGHTING FAMILY. Evan Jones and His Soldier Sons.
“I cannot go to the war, but I have seven sons that might.” Thus Evan Jones, of Finley (N.S.W.) soon after the great outbreak in August last year. “If my boys feel as their dad does” he added, “they'll, be off, and I'll do nothing to stop them— I'll not stop them!”
The old gentleman had seen Finley develop (says a contributor to a Sydney paper) from a mere hamlet into a substantially built and well-ordered centre of an important pastoral and agricultural district following upon the closer settlement of the Tuppal lands. He had contributed largely towards that development; had given good financial aid to public movements, and was proverbially a generous supporter of established institutions; he was, in truth, just one of that type of man that did very much in earlier days to lighten the burdens of the pioneers. His seven sons had stood out with' recognised promise of similar character; early they answered the call. Six of them were accepted for service at the front, the seventh remaining with the father to assist in working the farm at Finley.
“We now- now- have to fight for Australia,” said the father at a send-off to the boys. “I am glad my boys are going, as they themselves are glad to go, to fight for the grand old flag and for what it means to us. Would to God the crowds of indolent, sensual-living young men about the cities could be got to understand the perilous position of their fair, native land! I am drifting down the hill of life and I have had some hard trials, but, though I might finish my time in comparative comfort, I am feeling fit, mid would kindly go out, and do my little bit, if the military people would let me.!”
One day Evan Jones was missed from the usual coterie. The window blinds of his house were noticed to be drawn. The clergyman had been there and brought a message from the military headquarters. One of the Finley patriot's sons had fallen. The town genuinely grieved. Other people in other places had had similar losses it was true: but this was Finley’s own concern. The lost son was the first from that part of the Murray to full in battle, and— well, he was a son of Patriot Jones.
Days and weeks passed. The afflicted father, while the shop windows were still draped out of respect to the memory of his dead son, was still a brave spirit among the habitués of the news agency.
But the little local news agency will know him no more.
A recent report says: “Mr. Evan Jones, one of the best known, most respected, and oldest residents of Finley, met his death today from injuries received through being thrown from a gig and striking his head against a tree. Six of his seven sons enlisted; one was killed, another has been wounded.”
The spirit of Evan Jones goes on, through a fighting family, in the far afield trenches today; and at the little news agency at Finley a photograph draped with the Union Jack and inscribed, “Evan Jones — a man,” is among the noticeable and most heartfelt of local memorials.
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