Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Clarence (Clarrie) was born at Pinnaroo on the 22nd October January 1921 to Mr and Mrs Leonard H. Jones, who farmed near Chandos, south of the railway. He was close to his older brother, Beau, eventually following in his footsteps playing football but in serving in the same battalion.
Clarrie enjoyed life on the family farm and was an active practitioner. Despite the Depression the Chandos Crop Competition continued, with the results enabling farmers to use better and more economic practices and assess the efficiency of different wheat crop varieties. Clarrie entered the Junior Section of the competition, receiving useful feedback from the judges. ‘Mr. Jones spoilt his entry by getting the two varieties (Gallipoli and Nabawa) mixed. The crop was fairly even and heavy. Charlock (a weed) was rather' bad in places, with also some other weeds; Disease was scarce.’
As a 14-year-old, Clarrie was again the focus of media attention but for a totally different reason. He had been mustering sheep when he noticed bones exposed in the earth. Typical of a footballer, and thinking it was sheep bones, he casually kicked at them, unexpectedly exposing a human skull. The police were notified and discovered a full human skeleton. The ground had been frequently ploughed but it was assumed that the bones were exposed because of the drift of sand that year. Speculation of the circumstances of the burial were rife, including a bullet wound to the head and the lack of evidence of any clothing. A thorough investigation ensued with the local paper revealing the results that ‘The skull showed the typical characteristics of an Australian aboriginal woman of advanced years, the fracture of the skull shows none of the characteristics of a bullet wound and probably occurred after death. The bones of the skull showed extensive disease, which had been in existence many years, having healed up in many places, but there was active disease present at the time of death. The woman was 5 ft. 6 in. in height, and of extremely slender build.’ Coincidentally, over the ensuing months skeletal remains were found on neighbouring properties with the conclusion being that there had been a ‘settlement of blacks in these districts many years ago’.
Clarrie proved to be a valuable player for Parilla and Pinnaroo Rovers, frequently appearing in the best players and praised for his consistency, showing promise and being a useful player. However, with the outbreak of war, his 22 year old brother, Beau enlisted on the 29th June ‘40 in the 2/48th Battalion and was almost immediately posted to the Middle East, becoming one of the famed Rats of Tobruk. Clarrie had a similar ambition but was at that stage, not old enough to enlist, so continued working on the family farm. He was a popular Master of Ceremonies for local girl, Lila Wallis’ 21st birthday celebrations held at the Chandos Hall in August ’41. Then having just turned 21 himself, days later, on the 10th November ’41, Clarrie enlisted to serve as SX15145 and was able to be allocated to Beau’s battalion, the 2/48th.
Following initial training, Clarrie had pre-embarkation leave back home over December where many locals from Pinnaroo, Parilla Well and Parilla gathered to pay tribute to three local soldiers, home on leave. They were Privates Don and Alec Gray and Clarrie, all well-known and popular boys. The successful evening was organised by the Pinnaroo Girls’ Club. Dancing speeches and supper were a feature with the soldiers wished good luck and a presentation made to each, from the Cheer Society, C.W.A. and friends present, plus a Christmas box. A feature was made of Clarrie being the second brother in his family to be honoured at Parilla, as Pte Horace (Beau) Jones was already serving overseas, a fact that ‘spoke volumes for his courage and determination to assist his country in its hour of need’. The Pinnaroo and Border Times concluded that ‘For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow was sung by the gathering. Pte Jones made a suitable response to the speeches and presentations. After further dancing the evening concluded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne’.
On hearing that Clarrie had enlisted, Beau wrote home with his letter published in the local paper in February ’42. It is evident that he was very aware of the conditions his young brother would encounter “I have not received a letter for over a fortnight, I suppose the Japs are delaying the regular mails. I am proud that another Jones has done his duty, but Clarrie has a lot of hard training before him yet.”
Clarrie was able to briefly return home in April ’42 and attend a farewell for a friend, Frank Barrett who was called up by the Military to serve in the Railways, considered a most essential service in a country at war.
Home on leave again in March ’43 Beau and Clarrie plus another local, Claude Gregor SX17943 were jointly honoured with a dance at the Parilla Institute. The three were called to the front of the Hall and warmly welcomed home. A minute’s silence was held to honour those who had paid the supreme sacrifice. The Pinnaroo and Border Times reported that ‘Mr. Pearce said that they hoped that ere long they would have the boys home, with the knowledge that they would be able to enjoy the victorious peace which they would help to win.’ A small presentation was made to each soldier before the crowd sang ‘For They Are Jolly Good Fellows’.
Both Jones brothers then returned to their battalion; it was to be another year before they were again home in March and April ’44 on leave and able to attend the annual ball of the Pinnaroo Institute and also a dance organised by The Parilla Well Women’s Patriotic Circle where that were given a hearty welcome by their many friends. They also attended an euchre and dance evening in aid of the Parilla Institute Funds where a presentation was made to Gunner Clarrie Phillis.
With a further allocation of leave, Private Clarrie married Unas Marjorie Simpson in the Methodist Church at Pinnaroo in September ’44 while he was still serving and she was in the W.A.A.F. It was very much a community and military wedding with Girl Comrades forming a guard of honour at the church door. Unas had borrowed a veil from a fellow WAAF and chose her sister-in-law, Edith Gregor as her matron of honour and her oldest brother, Skeet Jones was best man. The newly married couple were able to spend precious time with their families the following January, also.
Clarrie was granted seasonal leave to return to the family farm in May ’45 before his final discharge in September. He and Unas had five children, Russell, Gary, Greg, Susan and John who all grew up in the Pinnaroo area. Clarrie also returned to playing football, retaining his skill level to the extent that, in the local league in ‘49, captained by Beau, South won the Grand Final against Ngallo. At the club’s trophy night, Clarrie won the Threadgold Trophy for being the most consistent player while Beau won the R. Drake Trophy for the most unselfish player. The local Pinnaroo and Border Times reported that ‘C. Jones played one of his best games in the Grand Final. He was always on the job and never lost his kick.’ He continued to receive praise for being reliable and consistent in the back lines.
Clarrie was also actively involved in supporting the local Scout Troop in the ‘50’s by providing transport for the boys to camp at the Chandos siding where they were able to cook the rabbits they caught, make damper and enjoy games, campfires and fireworks.
In their later years, Clarrie and Unas moved to live at Resthaven in Murray Bridge. There, 85-year-old Unas pre-deceased Clarrie, dying on the 5th March 2010. Seven months later, aged 88, Clarrie died on the 9th October 2010 and is buried in the Murray Bridge Cemetery, RSL Section 28.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.