Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Herbert was born on the 14th August, 1908, the third son of William Charles and Jane Jones of Yundi, near Willunga on the Fleurier Peninsula of South Australia. Herb also had two sisters, Shirley and Norma.
Herb was a successful gardener and grocer and had spent three years in the Cadets when aged 31, he was one of the early enlistees once WWII had broken out. He officially enlisted on the 1st July 1940 at Wayville. For the new soldiers, their initial days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, before they headed to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for their preliminary training. Following pre-embarkation leave, he returned to the 2/48th Battalion which then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940 where they completed a few months training in Cyrenaica.
In March ’42 Herb encountered his first reprimand when he was tardy at attending Parade and was severely punished – lesson learnt. He became one of the now famed Rats of Tobruk in a Battalion which was to be highly regarded and decorated.
Two years after he enlisted, Herb was killed in action in Egypt on the 22nd July ’42, aged 33. At that stage, orders had been received to capture West Point of Tel el Eisa in a dawn attack. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan describes the action. “When the troops were well forward of the start-line they came under terrific fire from shells and mortars from the front and left, and suffered heavy casualties. With the slow, deliberate movement of perfectly trained soldiers both companies continued the advance in perfect formation, over ground that trembled and erupted with vicious explosions. Through this, sometimes obscured by the smoke and dust, the men moved, and, as they advanced, the fire kept pace with them, leaving behind the still shapes of fallen men among the camel bush and sand.”
Back home, the Advertiser carried the brief report of his death in August. ‘Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Jones, of Yundi, via Willunga have been notified that their third son. Pte. H. C. P. Jones, 35, has been killed in action.’ The names of others from his battalion killed in the attack were also named in the report. They included Carl Sims SX8290, Eric Coleman SX5304, Gerald Hayes SX8236, Don Ridley SX6297 and Arthur Davis SX7166 with Sergeant Roger Jacka SX7996 being wounded. The men were initially buried in the field at Tel El Eisa.
With peace declared, in January ’44 Herb, and his fellow soldiers were permanently moved to now rests in the El Alamein War Cemetery where he is in Plot XVI Row B Grave 8. His parents chose the inscription ‘Au Revoir, my son your work is done We’ll meet again my son’ for his headstone. Alongside are his fellow soldiers from the 2/48th Battalion. They include 22-year-old Donald Ridley 32-year-old Clarence Liebelt, 26-year-old Gordon Jury, 23-year-old Gerald Hayes, 22-year-old James Sutherland, 30-year-old Ray Lovelock, 27-year-old Arthur Davis and 27-year-old Robert Sunman.
Herb’s parents enjoyed a few years of peace post war before 77-year-old William died in May ’53 and 78-year-old Jane in March ’58. Both are buried in Centennial Park.
Herb’s family continued to remember him in the ensuing years.
Advertiser Tuesday 24 July 1945, JONES. —In loving memory of Herb. SX7354. 2/48 Battn, who paid the supreme sacrifice at El Alamein. July 22, 1943. Like the rest of our boys gone, but not forgotten. —Inserted by Fred. Julia, nephews and nieces, Frank. Harold, and former batn. mates.
Advertiser, Monday 22 July 1946, JONES. H. C. P. Pte. SX7354. B Coy. 2/48th Batt. (Tobruk Rat). —Killed in action at El Alamein. 22/7/42. —Missed and sorrowed for by Fred. Julia and children. JONES. —In memory of our dear son and brother Herbie. 2nd/48th Batt, killed in action. EJ Alamein. 1942. Sleeping where no shadows fall, where he will be waiting to welcome us all. —Inserted by mother, father Shirley, Norma.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion