Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Geoffrey Jones was born in Preston Victoria, educated at Mitcham State School and Wesley College, a 21 year old when he died at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. He had formerly been an engineer of Tunstall, near Box Hill Victoria. Tunstall is now known as Nunawading.

His brother Rolf Stanley Jones 59th Battalion was mortally wounded on the same day, dying 6 months later in England.

Geoffrey enlisted on 19 August 1914, an original of the 8th Bn, and at 6 foot tall and almost 12 stone was in the pink of condition. He embarked for overseas on during October 1914, as a Lance Corporal, and an original member of G Company. He was at the Landing, having embarked for Gallipoli from Alexandria on 5 April 1915, and was wounded in action during that first day, suffering a gunshot wound to the scalp. He was evacuated to hospital in Cairo, and when he had recovered he rejoined the 8th Battalion at Anzac on 26 May 1915. He was promoted to Corporal in August 1915, and then appointed to be Temporary Sergeant during November 1915. He disembarked at Alexandria from Gallipoli 7 January 1916, having served almost 7 months on the peninsular, after being wounded and being promoted through the ranks to Sergeant. He attended a school of instruction and  transferred to the 60th Bn during the reorganisation of the AIF in early 1916. He disembarked in France with the majority of the 60th Bn on 29 June 1916.

A witness to his death, 3236 Pte. E.A.Stonham D Coy 60th Bn stated in his Red Cross file, "He was in charge of VIII Platoon, B Company and was killed at Fleurbaix 19th July 1916. I saw him lying in a little ditch just outside our wire, as I came back out of the charge. He was shattered all below the thighs. I was alongside him for a bit. He was almost dead and could hardly talk. He must have died soon afterwards. He belonged to the 8th Battalion originally."