JONES, Desmond Grieve
| Service Number: | W1967 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 January 1941 |
| Last Rank: | Able Seaman |
| Last Unit: | HMAS Shropshire |
| Born: | Brunswick, Victoria, AUSTRALIA, 4 May 1923 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 30 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, W1967 | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 1946: | Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Able Seaman, W1967, HMAS Shropshire |
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Des (Des) Jones was born in Victoria on 2 May 1924 He joined the Royal Australian Navy on 30 January 1941 aged just 17.
As a Leading Stoker, Des served with over 800 Australians on HMAS Canberra which encountered one of the most devastating naval battles in World War II.
On August 9th 1942, the HMAS Canberra was caught in a surprise Japanese attack at the Battle of Savo Island. The ship was struck 24 times in less than two minutes with 84 crew members killed including Captain Frank Getting. Des was among the survivors from the sinking vessel.
Despite this harrowing experience, Des continued his naval service on HMAS Shropshire until 1946.
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