Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

14/07/1942

Place of Enlistment

Operational Station, Papua

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

15/05/1917

Place of Birth

Forbes NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Grong Grong NSW (formerly of Hargreaves Crescent, Ainslie ACT)

Occupation

Bank officer

Next of Kin

Son of Alexander and Isabella Jones of Watt Street, Newcastle NSW

Burial Place

Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, grave B.1.F.26

Service Number

NX128777

Final Rank

Captain (temporary)

Final Unit

3 Battalion

Died of illness, 19 January 1943, Papua, aged 25 years

AWM Roll of Honour Memorial Panel 64, Canberra ACT

Jones came from the Newcastle district and worked for the Bank of NSW in Canberra where he was also a member of the 3rd Battalion (militia). He was mobilised in Canberra when war broke out and appointed as a lieutenant with 3 Battalion in August 1940. In March 1942 he was promoted to temporary Captain and embarked with 3 Battalion for Port Moresby in May 1942. He was hospitalised with dysentery in September 1942 but rejoined his unit in October 1942. Jones was hospitalised again around Christmas 1942 and died at the 2/9 Australian General Hospital (at the 17 Mile, about halfway between Port Moresby and Owers Corner) from scrub typhus on 19 January 1943. He was buried in Bomana War Cemetery, grave B1.6.26.

According to the 3rd Battalion war diary, Jones was detached to Maroubra Force (the name given to the men in units fighting the Japanese on the Kokoda Track) even though his service file does not state it. The files of other 3rd Battalion men are marked as having been detached to Maroubra Force when they entered the Kokoda Track between 5-8 September 1942.

AWM Roll of Honour Database
AWM Roll of Honour Circular
AWM 3 Battalion War Diary 1942 (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awm52/diary.asp?levelID=1071)
ACT Electoral Rolls - 1939, 1941
The Canberra Times - 15 July 1939, 7 September 1939
NAA RecordSearch