Person

Richard Jones was nearly 45 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Amy in 1915. He had emigrated to Australia with his family 24 years earlier as a child, yet still chose to return to Europe to fight for King and Country.

There were six children in the Jones family, of whom Richard was the third, and oldest boy. He was born in January 1871 in West Cornforth where his father, James Jones, worked in the coking plant as a filler. The family were staunch Protestants and when James and his wife, Margaret, decided to emigrate with their family, James gave his occupation as Vicar of Cornforth.

The family arrived in Australia on the “Nineveh” on 22 September 1881 and settled in New South Wales (NSW).

In due course, Richard left school, to serve a five-year apprenticeship as a joiner in the railway workshops in Endsleigh, 330 kms west of Sydney.

By the time Richard enlisted in Narrabri, NSW, on 21 October, he was married to Mary and worked as a joiner in the town of Forest Vale. He was a small man, just under 5′ 3″, weighing 8st 9lbs, with a “medium” complexion and brown hair and eyes.

Richard was initially enlisted as a private in the 4th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). After basic training in Australia, he embarked from Melbourne on the “Anchises” on 18 March 1916. Once in Egypt, he was transferred to the 56th Battalion before proceeding to the Western Front via Marseilles. As the troops marched north, Richard fell out of the column of men without permission. He was found guilty of leaving the ranks on the march and was sentenced to 1 day’s Field Punishment number 2.

The 56th Battalion had only been in France two weeks when they were thrown into the attack on 19 July at the Battle of Fromelles in Picardy. The Australians suffered heavy casualties and on 3 August, Richard joined the long lists of injured. He was evacuated back to England with a gunshot wound to his right arm, and was treated in the East Leeds Hospital. As he convalesced in England, Richard went missing or overstayed his leave by 24 hours, arriving back at camp at 15.00 hours on 19 October instead of that time on the 18th. He was admonished by his senior officer and forfeited two days’ pay,

Richard returned to France on 20 November, to join his battalion facing the worst winter for 40 years in the Somme Valley. The following summer, now aged 46, he was detached for duty with the Church Army on 19 July. Richard would not see action again as, four months later, he was permanently assigned to the Employment Company of the Corps Reinforcements Camp at Caestre, in Northern France. This camp received all reinforcements and ensured they were despatched on to their units usually within 24 hours. They also re-equipped and re-clothed Australian troops returning from hospitals before proceeding on to the Front.

Living conditions were better at Caestre, though the men were still housed primarily under canvas. There was, however, the added luxury of wooden/iron hot water baths, ablution sheds and cookhouses. But this was still not enough to save Richard’s health and on 1 September 1918, he was diagnosed with suffering from chronic rheumatism.

Richard returned to Australian on 19 October for permanent base duties. He was finally discharged from military service on 26 April 1919.

Civil Parish: Cornforth

Birth date: 1871

Armed force/civilian: Army

Employment: Joiner

Family: Parents: James Jones (b1842 in Glamorgan), Margaret Jones (b 1845 in Carmarthen)
Siblings: Mary Jones (b 1869), Gwen Jones (b 1870), Elizabeth Jones (b 1873), Margaret Jones (b1875), James Jones (b 1877)
Wife: Mary Jones

Military service:

Service Number 4961
Private
4th Battalion, AIF, on 21-Oct-1951 at Narrabri, NSW
Transferred 56th Battalion whilst still in Egypt 20-Apr-16
Detached to Church Army 19-Jul-1917
Transferred to Employment Company, Corps Reinforcements Camp at Caestre 22-Nov-1917 Discharged 26-Apr-1919

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Kelloe Visitor, Trimdon Station