Sapper Albert Jones

SAPPER ALBERT JONES

845 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

Albert Jones was born in London, England in about 1894 as William Sweeting, the son of John and Alice Sweeting. His previous military service was two years with the F.H. Terrs and one year in the Navy. He came to Australia. In 1915 he was residing at 9 Belvoir Street, Sydney, NSW.

He applied to enlist for Active Service abroad at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, NSW under the name Albert Jones and passed the preliminary medical examination on December 31, 1915. The twenty-one year old warehouseman’s personal particulars show he was 168cms (5ft 6ins) tall with a chest expansion of 82-92cms (32-36ins). He was declared fit for active service and the recruiting officer accepted his application.

At Casula camp, near Liverpool, NSW on January 3, 1916 Forms of Attestation were completed which reveal further personal details about him. He weighed 59kgs (130lbs) and had a fair complexion with blue eyes testing to good vision and brown hair. Distinctive marks were a Scar Burn at the root of his neck and a tattoo on both arms. Church of England was his faith and his mother given as Mrs Alice Jones of 41 Lower Clapton Road, London was nominated as his next-of-kin. He was sworn in the same day.

Basic Training commenced at Casula with ‘G Coy’ in the 7th Reinforcements to the 17th Battalion from January 3 for nine days. A transfer to ‘D Coy’ Depot Battalion followed until February 2 then transferred to ‘C Coy’ Depot Battalion until February 12, 1916. The following day he was assigned to the 2nd Company, Mining Corps, 1st Reinforcements in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 845.

At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.

Sapper Jones was one of 1,248 members of the Corps who boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.

Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.

Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.

On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.

The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.

Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. The Captain of the shipwas reluctantto take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.

Soon after arrival, the Australian Mining Corps ceased to exist as a whole and was redesignated into three Tunnelling Companies which were dispersed where the British Armies required them immediately. Sapper Jones was assigned to the 2nd Tunnelling Company.

Base Records received a letter dated June 12, 1916 from Mrs L. Burt, “Rajah”, 172 Bridge Street, Glebe, Sydney requesting information about Sapper Jones who left Western Australia in April and had not heard from him since then wishing to find him for family reasons. Base Records replied on June 15, 1916 stating that no advice has been received in respect of the soldier and it was assumed he was still with his unit. His postal address was given for suggested correspondence.

On June 17, 1916 drift gas from a gas shell attack caused gas poisoning and he was taken to the No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station but died at 10.35 a.m. He was buried the same day at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, France with service officiated by Rev Anthony F. Fenn who was attached to the No. 8 C.C.S.

There is no Unit Diary of the 2nd Tunnelling Company for this period.

On June 18, 1916 a Telegram was sent by the Officer Commanding the 2nd Tunnelling Company and the Field Service Report finalised at Rouen on August 22, 1916.

An Inventory accompanied his personal effects sent on July 13, 1916 in package (386) to his mother at Bethnal Green, London. Items returned were:

Disc, two silk handkerchiefs, cards, 3 coins, wallet, letters, and prayer book.

Another Inventory lists items as:

Testament, belt, handkerchief and (2) Brooch.

Base Records received a letter from Mrs A. Jones, 32 Smith Street, North Hobart, Tas and replied on July 21, 1916 informing her that her husband No 483 Sapper A.C. Jones 3rd Field Company Engineers, was admitted on 14/3/16 to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Cairo, suffering from mild influenza and in view of the time elapsed since admission and no further reports, in probability, he was with his unit. His postal address was given to write to him. No advice of his return to Australia was to hand and she would be notified promptly if information did come. Their office could not explain why his letters had not reached her. Continuing the soldier reported in the Sydney newspaper as having died of illness was No. 845 Sapper Albert Jones, Mining Corps.

Base Records wrote on October 29, 1916 to Mrs A. Jones at her Bethnal Green, London address after their first letter was returned, advising her of further details in accordance with the policy of the Department regarding her son’s death.

The National Mutual Life Association of Australia in Sydney wrote to Base Records on November 14, 1916 further to their letter of September in reference to Albert James Jones requesting particulars as they had received news of the soldier’s death. Base Records replied on November 18 acknowledging their inquiry and stating that no trace could be found of their letter to hand but forwarded the information they required.

On December 4, 1916 an inquiry to Sydney, NSW from the Paymaster, London acting on behalf of relatives of Sapper Jones had his mother Mrs A. Sweeting of 162 Mansford Road, Bethnal Green Point, London as well as Alice Jones of 41 Lower Clapton Road, London. They wanted to know what their records showed and if he was in the same unit. On December 12, 1916 Base Records replied that Sapper Jones was the soldier referred to and they had his mother as Alice Jones.

In January, 1917 a member from Finance wrote to Base Records requesting the district of enlistment for him. Base Records replied he had enlisted at Casula, NSW.

The Circular and Booklet re Graves was forwarded on December 29, 1919 to his mother.

Sapper 845 Albert Jones, 2nd Tunnelling Company (alias William Sweeting) was awarded for his supreme sacrifice the British War Medal (32085) which was forwarded to the Commandant, A.I.F. Headquarters for dispatch to his mother and the Victory Medal (31862) was inscribed and sent to Australia House, London to be delivered to her as well.

The pamphlet ‘Where the Australians Rest’ was sent to Mrs Sweeting along with the Memorial Plaque (320481) and Memorial Scroll (320481) on August 7, 1922.

His grave is located in the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, France in Portion II, Section B in grave 202.

LEST WE GORGET

LEST WE FORGET