The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (594) Private John Jones, 20th Battalion, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (594) Private John Jones, 20th Battalion, First World War.

594 Private John Jones, 20th Battalion
KIA 5 August 1916
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 20 May 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private John Jones.

"Jack" Jones was born in Bendoc on the border of Victoria and New South Wales to Henry and Ellen Jones. Little is known of his early years, but as a young man he was sent with his brother, Edward, to Manildra in New South Wales, where both boys undertook a five-year apprenticeship in a relative's blacksmith business.

Jack enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in March 1915 and was posted to the 20th Battalion. His brother enlisted the following July, but was posted to the 17th Battalion. Both of these battalions were in the same brigade, and the brothers were able to see each other occasionally during their period of active service abroad.

Having enlisted early enough to get to Gallipoli, Jack arrived just after the last big offensives were undertaken and stayed until the evacuation. On reaching Cairo he was struck down with appendicitis and spent some time recovering in hospital.

He did not arrive in France until June 1916. In late July parts of the 20th Battalion became involved in the fighting in the French village of Pozières. Jones, as part of B Company, assisted in attacking the OG Lines on the night of 28 July. These were heavily defended German trenches that bordered the village. This operation failed, but the battalion remained in the lines to provide carrying and working parties.

On 4 August 1916 the 20th Battalion was again ordered to attack the OG Lines. This time the operation was successful, but with heavy casualties. One of those killed during the attack was Private John Jones. Under the heavy shell-fire of the battle, he went out to carry a wounded sergeant to safety when he was hit by a shell and killed instantly. He was 23 years old.

His brother, Edward, who survived the war, wrote to his parents:

I hardly know how to write it, for poor old Jack's death has simply broken me up. I saw him the day before he was killed, and he was as lively as a cricket, and as jolly as ever. There is one consolation, dear mother and father; he did not suffer long.

Jack Jones was described by his battalion's chaplain as a man who "always did his duty faithfully and did it unto the end". The chaplain also wrote to Jack's parents, saying, "There is always the proud remembrance that he died fighting for his country and for all that an honourable man holds dear".

In the fields of Pozières someone put up a memorial marker to Jack Jones, whose body had not been recovered. However, after the war, investigations by the Imperial War Graves Commission located his body and his remains were buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War. There is no photograph in the Memorial's collection to display beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private John Jones, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.