The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (4749) Private David Jones, 2nd Australian Division Salvage Company, 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 Craig Berelle, the story for this day was on (4749) Private David Jones, 2nd Australian Division Salvage Company, First World War.

4749 Private David Jones, 2nd Australian Division Salvage Company
DOW 9 August 1918
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 12 October 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private David Jones.

David Jones was born in 1871 in Shropshire, England, the eldest son of William and Jane Jones of Bridgnorth. When he was seven years old his family immigrated to Australia, living in Newbridge and then Kogarah before settling in Wingello. He attended the local state school, and went on to become an orchardist and station manager.

Jones was 44 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in February 1916. He began training with the 17th Battalion and left Sydney Harbour on board the troopship Ceramic in April 1916. He first went to Egypt, where he continued training with the infantry, and then to England. Private Jones arrived in France to fight on the Western Front in September 1916, and served with the 17th Battalion during the bitterly cold winter that followed.

In January 1917 Private Jones transferred to the 2nd Division Salvage Company. He continued to serve on the Western Front, working in and around salvage and ammunition dumps near the front line. He was known to be “of a most unassuming personality, which endeared him to all his comrades”.

On 9 August 1918 Private Jones was working behind the lines as the Battle of Amiens raged and received a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was taken to a nearby casualty clearing station for treatment, but died shortly afterwards. He was buried in the Vignacourt British Cemetery, where he lies today under the words “Forever with the Lord: gone but not forgotten.” He was 47 years old.

Three of David Jones’s brothers served in the AIF during the First World War. Tom and Jim were seriously wounded and invalided back to Australia before the war’s end, but all three survived.

David Jones’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private David Jones, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section