It is highly likely that 1769 Sydney Victor Jones lied about his age when he enlisted 8 January 1915. He gave his age as 19 but it is more likely he only turned 18 when he was killed in action at Gallipoli on 10 June 1915.
Sydney was a member of 2nd Battalion, AIF and at Gallipoli at the same time as his brothers Harold and Arthur. They were member's of 13th Battalion, AIF. 1915 was a tragic year for this family; Arthur was WIA in May and Harold in August. Their father, Evan, died in a horse gig accident towards the end of 1915.
Sydney was originally buried at Brown's Dip and later moved to Lone Pine Cemetery. The correspondence between Sydney's mother and the Army about the epitaph on this headstone is in Sydney's service record. One letter very tactfully explains there was a 66 character limit (including spaces) allowed on headstones and what the Army suggested might be left out to meet this limit.
This research started from an unusual source. I was contacted late last year by Graham whose wife, Pam, ran a successful medal mounting business for many years. Now in retirement, Pam has a few medals that were left with her and never collected. In this case the medal was Sydney's British War Medal. I've connected Graham and Pam with Tony who is Sydney's great nephew. In one of those 'it is a small world' moments, Tony is a good friend of my cousin Stephen.
The returned medal tally is now 2724.
Looking for Vietnam medals issued to Nicoll Mason-Jones. Include both Australian and sth.
ReplyDeleteVietnamese . Lost on train journey from Mascot airport to Central rail station about fifteen years ago. Owner not too well and would appreciate their being returned. All responses to 26j7fr@gmail.com