Jones: Frederick Wallace
The son of Edwin and Ann Jones, Frederick (Fred) was born on 19th Feb 1888 at Glen Osmond, South Australia.
Fred attended the Coromandel Valley Public School and was later employed as a labourer. He was the secretary of the Blackwood Rifle Club and a member of the Coromandel Valley Methodist Church and the Druids Lodge, Blackwood.
Enlisting as Private (Pte) 945 in the 10th Battalion on 28th Aug 1914 at Morphettville, South Australia, Jones was 5’8” (173cm) tall, weighed 148lbs (67kg), and had blue eyes and brown hair.
Fred was amongst the local men farewelled at an evening hosted in Blackwood by the local Patriotic Fund, as reported in the September 1914 issue of the Blackwood Times. He departed for overseas service aboard the HMAT Ascanius from Outer Harbor on 20th October 1914 as part of the AIF’s First Expeditionary Force.
The 10th Battalion was involved in the landing at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915 and the ensuing heavy fighting over the following days. During this time, Fred was severely wounded by rifle-fire.
He was being transported aboard the HMS Derrflinger to Alexandria but aged 27yrs, died of wounds at sea on 1st May 1915. Fred was buried in the Chatby Military Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt.
A photograph of Fred Jones is amongst those on the Coromandel Valley Methodist Church Roll of Honour on display at Blackwood RSL and his name is on the Coromandel Valley War Memorial.
His mother received a pension of 20/- per week from 21st July 1915.
Research by Geoff Lock, 2015
