Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
Albert Jones, 41, (shown as J A V Jones on the Honour Roll in St Philip’s Anglican Church, Auburn), had previously left Auburn and was a well-established farmer at Coutts Crossing in the Grafton district of New South Wales.
Jones enlisted at Liverpool in July 1915 and embarked on the Ballarat two months later. Missing Gallipoli, he spent eight months in Egypt before arriving at the front in France with the 45th Battalion in June 1916. He was killed in action two months later during the First Battle of the Somme in northern France.
We may assume it was his parents, still living in Adderley Street, Auburn, who put the name of their son to the Auburn Memorial committee and to the committee of St Philip’s Anglican Church. 'A. Jones' was one of the names added to the Auburn War Memorial after unveiling day, 30 April 1922.
Albert's body was never found. His name is inscribed on The Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux.
Auburn Memorial men 2854 Albert Jones and 3819 Herbert Jones were not related.
Albert Jones is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- St Philip’s Anglican Church Auburn First World War Honour Roll
- South Grafton Cenotaph
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- Victory Medal
- British War Medal 1914-20
- 1914-1915 Star
