Jones, Oscar Anglesey (Captain, b.1892 - d.1917), letters - Part 1

PERSONAL RECORDS

A.W.M. File No. 12/11/717

CAPTAIN O.A. JONES. 21st BATTALION. A.I.F.

D.O.W. 5 MAY 17

Original Letters.

5/1/1916 - 27/[[?]]/1917.

16/4/15      27/3/17

The Official War Historian of the Commonwealth

Government (D. C. E. Bean) after his study of the 

Collections of private war records in the Australian

War Memorial Library, wrote: -

Page illegible

A.W.M. File No. 12/11/717
Captain O.A. JONES, 21st Battalion, A.I.F., who died

on 3 ( ? 4) May 1917 of wounds received at Bullecourt.

other biographical details concerning him are: police

constable ; of Melbourne, Victoria: born Boardford,

Victoria, 11th June 1892; joined the A.I.F. on

11 March, 1915; age at time of death. 24.

9th August
1915
Dear Mother
I am writing this from
the trench where we are now located. Came
in yesterday, a few days behind the rest
of the brigade owing to the torpedo smash.
We landed at Anzac at 2 A M on Wednesday
morning and marched straight away into
the hills. We bivouacked till day light & then

got ready to relieve the 5^th Battalion.
Our trench is about 150 yds or 200 from the
Turks, and all day xxx we are having pot shot
at their loophole [[?]] [[?]] of [[course?]]

they keep doing the same & if we miss their parapets

will wave a wash  out ([[?]] The country here is very

pretty blooming stuff. Firewood is very scarce

and we brought old boxes & such like along

with us to start off with. I met one of the

Queensland boys & had a great yarn to him

about old times. There is only one [[?]]
chap left over here, the rest are sick wounded

or killed. Dean is well & he, another Corporal & I 

share the one dug -out. We only lost about 40
I believe, when we were struck by the torpedo
but we were extremely fortunate, as the one before

us sank in about 4 minutes after she was
struck and the losses amounted to something
like 800. These trenches are just like 
homes and so extensive that it is

very easy to lose one’s bearing.  We are quite safe

in here the only thing is that the few shells that

keep passing over disturbs your sleep. The

flares that are thrown up occasionally of a

night time light up the country wonderfully

The hills out at Reedy Creek are something like

the country we are now in so you can form an

idea how things are. Water for drinking etc

is not too plentiful, but there is enough to jog 

along with. The flies are our worst enemies & one

is glad when it gets dark, so that we can have

peace, the small squares of mosquitos net that

were issued to us are splendid for  without

them we could not sleep. It gets cold at

night, and quite a change from Egypt, although

most likely they will be having cool there

very [[?]] [[?]] & [[?]] [[?]] I will

write to him one of these days, when I get a

[[?]] [[]] fit on Don't forget Mum to send

small envelope, so that I can keep writing

& suppose we shall be here for a while now

and things will be a bit interesting. I am 

keeping in splendid health, just like when

I was in the north. Gilbert Eaton had

his knee cap split when getting into the

boats after the smash & I believe may

return to Australia on furlough but

cannot [[?]] for the [?] of it.

All the others are well. I was first speaking

to Billy Clemens He always asks how

you all are and wishes to be remembered to

you. kind regards to all friends

your son Oscar

In the Trenches

Gallipoli

Dear Mother

Was pleased to get your letter this

 week and to hear that [[?]] & Ivor had pretty

well recovered from this bout of influenza.

I am back with B. Coy, and expect

to be settled permanently now, anyway I

hope so. Things are fairly quiet

and there is nothing much doing on

either side except Artillery fire.

We gave them a solid hitting this 

morning their trenches being subjected to

an awful burst, you cannot realise

how the earth shakes and trembles

when a six inch howitzer explodes.

One can always tell them coming by

a loud droning noise as the shell approaches

and then it whistles & roars as it goes

overhead. The burst following sounds a hollow

roar, full of power scattering earth &

sandbags just like grains of wheat.

They fired some schrapnel & high explosive

shells from an [[?]] [[?]], but I

do not think they did much damage

2

I had a close shave a few mornings ago

One of their [[?]] bombers opened up at

550 yds range and started to blow our parapets

about. I got all the men under cover & 

went to my own post to wait events.

They came soon enough, one of their shells 

bursting 4 feet off me, but lucky for me

the burst was all out the other way and

excepting for dust,  noise & stench was not

troubled. I have [[one?]] copper [[?]] bands

from the shell & am sending it along to [[?]]

It should make a couple of signet rings

and will be easy to keep clean. I do not

want  any more to fall closer than that one

as it was quite near enough.

I wrote to Olive a couple of days ago

and hope she gets it. I must

thank you so much for the parcel

of stationary and socks. The note paper

was handy also the socks. They are

a gay combination  of colours. Im wearing

them now. I fancy somehow that we

will put in a fair while here , more [[than?]] bombarding

likely have a winter here & unless something

happens shortly. They are bombarding 

the [["narrows"?]]  and the sound of the

guns is plainly heard here where we are

3

I hope that they get through soon,

for if not it will be to late for anything

to come from or would matter more

go to Russia, as I believe it freezes 

over in the winter and the shipping

ports such as Odessa are inaccessible for about

three months. Perhaps might have

some other way of getting it through

Gilbert Eaton is back here saw

him yesterday and again this morning.

His knee is pretty well [[?]] but the [[?]]

it a bit [[?]] [[?]] walking up the hill

at the back of us. It was just

a very severe knock, and not a [[?]]

[[?]] they supposed at the start a broken

kneecap. I have fairly good quarter

in B. Coy but not as roomy as where

I was in D.G. I have  heard that

there are some Welsh regiment around

on our left and was  wondering if

my cousins were there. They may be

in Heliopolis yet, but anyway I will

write to Wales and find out to what

unit they belong. Where I was last

week I could see right away across

the peninsular. There is a fine [[railway?]]

and cultivation ground away in the distance. One could
see  men [[?]] sometimes walking then 
looking through the telescope. I also saw [[?]]
men driving a mob of bullocks, somewhere.
Very like it was to some well to drink, as
they came  back a little while afterwards.
The old chap is to be seen nearly

every day ploughing away and he does not
seem to care that there is a war or not.
Had a letter from M^r Cocks also last mail
and he was telling me that things were looking 
very well around  where they were. He told me
that  he felt a lot better after the operation.
to his nose. I suppose; all though I do not know
that it was [[??]]. [[ .]] as war
on the look of it seems as if it will last
and the twelve months, but then again
may see the finish out, although
personally I do not think so. The weather
is gradually getting colder, and one feels
the benefit of his overcoat. I have plenty of
warm clothes, and do not feel any ill
effects of the coming season. Tell Ivor I 
will drop him a line by next mail
also one to Frank, although it is time
he wrote to me. Will close now as there
is very little news, so trusting all are
well & that you went to [[?]] for a 
holiday. Love from Oscar

October 1^st 1915

In the trenches

Dear Mother
This week owing to no Australian mail
coming along we will have to wait till next week
for news from home. One wait will be rewarded
by an extra supply I hope. Thanks vey much for
the parcel Mum it arrived safely and the fly
veil is first rate. The nights have turned
warm again this month and so I have not
required the mitts yet, but I would not be
surprised if having to put a winter in
here we are treated to some snow.
Guess it will be the other was about in
Australia at that time. I was along to
the 13^th Light Horse yesterday and saw
Dave Pattison he was having dinner at
the time and seemed well. He was
asking after you all He hold me that
Syn Howard was in the Lett, but I did
not see him, may do sso later on
Riched up a piex of the the
oher day with a phots of Sam Brac
Sam, his lask was out but
in it. Poor
will as