8/230 Sergeant William Jones, 17/8/1886-1/2/1942

"Shell shock," during World War One, was a little-understood effect of war.  It seems to have a phrase used for two separate but connected phenomena: the effect of high explosive blast which could kill and injure without visible wounds, and a longer-term nervous and/or psychological condition which is now known and referred to as "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," or PTSD.  In the years of and after the War, "shell shock"was much debated but still little understood.

William Jones was a painter, married for two years, in the town of Milton when he joined up with the Otago Infantry Battalion at the beginning of the Great War.

He spent time with the OIB in Egypt before going to Gallipoli where he had his wrist broken by a bullet.  This possibly occurred during the attack on the Pope Hill/Walkers Ridge area on May 1st, in which the Otago Regiment lost about half of its men killed or wounded.  I imagine he might have waited some time on the beach before making his way to a hospital ship, as his wound would have made him unable to use a rifle but would not have been critical.

On May 6, 1915 he was admitted to the Hospital Ship Franconia and was discharged to duty a month later. Later, at the NZ Hospital at Cairo, he was diagnosed with sciatica and an ununited fracture of the hip and invalided home on the Tahiti.  He was discharged as medically unfit for service in June, 1916.

CORPORAL WILLIAM JONES. 

Corporal William Jones, reported wounded, was well-known and highly popular in Milton district, where he resided for a number of years. He was 28 years of age, and a native of Dunedin, where he was employed as a painter, prior to accepting employment with Mr Geo Wilson, in similar capacity. He was an enthusiastic volunteer, and served eight years in the Dunedin City Guards, in which corps he was latterly promoted to sergeant. In the Expeditionary main body he was appointed as a corporal on board the transport. Both his parents are dead. His next-of-kin is his wife (nee Miss Violet Diaper, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs G. W. Draper, Milton). Corporal Jones's Milton friends are anxiously awaiting news regarding the extent of his injuries.   -Bruce Herald, 15/5/1915.


Mr G. W. Draper informs us that his daughter, Mrs Jones, has received a cablegram from the Defence authorities in Egypt, stating her husband, Corporal William Jones, who was wounded at the Dardanelles, is progressing favorably. Particulars of his wounds are not stated.  -Bruce Herald, 27/5/1915.

The friends in this district of Corporal William Jones will note with pleasure that Mr and Mrs G. W. Draper have received a letter from him from Alexandria, stating he has recovered from the injury sustained in the early stages of the fighting at the Dardanelles, and is discharged from hospital. The injury consisted of a bullet wound through the right wrist.  -Bruce Herald, 8/7/1915.

From Mr G. W. Draper we learn that their son-in-law, sergeant William Jones, has been ordered by the medical board in Egypt to return to New Zealand, his friends expect he is onboard the hospital ship Maheno, due to arrive about 20th December. He was one of six men who were blown out of a trench by an explosion of a shell, when two were killed and the others more or less injured. Sergeant Jones received injuries to a thigh bone socket, which will probably cause a perpetual lameness.   -Bruce Herald, 25/11/1915.

With the Expeditionary Forces.

LETTER FROM SERGEANT WM. JONES. 

Writing to a member of the Bruce Herald staff from No. 2 New Zealand Hospital, Abbassia, Cairo under date October 7th, Sergeant William Jones, who enlisted with the main Expeditionary Force, and has been twice wounded in the fighting at Gallipoli, states inter alia: 

"We were supposed to leave for England on September 1st, but the weather was too rough for our lighter to get alongside the transport, which sailed without us, and consequently we still remained in the Canadian Hospital at Mudros. 

"I have had several experiences recently with the Medical Boards and hospitals. On July l0th I was examined by a Medical Board, my injuries consisting of a bruised hip received, through being too near a shell when it exploded and emptied us out of the trench. The board considered I was fit for light duty at the base for a month. I missed the Board's next meeting, as I was not paraded with those for examination. At Lemnos on September 8th I was invalided home by another Medical Board, but the sergeant-major mislaid the report, and on next examination I got base duty. After being admitted to the Canadian Hospital I was booked for England, but missed that also. In company with others who could walk I hobbled over on a stick to the wharf, and embarked on the "Orsova,'' an Orient liner. We left Lemnos for Alexandria on September lst, and zig-zagged on our course considerably, owing to receiving wireless information regarding the proximity of a submarine. All hands had to keep their life-belts handy both day and night. We arrived at Alexandria a day late, and sent by hospital train to Cairo. 

"Last week I was X-rayed, and the examination disclosed that a portion of bone has been chipped off the ball of one hip — called an ununited fracture of a bone with some "huge name." I am also suffering from other bruises, and a complication of the sciatic nerve. It is not too pleasant lying in bed gazing over the desert, where we many weary days, but it's a poor heart which never rejoices, and I am looking forward to returning to New Zealand and seeing the old faces. I hope to be able to walk without crutches by that time, but the doctors consider I will always have a limp. I was "kidding myself" that I would recover, and rejoin a later reinforcement, but it looks like "Mallish Gallip" for me. I was not there long. 

"Our men stuck to their work well, and some of the gamest were the stretcher bearers. "Kit" Shaw and Len Maurice — (two other Miltonians) — worked like Trojans, especially during the first week, when they worked day and night. You would always see "Kit" and Len together, and it was marvellous how they carried heavy men from the firing line on the stretchers, over very rough ground; often on little food or sleep. The manner in which they stuck to their work spoke a lot for their grit and determination. Only two stretcherbearers — "Kit" Shaw and Ernie Freestone (Dunedin) went right through the campaign from the landing on April 25th until September 16th, when the New Zealanders were relieved. 

"Of our original company of 227 which landed on April 25th, only seven went right through the five months' campaign, and the company mustered only 39 after being reinforced five times. The New Zealanders richly deserve the month's spell at Lemnos. 

"We have had a treat to-day — a lady brought us some currant cake; we had all forgotten what currant cake was like. We get well treated in this hospital. One lady comes to see the Otago boys specially, and brings all manner of gifts — plenty of "backsheesh," cigarettes, etc. . . . There is no doubt the New Zealanders are the best equipped and best looked after, thanks being due to our ladies in New Zealand for the various comforts. The Australians are also well set up, but the poor "Tommies," on 1s 2d per day - the poorest paid of the contingents - are the worst off. They receive practically nothing from their women-folk, and envy our kits of comforts. From general conversation and inquiries by the English "Tommies," New Zealand should not be short of immigrants after the war — we boost the Dominion up, you bet. 

"While at Lenmos I was put on lines of communication, which is light work for men not fit for the firing line. I was also engaged for a time on medical corps work, and during that period received my sergeants stripes, and was attached to the R.A.M.C." 

Sergeant Jones concludes his letter with a brief account of the natives and customs of Lenmos, and anticipates arriving back in New Zealand before Xmas.   -Bruce Herald, 29/11/1915.

PERSONAL ITEMS.

The Port Chalmers Borough Council, out of 34 applicants; appointed Mr William Jones, soldier who returned wounded, as water officer. The balloting was restricted to returned soldiers only, of whom eight applied for the position.   -Press, 7/9/1916.

BIRTHS

JONES.—On May 22, at Nurse Cupples's, to Mr and Mrs William Jones, Meridian street, Port Chalmers —a son.   -Otago Witness, 30/5/1917.

FIRES

A two roomed cottage, owned by William Jones and occupied by James Craig, was burned down at Port Chalmers about 1 o'clock this morning. The fire brigade did good work in preventing the fire spreading to adjacent wooden buildings. The burned cottage and its contents were covered in, the New Zealand Insurance Office to the extent of £100 on the building and a similar amount on the contents. Nothing was saved. The cause of the fire is unknown. The occupant was wakened by a child crying, to find the place on fire.  -Evening Star, 14/9/1917.

The Port Chalmers Fire Brigade was called out shortly after 7 o'clock yesterday morning to the pavilion on the football ground at Mussel Bay. When it arrived there the fire had obtained such a hold on the building that there was no hope of saving it; in fact it collapsed shortly after the arrival of the brigade, and practically nothing was saved. The building, which was constructed of wood with an iron roof was erected about 20 years ago, and was insured for about £70 with the New Zealand Insurance Company.   -Otago Daily Times, 27/3/1919.

Acting on information supplied by the local police, Detectives Cameron and Hall proceeded to Port Chalmers yesterday afternoon and arrested William Jones, who was subsequently brought before Mr J. McLachlan, J.P., on a charge of arson. This charge refers to the burning down of the pavilion on the recreation ground at Port Chalmers a few evenings ago. Accused was remanded to appear before the Stipendiary Magistrate on Friday, and bail was allowed in two sums of L100 each.  -Evening Star, 1/4/1919.

Port Chalmers Court

Arson. — William Jones was charged with wilfully setting fire to the pavilion on the Port Chalmers Recreation Ground on the evening of' March 26. — Mr O. J. White appeared for the accused. — Evidence was given by three schoolboys (William Gilroy Clark, James Alex. Cullen King, and Campbell Mac Donald), who alleged that they had heard the accused say "that it would he a good thing if the pavilion were burned down. King said that immediately after the fire accused confessed to him that he had burned down the building, which was in a dilapidated state. — J. W. Fraser (Town Clerk) gave formal evidence in respect to the burning and Septimus Sidney Moir, acting superintendent of the Fire Brigade, in respect to the fire. — Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail being allowed — self £l50 and two sureties of £75 each. Both was forthcoming, and the accused was released.   -Evening Star, 4/4/1919.

BURNING OF PORT CHALMERS PAVILION. 

William Jones appeared for sentence on a charge of committing arson at Port Chalmers. Mr Irwin, on behalf of prisoner, said that up to the time the offence was committed he had a very good record indeed, and counsel had a number of excellent references obtained by him prior to the outbreak of war. He was a married man, but was one of the first if not actually the first to enlist in the district. He served at Gallipoli, and received severe injuries as the result of shell explosion. He was invalided home to New Zealand, and obtained a position as water inspector at Port Chalmers. He seemed to have carried out his duties well, and in addition to have taken a great interest in teaching the children of the district cricket and football. On the ground where these games were played was the building which was burnt down, and there seemed to have been an agitation to have this building condemned and removed. There actually was a public meeting to be held on the question the night the building was burnt down. Prisoner stated that some preparation had been made for a fire in the place, and that he lit the fire. Dr Borrie would tell the Court that the man had been in a highly nervous state, and it appeared that he had been carried away by the feelings of the people in connection with the building.

Dr Borrie stated that he had examined prisoner on many occasions. He had been injured in the head and suffered from shell shock. Witness believed that all the talk about this building got on the man’s nerves. 

Evidence as to excellent character was given also by John McDonald Stevenson (Mayor of Port Chalmers), who stated that in his opinion the building was not worth £5: and the Rev. W. M. Grant. His Honor said the pavilion had been insured for £75; had this been paid? 

The Crown Prosecutor (Mr W. C. MacGregor): No. Mr MacGregor added that the police report on prisoner was very favorable. He was born in Dunedin, was 30 years of age and had a wife and one child. The only thing was that it appeared that while training the boys in cricket and football he also trained them to burn down the pavilion, and when they hesitated about it, he did it himself.

His Honor said that appeared to be the situation. He noted the police reported the value of the building as £l0. Prisoner would be remanded for definite information of the value. 

On resuming after lunch the value of the building before the fire was said to be £20. 

His Honor said that if the matter was settled then, he would consider the question of ordering accused to come up for sentence when called upon.   -Evening Star, 13/5/1919.

Criminal Sittings

Dunedin

Arson. In the case against William Jones, who came up for sentence yesterday on a charge of arson at Port Chalmers, Mr Irwin, for accused, stated that the amount of the damage assessed at £20 had now been paid, also the costs of the prosecution (£3 12s). 

His Honor then ordered accused to come up for sentence when called upon.   -Evening Star, 14/5/1919.

An alert reader might make a connection here between the burning of the house in 1917 and the deliberate burning of the Port Chalmers pavilion.  In my opinion there are three more or less interesting possibilities with regard to the two incidents;

1: they were unconnected.
2: the burning of the house was a deliberate act in order to collect insurance.
3: the burning of the house and subsequent insurance payout impressed upon the mind of William Jones the convenience of destruction by fire as a way of removing difficulties and resolving a situation.

At this distance of time, the thinking and memories of William Jones will remain opaque on the situation.

"NEW ZEALAND TOO MODEST."

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I read with interest the letter in your columns on July 17, written by Mr W. H. Saunders. I consider his idea a splendid one. I may state that I send overseas a lot of mail, just for a hobby as well as to advertise our country. I have over 200 pen-friends in all countries, with whom I keep up a regular correspondence. I send daily papers, post card views of New Zealand and railway stamps advertising the Dominion, also at times the Tourist Department sends me some booklets. I have been writing to some of my friends (whom I have never seen) since 1911, with a short break while at the war. If everyone had 200 pen-friends everybody would know everybody else, and that would do more for world’s peace than anything I know. Anyone requiring a pen-friend overseas could send a stamped addressed envelope stating in what country they desire their correspondents.

— I am, etc. William Jones. Musselburgh, July 17.  -Otago Daily Times, 19/7/1930.

THE WORLD’S PEACE

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —What are the majority of people doing in the interest of the peace of the world? Big conferences do a lot of good, but we have the promotion of peace practically in our own hands. Most people did not want war in 1914, yet it came and almost every one suffered. There must be something wrong somewhere. A simple way out of this war talk, which leads to wars, is for all to do their best to stop it. Parents can play a large part in this matter by declining to buy toy pistols, guns, and swords for their children. In almost every home which one visits one sees children with these toy weapons. Parents should have enough control also over their children to forbid them going to war pictures and "Wild West” pictures. The war pictures in schools and halls should be taken down. Why should an innocent little child have to look at a picture of a bayonet charge all day? It is degrading. There is no glory in war, as nothing justifies killing a man. I consider I am doing my bit towards peace as I did in enlisting in 1914 for active service. 

I have a hobby of writing to pen friends overseas, people in all countries, whom I have never met. I have over 160 of these friends, and I never owe them a letter or post card very long. To some I have been writing since 1911, and to the majority for 10 years. It is a pleasant hobby, and if we all adopted it everybody would know everybody else, and if a war were mooted we would say, “Why should we fall out with that country? I have a lot of friends there.” They would say the same about us. This hobby to which I refer advertises the country through the use of post cards of New Zealand, and it is interesting to receive post cards, letters, stamps, etc. in return. I have received a good number of inquiries for pen friends overseas from different parts of New Zealand. If anyone who requires a pen friend in any country will forward a stamped addressed envelope to me, I shall be pleased to supply the necessary assistance if possible.

I am, etc., William Jones. 71 Queen’s drive, Musselburgh, June 12.  -Otago Daily Times, 14/6/1933.

DEATHS

JONES. — On February 1, 1942, at his residence, 71 Queen’s Drive, Musselburgh, 8/230 Sergeant William Jones, late of Main Body, 1st N.Z.E.F., beloved husband of Violet Jones, and father of Lieutenant Bruce Jones, N.Z. Dental Corps; aged 56 years. R.I.P. Requiem Mass at St. Patrick’s Basilica, To-morrow (Tuesday), the 3rd inst., at 8.30 a.m. — The Funeral will leave the Basilica at 11 a.m. for the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery. — R. McLean and Son, funeral directors.   -Evening Star, 2/2/1942.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.