Some servicemen went through the War as humble privates and content with their lot. For commissioned officers, the pressures were significantly greater, and in the case of Captain Roy Hector Jones, just a little too much
Roy Jones was a brother of Corporal Leslie Theophilus Jones, also Killed in Action; the duo from 21 Alexandra-street, Northcote.
Like all of the deaths recorded, that of Roy Jones was tragic, but in his case, perhaps even sadder as he died after returning home a broken man after being thrust into a role that he simply through a lack of training or because the trauma of war he simply was incapable of handling. His commanding officer, Lt. Col. James wrote a damning report on Jones, recommending his commission be terminated, describing him within hours of his return as “… incapable of heading even a platoon under moderately fair conditions …”.
In Jones’ case, there was no quick release – he spent nearly two and half years in an out of hospital after his return to Australia before finally succumbing to the effects of gas poisoning early in 1921 at 16 Australian General Hospital, Macleod.
Leslie’s death came much earlier when he was killed in action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli on 8 August, 1915, reported as Missing In Action and confirmed killed at a Court of Enquiry in June, 1916, the report graphically describing the carnage during the attack – “identification tags were not collected as bombs were coming over in hundreds”.
World War 1 Casualty : Roy Hector Jones (Thornbury)
Hi,
I love your work, but would like you to reconsider your entry on Roy Hector Jones and reread his WWI file: link to recordsearch.naa.gov.au.
On pages 53-54 it tells us he suffered from pulmonary tuberculosis and this was the cause of his death. On pages 41-43 and 51-52 it tells us that the assessment of health authorities was that he contracted tuberculosis while serving in France.
Further examination of his service file shows he served 4 months at Gallipoli in the latter part of 1915, leading a group of signaliers. After the evacuation of Gallipoli he seems to have spent nearly 2 years mostly on the Western Front, but sometimes in England with training battalions. Page 39 tells us on 9th Oct 1917 he received a gunshot wound to the face at Ypres – a place synonymous with the horror of WWI. After this, he was unable to return to his company, and whilst the report on his abilities at that point is scathing, it is also consistent with him suffering from PTSD – something that was not recognised or understood in 1917.
What you say about officers having a different experience of war to soldiers is, I think, true. It also seems true that Roy was the more academic of the Jones brothers. However, I don’t think he was incompetent – he wouldn’t have lasted so long if he had been. I think he was simply human, and eventually the horror and the pressure led to PTSD.
As the ex-partner of a serving member, I think it’s important that we recognise PTSD as a human frailty, and not as a failing of character or competence.
Kind regards,