Thomas William Jones was born 1st January 1890 to Susannah (nee Groves) and Fredrick Jones
He enlisted no.3121 in the 24th / 5th Light Horse on 11th May 1916 aged 25, a carpenter from Warwick Queensland. His NOK was his mother Susannah, whose address was Boswell Terrace, Manly.
Jones embarked on 3rd February 1917 for the Middle East.
In August 1917, the Anzac Mounted Division was resting at Marakeb, a camp on the Mediterranean coast about three miles north of Khan Yunis. After months of campaigning, the men were given a rare opportunity to rest, swim in the Mediterranean, train and prepare their horses for the coming offensive.
Lieutenant John Crosby-Browne of the 5th Light Horse had previously served as a military band conductor in the British Army. Recovering from malaria, he was approached by Lieutenant Colonel John Arnott, commanding officer of the 7th Light Horse Regiment, and asked to form a band to entertain and raise the morale of the troops.
The response was rapid and the band grew steadily in numbers for the next month.
When Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel inspected the 20 member ANZAC Mounted Division Band at Desert Column on 22 September 1917 he was impressed. The band was seconded to Anzac Mounted Divisional Headquarters and ordered to accompany the Division into the field. Additional instruments and music were obtained from London by Crosby-Browne in late September.
Jones joined the ANZAC Mounted Division Band on 2nd February 1918.
He departed for Australia on 28th June 1919. Following his return to Australia, Jones was officially tasked by the military with looking after and preserving several of the division band’s brass instruments, including an E-flat tuba.
Jones was married on 27.10.1923 to Elsie Eileen Elliot and they had children Gordon, Trevor, Rex, and Gwen
Jones died on 11.11.1959.
THE Queensland Services Heritage Band Association (QSHBA), based in Wynnum, is set to pay tribute at the annual Anzac Day Parade in Brisbane.
The band, known for its distinctive light horse uniforms, has been a proud participant in the parade since 2013.
“The Light Horse Historical Band wears the uniform of the WW1 QLD Light Horse but is a living and mobile memorial to all our veterans, past and present,” Band Master and President Paul Jones said.
Following the traditional Dawn Service, the parade will start at 10am on the corner of Elizabeth and George Sts in the CBD.
The Anzac Day march is a solemn event that honours all Australian and New Zealand defence forces who have served and sacrificed in various conflicts to protect our country.
It is a day to remember the bravery and patriotism of our servicemen and women, past, present, and emerging, and to celebrate the mateship and freedom they fought to preserve.
The QSHBA will be showcasing its heritage-listed instruments, including a World War I euphonium and an E-flat tuba, both of which were played by the Anzac Mounted Division Band in the Middle East during World War I.
Incredibly, both the restored instruments were played by Mr Jones’s grandfather, 3121 Trooper Thomas Jones, during his time in the 11th Light Horse AIF.
“Our family has held these two instruments and Grandad’s bugle (which I still play), for many years, and to see now, the completion of the restoration project in conjunction with QSHBA’s 20th anniversary is overwhelming,” Mr Jones said.
QSHBA, based at the Wynnum Community Centre on Florence St, is led by Mr Jones, who holds numerous musical qualifications and, as a former curator of the Light Horse Regiment Museum at Enoggera Army Base, has been instrumental in preserving and promoting the band’s traditions.
Mr Jones added that “the band is prepared to travel to remote areas where funding can be raised.”
https://redlandbaysidenews.com.au/heritage-band-to-honour-our-anzacs/
1 – senior descendant, Thomas’ youngest son Trevor (Ex RAAF);
2 – Grandson of Tom, Greg Jones ( Ex drummer Wynnum State High School Cadet Unit Band, ex RAAF and ex 2/14 Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry);
3 – Val Jones, mother of Greg Jones and Paul Jones and, wife of Thomas’ son, Rex Jones (Ex RAAF and, ex Bandmaster, 9th Battalion AKA 1RQR, AKA 9RQR , Royal Australian Infantry, and, ex Bandmaster some Australian Army Cadet Bands e.g. Nudgee College;
4 – Thomas Jones, Great grandson of Thomas Jones (ex 121 Army Cadet Unit, and currently member of Queensland Services Heritage Band, the Queensland Light Horse Heritage Band) and, Son of Paul Jones;
5 – Malcolm Bell, Thomas’ senior Grandson ( ex Bandmaster of several Australian Army Band Corps Bands and, ex instructor at Defence Force School of music;
6 – Paul Jones – grandson of Thomas and, Ex Drum Major, Wynnum State High School Cadet Unit Band, Ex member Australian Army Band Darwin, Ex 42RQR, Ex Bandmaster Queensland University Regiment Band, Ex Bandmaster 2/14 Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry) Band, ex Curator 2/14LHR(QMI) Museum and, current Bandmaster, Queensland Services Heritage Band, the Queensland Light Horse Heritage Band.
No photo, but one of Thomas’ Great grandsons was in 9RAR when it deployed to the middle East.