British War Medal 1914-20 : Trooper P A Jones, 8 Light Horse Regiment, AIF

British War Medal 1914-20, impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Associated with the service of Trooper 3063 Percy Andrew Jones, who was born in 1880 in Carlton, Victoria. Prior to the First World War, Jones worked as a hairdresser. He enlisted for service on 17 January 1916 at the age of 35 and was posted to the reinforcements of the 8th Light Horse Regiment. During his training, he became ill and spent the majority of 1916 recovering.

Jones embarked from Melbourne on 31 January 1917 and disembarked in Egypt in early March. After a short period of isolation, Jones was sent to 3 Light Horse Training Regiment on 20 March. On 22 April, he was sent to join the 8th Light Horse Regiment where he joined them in action at Munkieleh, two days later. He was sent to hospital in May suffering piles. After being sent to Cairo, he was also found to have an exostosis growth on one of his tibia bones requiring further hospitalisation and treatment. Jones was discharged back to duty at the end of July, returning to 3 Light Horse Training Regiment.

He was detached to serve with the YMCA Canteen service at Abasan in September. He remained in this position until 1 April 1918 when he went Absent Without Leave. Jones was located on 8 April and after a severe reprimand by the YMCA canteen manager, was returned to his unit without further charge. Jones rejoined the 8th Light Horse Regiment at Deiran on 18 April and took part in the Es Salt raid at the end of April.

On 1 June, he was sent to hospital at El Abeib suffering rheumatism and was transferred to hospital at Port Said six days later. Jones was sent to a rest camp in October, but was found medically unfit for active service. He remained in Egypt until after the end of the war, and embarked for Australia on 15 November, travelling in HMAT Port Darwin. He disembarked in Melbourne on 24 December and was discharged from the AIF on 6 February 1919.