Jones, Arthur Balshaw (Corporal, b.1896 - d.1951)

Collection relating to the First World War service of 6292 Corporal Arthur Balshaw Jones, while stationed with the 2nd Victorian Training Battalion (V.T.B.) in England, in 1917. The collection consists of a sketchbook containing detailed pen and ink drawings of grenades, finished in watercolour, and including handwritten comprehensive labelling. Jones made the sketchbook in May 1917, while located at the Southern Command Bombing School in Lyndhurst, England. Most of the eighteen illustrations are highly detailed plates of thirteen different grenades, including the Mills Hand Grenade; the Hales Rifle Percussion Grenade; the Mills, Pippin and Sangster Grenades; and various German equivalents – two Rifle Grenades, the Egg Hand Grenade, the Stick-Handle Hand Grenade and the Pineapple. The study of munitions was a notable facet of Jones’ service; in February 2017 he received First Class (Distinguished) qualifications at the 7th Rifle Course, held at the Australian School of Musketry, in Tidworth. He returned to this school, as staff, in March 1918, following ten months with the 39th Battalion in France. Jones Returned to Australia on 12 December 1918.