Temporary Corporal: 2101 William James Albert JONAS. (Aboriginal)

by

34th BATTALION AIF

Temporary Corporal: 2101 William James Albert JONAS. M.I.D. (Aboriginal: Gringai)

Born: 26th October 1888. Underbank via Dungog, New South Wales, Australia. (No Registration)

Married: 25th December 1912. Christ Church Barton Hill, Bristol, Gloucester, England. 

Wife: Maud Emily Jonas. nee: Stevens (13.03.1893-19.07.1969) died at Kogarah, N.S.W. Death Cert:29844/1969.

Died: 6th September 1947. Dungog, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:20368/1947.

Father: John Jonas. (1847-02/07/1908) (Worimi) Died at the Cottage Hospital, Dungog, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:9267/1908.

Mother: Annie Jonas. nee: Cornwall. (1859-1931) Died at Cessnock, N.S.W. Death Cert: 18143/1931 .

INFORMATION

William James Albert Jonas enlisted at Stroud, N.S.W on the 12th April 1916 and was allocated to the 3rd Reinforcements, 34th Battalion AIF at the Rutherford Army Camp at West Maitland.

Rutherford Army Camp, West Maitland 1916

William en trained from Farley Station with the 3rd Reinforcements on the 23rd August and embarked for England on board HMAT Anchises A68 "Anchises" on the 24 August 1916 and disembarked at Devonport England on the 11th October 1916. 

The Reinforcements were marched in to the 9th Training Battalion at the Durrington Army Camp at Larkhill where they settled down to hard training, which included Route Marching, Trench Digging, Bomb Practice, Musketry and General Camp Routine.

The 34th Battalion left Lark hill on the 21st November and en trained at Amesbury for Southampton, embarking on the S.S "Arundel". The transport section left by S.S. "Princess Victoria". The Battalion arrived at Le Harve, France on the 22nd November 1916. Disembarkation commenced at 8:00 am and the Battalion marched to No;1 camp on the Hill, arriving at 2:00 pm. The men carried heavy loads, in some cases amounting to miniature Q.M.' Stores. The march over cobblestones was very tiring, notwithstanding the many route marches which had been carried out at Larkhill. However, after bathing their feet and receiving treatment, as well partaking of a good meal, some spent a comfortable night.

8th August 1918.

Report of the Operation Conducted by the Battalion This Day. Headquarters 34th Battalion AIF. 8-8-18

ASSEMBLY. The Assembly March passed without incident and there were no casualties. The Battalion was in position for the assault at 3:25 am.

BARRAGE. The barrage opened at 4:20 am and was accurately placed. The enemy immediately fired single and double Red and Golden Rain Light Signals. The enemy's reply to our barrage was very ineffective but his Machine Gun fire was considerable during the early stages of the advance, but caused very few casualties.

LOCATIONS. Battalion Headquarters was located at P.16.c.1.7 before Zero, after Zero a temporary Headquarters was established at the Quarry at P.16.b.2.8 pending the report and the capture of ACCROCHE WOOD, from the two flank Companies.

THE ADVANCE. Owing to the dense fog observation was impossible and the tanks appeared to have great difficulty in keeping in touch with the direction. Runners were sent forward at 4:45 am to get in touch with the assault parties and at 5:15 am they brought back word from Captain: Albert Edward YATES 35th Battalion that his Company was through the Wood. Battalion Headquarters then moved forward through the wood towards CERISY VALLEY.About 150 stragglers of all Battalions including 3 Lewis Gun Teams were collected during the advance and formed into a Company.

Owing to the density of the fog and the obscurity of the forward position forward I deployed the Company and took them forward as far as GAILLY Line arriving there at 5:45 am. We later met a detachment of prisoners and were told by the escort that CERISY VALLEY was partially mopped up and most of the Units were moving forward to their objective. I than ordered all men of the 33rd and 35th Battalions to go forward to join their respective Units, and organised two posts with the men of the 34th Battalion, placing one in the enemy trench at P.24.b.3.3 (approx) and the other at P.18.d.0.7 (approx).

This latter post shortly afterwards established liaison with the 11th Brigade. The remainder of the Battalion assisted the 33rd and 35th Battalions in capturing and consolidating the GREEN Line. They were released from the GREEN Line between 9:45 am and 10:15 am and proceeded then to consolidate the GAILLY and RESERVE Lines as shown on map forwarded.

BOOTY. Owing to the conditions existing it was impossible to estimate the number of prisoner's captured by the Battalion as prisoners from the 3 Battalions were grouped to reduce the number of men required for escort. So far no estimate has been made of the number of Trench Mortars and Machine guns etc, captured in the area. Salvage operations are in progress and as soon as they are completed a detailed report will be forwarded. In the CERISY VALLEY one 21 cm and eight 7.7 cm guns were captured together with large quantities of ammunition.

Major: Francis George GRANT.

Commanding Officer 34th Battalion AIF. (34th Battalion War Diary)

William was promoted to Temporary Corporal on the 1st October 1918 vice Corporal: 1937A William LEADINGHAM wounded in Action and Struck off Strength.. 

07 February 1919.

Sir Douglas Haig's MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES

Temporary Corporal: 2101 William James JONAS. Sergeant: 1170 Percy Harold LAMBLEY.   Private:3292 Jeff FARQUAR. Private: 2588 George Edward HOBDEN. 34th Battalion AIF.

London Gazette: 11 July 1919 on page 8831 at position 90

Commonwealth Gazette: 30 October 1919 on page 1655 at position 23

 

William returned to Australia on the 28th June 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on the 12th August 1919.

Returned Serviceman Dungog, N.S.W. 1919

Family Information

William was a married 27 year old Horse Breaker from Booral, N.S.W. upon enlistment with the AIF. His brother John Arthur Jonas was born at Stroud, N.S.W. on the 9th April 1882 and was a single Bushman when he enlisted with the 3rd Reinforcements 1st Pioneer Battalion, service number 2130. John died on 19th August 1947 in the Dungog Hospital.

(Merridy Eastman. June 2020)

William James Albert Jonas. Elrington, near Kearsley, Hunter Valley 1914. Courtesy Grandson, Les Elvin

Billy Jonas, whose whip-cracking and horse-riding skill took him to England in 1911 to perform at the coronation of King George V. He subsequently joined a troupe known as the Wild Colonial Boys, which performed across England and the USA before he returned to Australia to be with his family – and to enlist in the Australian Army.

Billy married Maude who was a beautiful woman who was thrown out by her English family because of her choice of husband and her black children. Maude made the voyage out to Australia at the start of World War I. She lived in a shack in the small village of Allworth on the Karuah River on Worimi Country where saltwater and freshwater met with her world-travelled husband and his younger brother, Dick.

Billy Jonas renews his vows with the woman he fell in love with in the UK, and married, Maude Stephens.

William was a married 27 year old Horse Breaker from Dungog, N.S.W. upon enlistment with the AIF. He and his wife Maude are buried at the Booral Cemetery. William served during World War 2 enlisting at Paddington, N.S.W. Service Number: N108072 but was discharged as Medically Unfit.

Jonas Family date unknown

William and Maud Jonas has 7 children. Lillian Maud Jonas (1909-1993) - Cleo Jonas (1912-1987) -William James Albert Jonas Jnr (1913-1972) -Albert E Jonas (1914-1914) -Mavis Jonas (1925-2004) 

Bessie Jonas (1927-2008) - Sarah Elizabeth Jonas (19..-1996)

BOORAL CEMETERY. William James Albert Jonas (1888-1947)

BOORAL CEMETERY. Younger Brother of Richard "Uncle Dick" Jonas (1891-1964)

BOORAL CEMETERY. "Bill" Jonas son of William and Maude Jonas (1913-1972)

OBITUARY.
WILLIAM JAMES ALBERT JONAS
The sudden death occurred on Saturday, September 6, at 12.30 a.m., at his late home near Allworth of  William James Albert, second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. Jonas, who were former residents of Booral and Dungog. Deceased, who was in his 60th year, was born at Underbank and spent most of his earlier life about Dungog. He was a noted horseman in his younger days and residents of Dungog district will remember about 1908 a Wild West Show and Rodeo which was showing on the flat near the Court House Hotel (then conducted by Mr. Macnamee).
Their two leading men were in typical Wild West costume; the ringmaster wore a shirt of bright red and appropriate cowboy hat and clothes to match. The other man, his star sharpshooter and rider, wore a black cowboy costume and this company showed for four nights to capacity houses. It was at this show that the late Bill Jonas enjoyed considerable success and on the last night he was riding their principal outlaw, which bore the name "Yellow Bay."
 
He was riding most confidently when the horse suddenly fell and Bill sustained a dislocated shoulder. But from that night on he was to enjoy further success and it was not long before he had joined the rodeo show owned by Lance Skuthorpe, Snr., and later as he had reached the acme of every rodeo star's ambition he was successful in mastering that greatest of all Australia's buckjumping horses the mighty "Bobs." "Bobs" was owned by the famous Martini, who visited Dungog on several occasions during the early part of the century and the late Mr. Jonas was engaged by Signor Martini to travel England and the Continent.
This was a great honour, and for any rider to conquer Bobs would entitle that person to be classified as one of Australia's premier horsemen. It was during his three years' tour of the Continent that deceased met and married Miss Maud Stevens, an English girl. After his return to Australia the late Mr. Jonas joined the 1st A.I.F. and served in France with the 34th Battalion.
He was badly gassed over there and it is thought that it was the effects of this that were responsible for his failing health, which ultimately caused his death. Quiet and unassuming, deceased was never spoiled by his success and was always peaceful towards his fellowmen and was held in high esteem by everyone. For many years he had been a miner in the Cessnock district and about 12 months ago he and his wife settled near Allworth, where he was living at the time of his death.
Maud Emily Jonas. nee: Stevens (1893-1969)
He leaves to mourn his loss a sorrowing wife and six children, viz., Lill (Mrs. Trenholme, Dudley), Cleo (Mrs. R. Stevenson, Karuah), Bill (Charles town), Sarah (Mrs. H. Elviu, Cessnock), Mavis (Mrs. Eastman, Waterloo), and Bessie (Mrs. R. Hayward, Waterloo). There are also two brothers who survive: Fred and Richard, of Booral district. One brother, John A., a veteran of 1st Pioneer Battalion in World War 1, died about three weeks ago.
 
The late William Jonas enlisted during World War II, but was later discharged as medically unfit. The funeral took place to Booral Church of England cemetery, the officiating clergyman being Rev. S. C.
Blakemore, of Stroud. The R.S.L. Service was delivered by the Secretary, Mr. C. Muddle, of Stroud Sub-branch. Other representatives from the Stroud Sub-branch were Messrs. A. P. Stokes, J. L. Penfold, L. Lemon and S. P. O'Sullivan. The funeral arrangements were conducted by Mr. Jas. Fleming, of Dungog.
Dungog Shire Thematic History
The area which is now Dungog Shire seems to have overlapped at least two major tribal groups of the broader Hunter River Valley and coastal region; the Wonnarua of the Hunter Valley and the Worimi of the Port Stephens coast area. Within the Williams, Paterson and Allyn River Valleys and continuing as far as the Barrington Tops were the family groups of the Gringai. 
The Gringai /Guringay ​Have lived continually on the Barrington and Dungog area​ NSW long before first white settlers in 1826 .Government Documents, News Papers, Photos, Journals, Aboriginal Sites, references can be found in regards to the Gringai.
Cook Family. Gringai Aboriginal Camp. Barrington 1881
 The impact of the white invasion and the drastic decline in numbers resulted in a mixing of peoples. Those descended from the Gringai of both black and white parentage would have gone to St Clair near Singleton at first and after to other NSW locations such as La Perouse, Kempsey and Redfern. James Wilson-Miller is one who can claim decent from the Gringai. Perhaps another is William Jonas. Born at Salisbury in 1889, he was a horserider, showman and member of the AIF. William died in 1947 and his grandson Bill Jonas was a director of the National Museum Canberra.

Recording of an interview with Dr Bill Jonas (Second Aboriginal Social Justice Commissioner) and the ABC radio. Bill explains some family stories, which includes cultural connection and goes in to a bit more depth in to how Billy and Maude lived and connected with Aboriginal culture and people from the mission. Bill also has published some work and quite a significant person for the family in his own right.

ABC Interview with Dr Bill Jonas. 

Clinton McIntyre. January 2022.

© Commonwealth of Australia (National Archives of Australia)

Under Construction; 03/01/2018-01/02/2022.

27 thoughts on “Temporary Corporal: 2101 William James Albert JONAS. (Aboriginal)”

  2. Hi Dave.
    You thank all the families who’ve contributed to your collection, but I’d like to thank you. The information you’ve gathered on my great great Uncle Billy Jonas (34th Batallion) is invaluable for me, my family, and the book I’m currently writing. Billy’s father, John Jonas, was a Worimi man, and is my great great grandfather. His grandson you mention, Dr Bill Jonas, is my cousin and has also been very helpful to me with my research. In fact it was Bill who started me off. Billy’s life was anything but ordinary especially given his talents as a buck jumper, but by all accounts he was a much loved man, not just for his achievements, but for being a kind “quiet and unassuming” man, loving husband and father.
    Thank you.
    Merridy Eastman.

    Reply

    • Thank you Merridy.
      I have tried to keep the memory of there men alive for future generations, and I hope I have in a small way done them proud. I’t has been my privilege to honour our finest.

      Regards
      David Harrower

      Reply

      • HI David,
        Curiously enough, I stumbled across the Jonas family whilst researching my own family.
        My gr8 grandfather family from Underbank, Worimi people (Gringai) also.
        I near passed out when I seen photo of Albert with his wife as my young first cousin is VERY much like Albert! Then whilst reading this I noted a photo of the children and one young lady stood out as VERY much like another of my cousins who has since passed away. I guess I’m curious to know if we are connected somehow cos tho I’m unable to find a link I do believe we are.

        Reply

  3. Hi David I too would like to thank you for your wonderful work. Billy Jonas was my Great Grandfather and while I had a lot of this information you helped to put the personal perspective on it all. While documents and data are important it is great to get a more personal connection. I cant wait to show my Dad this information on his grandfather.
    Regards
    Donna Starr

    Reply

  4. Hi David
    Absolutely wonderful job you have done..

    Billy Jonas was also my great grandfather..
    I have been researching and collecting as much information about him and my beautiful great grandmother Maud for over 20yrs.. and your work above was a delight to read.
    Thankyou.

    Amy jonas

    Reply

  5. Hello Dave,
    Today’s news from Kurri Kurri about the finding and restoration of old WW1 plate glass photos, with William Jonas’s photo being identified amongst them, has aroused interest with my family.
    My maiden name was Jonas, but my ancestors come from the Broken Hill area, with the Jonas family owning the butcher shop at Silverton. My grandfathers name was Phillip Henry Jonas, and as well as the butcher shop business he was bookkeeper for Sidney Kidman. Some of Phillips family settled in the Newcastle area around the 1930s.
    We’re probably not related to William, but who knows? His is a fascinating story and I’m looking forward to following updates on your site. Thank you for providing this chapter in the Jonas family history and to the Kurri Kurri folk for their careful restoration of Williams photo
    Regards
    Gay Thew (Jonas)

    Reply

  6. So I’m yet another relative- Billy and Maud were my great great grandparents so, you know, going by the comments so far, a family gathering of sorts seems to be occurring here haha.
    Honestly though, this was great to read! I’m happy to say I learned quite a bit that I didn’t know before, so thank you.

    Reply

  7. I believe I am related to MAud Emily Stevens whose father is possibly Albert Edward Stevens born in Bromley Kent 1872, my grandfather’s cousin
    If anyone can confirm this I would be grateful
    David
    Clarke

    Reply

  8. Hi David,
    It’s me again! I just noticed a mistake above that I think you’d want to know about as it concerns another Jonas I can’t yet find in your great collection here. The John Jonas you have listed above as William James Albert Jonas’s father is actually his older brother. John A Jonas and William JA Jonas both enlisted in 1916, and their father was John Jonas, a Worimi man who died in Dungog in 1908.
    JOHN ARTHUR JONAS was born in Stroud NSW on 9th April 1882. He signed up in West Maitland on 17th March, 1916, four weeks before his younger brother William. John’s papers list him as ‘bushman’ and next of kin as his mother Anne Jonas in Booral. John Arthur Jonas’s papers say he was in the 1st Pioneer Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement, and his Service Number was 2130. The only other service information I have is that his Unit embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A46 Clan MacGillivray 3rd May 1916.
    Three decades later John died just two weeks before his younger brother William, on 19th August 1947 in the Dungog Hospital. John was 65, Billy was 60.
    They both grew up in Dungog, Booral area of NSW, and being sons of Anne (nee Cornwall) Jonas and John Jonas, a Worimi man, both were indigenous servicemen.

    (For all my Jonas cousins above, there is more information on Trove about the farewell the brothers were given at Booral 18th April and 2nd May before embarking:)

    Thanks again David, for this remarkable site, providing so many of us with invaluable research and important information.

    Cheers,

    Merridy

    Reply

    • Hi Merridy

      I have updated Jonas’s profile and added some more information I found and photos on him. He needs a book written on him and his family would be interesting reading. I will keep adding info as it comes to hand.

      Thanks again

      Dave H

      Reply

  9. The information coming from your site is so interesting and I always look forward to reading updates. My enquiry may or may not be of interest, but I put it in here for consideration.
    My father was Peter Macdonnell Jonas (his middle name tells us his birthplace in SA in 1903)
    He grew up in the Broken Hill/Silverton area, his mother’s Maiden name was Maitland. I don’t know if there were any Indigenous members of the family in this part of NSW However, his father Phillip Jonas spent a lot of time in the outback working throughout the State Possibly with Indigenous cattlemen for Sidney Kidman.
    As far as I know there are no family links to the area your posts are coming from, but I just throw this bit of information in, in the hope that there just might be some connections there
    Thank you for your tireless work in keeping the records there for all to see
    Gay Thew (nee Jonas)

    Reply

  10. Hi David,
    I am just following up some comments from my mother about the Jonas family. The Jonas side of our family goes back before the birth place of William Jonas in S.A his immediate family are-
    William Jonas
    Birthdate: February 08, 1853
    Birthplace: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
    Death: circa 1892 (34-43)
    Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
    Immediate Family:
    Son of John Jonas and Sarah Jonas
    Husband of Anna Jonas
    Father of John Nalia Jonas; Hurtle Drayson Jonas; Rhoda Tiver; Ruth Jonas; Harry Leslie Jonas and 2 others
    Brother of Peter Jonas and Philip Henry Jonas
    Managed by: Graham Thomson
    Last Updated: September 8, 2018

    Philip Henry Jonas was my great Grandfather he had a butcher shop in Silverton (the butcher shop was used in the movie A Town Like Alice).
    Philip was also a member 1 of 12 members of the Silverton municipal Philip was also a book keeper for Sydney Kidman in that era.
    When precious deposits where discovered at Broken Hill Philip and his immediate family moved to Broken Hill, he then had a butcher shop there.
    I am looking for all or any descendants that are connected to the Jonas family.
    Thank you
    Regards.
    Brad.

    Reply

    • Hi Brad, thank you for the information. I have added it to his profile and requested to contact me and I will forward your email address for them to make contact. Networking is the best way to gather family information. Thanks again.

      Dave H

      Reply

  12. Hi. My name is Natalie Petty, née Mitchell, oriofrom Pt Pirie SA. My maternal grandfather was William Albert Jonas, born 15 June 1906 in Adelaide SA. My mother, Barbara Ann Mitchell (née Jonas) and I have been looking back at our family history, more out of curiosity than developing a family tree, and found the information provided here. I’m not sure if we are related but the names are just too close to be a coincidence. My Pa does have a resemblance to Billy Jonas although I wasn’t aware of any aboriginal blood in the Jonas line. As a child I was told that there was a time we were related to every Jonas in SA, so am curious if Billy Jonas and my grandfather Bill Jonas are related. Please contact me if you would like more information or just to tell me sorry I’m barking up the wrong tree.

    Thank you for this information, it was fun talking about it with my mum.

    Regards,
    Nat Petty

    Reply

    • Hello Natalie.

      You are not the first person to ask this question regarding the Jonas Family in South Australia. I can suggest going through ancestry.com.au if you are a member or possibly joining ant tracing your family tree to find a connection. I can’t finish the research that I have started and I’ve been working on this site for over 20 years, If you get stuck I can try to put in a bit of time to help but you will have to give me some family information so I can trace them back.

      Regards

      David Harrower ACM

      Reply

  13. Hi David,
    What a huge amount of research and work you have done. Fantastic reading.
    My mother Beryl Thorpe daughter of Lillian Trenholme nee Jonas has told me her nan was married in England on 6th June 1911 at Penge Church of Englend.

    Reply

    • Hi Jenny
      I think you meant to thank David Harrower not me
      I am still waiting to confirm that Emily Maud is my grandfather’s cousin but someone needs to get the marriage entry (certificate) It is not on ancestry or find my past
      Everything points to it put from my long research experience only the source recorded can prove these things
      She seems to have cut off her family but you have her date of marriage, how did you know that!
      It certainly is not 1912 in Bristol as on Harrower files
      David Clarke

      Reply

        • Hi Jenny, It is a fantastic Story on the Jonas Family and one that a documentary should be made.. I regard myself as an armature researcher and historian but I try to do my best. I have compiled thousands of individual profiles as every man has to have his story told, so I’m a bit limited with time on each profile. If I have made any mistakes please let me know.
          Regards
          David Harrower ACM

          Reply

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