The Soldier's Details

 

Ivor’s parents had died before he enlisted.

Below:  Plaques at Kings Park

 

Below:  Younger brother Artis joined 2/11th, he died as POW in Germany 4 April 1945.

 

 

In 1911 Census, Wales – record shows Ivor’s mother Ada Jones, a farmer and widow at Crom Farm, Walterstone, Abergavenney, Hereford.  Walterstone is a village in Herefordshire, England near the Welsh border and Brecon Beacons National Park, 23 kms south-west of Hereford.  (There are several interesting and very old structures in the village.  A 300 year old pub, and the church contains historical stained glass.)

Ada Jones was recorded residing with her three sons:

John Lionel 12 years

Ivor William 10 years

and Artis Walter 5 years.

Ivor arrived 26 August 1926 at Fremantle on ‘Orama’ he was 25 years old, recorded as farm labourer as was his younger brother Artis Walter 21 years who accompanied him.

When Ivor enlisted in August 1940, he was recorded living at Laverton, working as a fireman.  He later joined ‘D’ Company 14 Platoon, then moved to 13 Platoon.

He recorded his NOK brother John Lionel Jones – John Jones remained living in Wales.  Neither John or Artis married.  It is quite sad they each worked so hard in remote places, Ivor in mining and never had the opportunity to marry and have their own families.

You can read about ‘D’ Company

Most of the men who were designated to leave with ‘F’ Force had either been in hospital, were in recovery or generally not in great health.

Ivor’s record indicate he had been admitted to hospital in Singapore on several occasions –  with dengue fever 28 Feb 1942, again 22 Aug 1942 and lastly with  beri-beri 28 July 1942 and discharged to unit on 10 Aug 1942.

From Singapore, POW Ivor Jones was selected with ‘F’ Force Thailand to work on the Burma Railway.  The 13 trains carrying ‘F’ Force departed Singapore Railway Station 16 April 1943.   Seven months later, on 13 November 1943 Ivor Jones lost his life sick with beri beri, he was 43 years old.

Please read further about this Force.

 

 

Gladiator Mine, Laverton

Below is from Mindat

https://www.mindat.org/loc-268959.html

‘The Gladiator Gold Mine is 5 kilometres west of Laverton. The name relates to two sites. One is south of the Old Laverton Road as a modern abandoned open pit, as part of five pits named as West Laverton Gold Mine. There is some evidence the pits had individual names, for example, one was called Regis.

Gladiator also refers to older workings to the north, and just north of the Old Laverton Road. Both sites have also been called Gladiator South. The North Gladiator is an insignificant prospect several kilometres further north. The old workings were also called Augusta and Golden Range in the past. All this has caused no end of confusion.

The original prospectors at the site could not be located. The location was first known as the Augusta Mine. In 1899, a company was developing the deposit. Every day, sixty camels loaded with ore, would travel to the company’s battery at the Hawk Nest mine. Eventually the battery was transferred to the Gladiator site.

Initially the mine appeared to be very rich, and over subsequent years was operated by several companies, mining syndicates and prospectors. In 1906, only fourteen shareholders controlled the mine. They were offered 30 000 pounds for the mine, and refused the offer. Mine manager, J.C. Cray in 1912, purchased the battery at the Grosmont Mine near Coolgardie and had it transferred to Gladiator. A new gas plant was installed in 1914, and then the mine closed shortly after. Mid 1916 the mine was forfeited to G.A. McOmish, one of the original prospectors who found gold at Laverton in 1895.’