Stafford Heights woman Joan Nixon remembers the story of uncle Richard Jones’ WWI campaign

DEAD at 30, this digger never got to know his Australian nieces and nephews.

Joan Nixon, Stafford Heights, had an uncle who served in WWI. Richard Jones was a British citizen who died soon after returning home to Liverpool in 1919.

RICHARD Jones was a Liverpool-based poultry seller, the only son of his widowed mother Catherine, before the horrors of the Great War were visited upon the UK.

The 26-year-old signed up with the Royal Field Artillery in the 63rd Reserve Battery at the start of WWI and served as a driver in the battlefields of France.

After contracting influenza and pneumonia, he was sent home early in 1919 but his fatigued and exhausted body could not cope and the infections took their toll.

He passed away on March 24 of that year, aged 30.

King's condolences to WWI driver Richard Jones who died of pneumonia and influenza after serving. He is uncle of Stafford Heights' Joan Nixon.

His niece, Stafford Heights woman Joan Nixon, was not yet born at the time of the war, but she can imagine the great blow his death would have been for his family.

“It was very sad, very tragic. It would have been terribly sad for his mother to lose her only son,” she said.

“To serve almost the entire war and then be sent home right at the end and die of the flu at home is devastating.”

Joan Nixon, Stafford Heights, had an uncle who served in WWI. Richard Jones was a British citizen who died soon after returning home to Liverpool in 1919.

Her mother May and aunt Amelia later emigrated to Australia. Another sister, Gladys, remained in England.

Amelia would often regale Mr Jones’ four Aussie nieces and nephews with stories of their courageous uncle.

“Aunty would tell us about a tiny bible that he had been given by his mother before he left for the war,” Mrs Nixon recalled.

“When he came back, the story is he apologised to his mum for using some of the pages to roll cigarettes while he was in the trenches.”

A letter from Richard Jones’ army mates after his death. Written to his sister Amelia Jones. Stafford Heights Joan Nixon is his niece.

Mr Jones’ medals, medallions, pictures and a letter of condolence from the King all remain with his Brisbane ancestors.

Mr Jones was buried in the Church of England section of Everton Cemetery in Liverpool four days after his death.

To commemorate 100 years since the Anzac landing at Gallipoli, and recognise the sacrifices of those men and women who have served out country since WWI, Quest Community Newspapers will publish one story each day online in the lead-up to Anzac Day.

THIS story is part of Quest Community Newspapers’ 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile Queensland WWI heroes and families as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during WWI, let us know on our Facebook page or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Stafford Heights woman Joan Nixon remembers the story of uncle Richard Jones’ WWI campaign