In March 1918, Walter and Catherine Jones donated £50 for the purchase of a window in memory of their two sons, Rolf and Geoffrey Jones, and it was duly installed in the original church in 1923. The window is attributed to Brooks, Robinson & Co. although no details of the commission has been found to date.
Younger son, Geoffrey Ernest Jones, was a 20 year-old engineer when he enlisted on 17 August 1914, initially in 8 Battalion. Shortly after the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, he received a wound to his scalp and was evacuated to No. 2 General Hospital Cairo but rejoined his unit within a few weeks. His two years experience with 48 Battalion Infantry at Surrey Hills saw him promoted to Corporal and then temporary Sergeant. He transferred to 60 Battalion on 24 February 1916 and sailed from Alexandria for France in June, disembarking at Marseilles on 29 June 1916. He was reported missing on 19 July in the Fromelles battle, but this was amended later to 'killed in action'. He is remembered at VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France.
Rolf Stanley Jones orignally joined 7 Battalion after enlisting as a 22 year-old on 15 July 1915. He was taken on strength of 59 Battalion on 24 February 1916, sailing with his brother on the same ship to Marseilles.He was wounded in action in France on the same day that his brother was reported missing in action. Evacuated to England two days later he spent months in hospital before he died of meningitis at Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot on 15 February 1917. Buried initially at Aldershot he was reburied later at Brookwood Military Cemetery.
References & Acknowledgements
AWM Roll of Honour; NAA: B2455, Jones RS; NAA:B2455, Jones GE; unpublished research by Ted Arrowsmith, Christ Church Mitcham Achives Committee.
With thanks to Ted Arrowsmith for his extensive research into the windows at Christchurch.
