Jury, Alfred Ellis
Alfred Ellis Jury, known as ‘Ellis’, was born at Magill on the 15th April 1899. His parents were Alfred and Mary Jury, and he was the third of four children. His occupation before the First World War (1914-1918) was a packer, and keen to join the forces, he lied about his age and enlisted with the 10th Infantry Battalion (10th Reinforcement) on the 19th July 1915 at just 16 years of age.
His unit embarked from Adelaide on board the HMAT A70 Ballarat on the 14th September 1915. Ellis wrote to his mother, Mary, a day before turning 17, telling her he would celebrate his birthday fighting in the Battle of the Somme. The battle of Pozieres on July 23rd 1916 was the first offensive operation in which the 10th Battalion took part in France. According to Australia's war historian (Mr. C. E. W. Bean), the site of the Pozieres Windmill and the ridge between Pozieres and Mouquet Farm was, outside Gallipoli, Australia's most sacred acre. "Even during the war it was recognised that no corner of France was so thickly sown with Australian dead as the summit of this ridge," Mr. Bean says.
The 10th Battalion lived up to its gallant reputation, forged at Gallipoli, by successfully regaining the Pozieres Trench guarding the village, and the portion of Pozieres south of the main road. Two of the most courageous soldiers involved in that offensive were also from Adelaide – Captain W.F.J. McCann, who received the Military Cross, and Captain A.S. Blackburn, who received South Australia’s first Victoria Cross.
Alfred’s older brother James was a Second Lieutenant in the 27th Battalion and unfortunately, he was killed in the Battle of Passchendaele, Belgium, on the 9th October 1917. Alfred survived the French ordeal and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 5th January, 1919, then Lieutenant 4 months later. He returned to Australia on the 29th June 1919, receiving the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. Upon his return, Alfred (known as Ellis to his friends), got a job as a tram conductor and married Ina Figg on 17th June 1922. They settled in Blanche Street, ‘Finchley Park’ (now Magill).
On Tuesday 21st September 1926, Alfred was remanded until October 5th in the Adelaide Police Court. He was charged with having indecently assaulted a girl aged 15 years at Magill on or about January 21st. The girl also accused him of being the father of her child. On Thursday October 7th, in the Supreme Court, Sergeant Gleeson prosecuted, and Mr. W. F. J. McCann defended. Evidence was given by the girl in question, an elder sister, her mother and father, and Detective-Sergeant Dedman. The hearing was adjourned. The following Monday, the case continued. In answer to Mr. McCann Jury denied that he had ever interfered with the girl.
When his name was called on in the Criminal Court on Monday 6th December, there was no response. Mr. A. S. Blackburn, who appeared for Jury, said he had just received a message from Jury's wife that he was missing. He had been in bad health, and he rose early on Monday morning, as he was unable to sleep, and went for a ride on his bicycle. He had not been heard of since. He thought the accused must have met with an accident. Jury had been in touch with his office until Saturday, and had made preparations for his trial. Jury was then called on three times within the precincts of the court to stand his trial, with an announcement that if he did not do so his bond would be forfeited. When this failed to evoke any response, Mr. Justice Napier ordered that Jury's bond be forfeited, and directed that a bench warrant be issued for his apprehension.
On the same day, the Home Edition of ‘The News’ reported that the body of Alfred Jury had been discovered lying in the water at the foot of one of the falls at Morialta. One side of his face was badly disfigured. It was not known whether he met his death by shooting or by falling over the cliff, however the paper favoured the former theory because his rifle could not be found. The report added that he had been found shot with a bullet in his body, and suggested that ‘indications point to suicide through shooting’.
In ‘The Register’ the following day, more details were revealed. It was learned that he had borrowed a shotgun from a neighbour, ostensibly to shoot rabbits. Later, Constable Thoroughgood, of Magill, received information which caused him to proceed to Morialta, where he followed bicycle tracks to a spot some distance from the falls. When he located the machine, he found a rabbit tied to it, and after searching for some time, discovered a dead body in the pool under the falls. The head and face were terribly battered, and the theory was advanced that if Jury shot himself, he must have done so at the top of the falls, and then rolled down to the bottom (a drop of about 160 ft). There was no trace of the gun, which was thought to be in the pool. The weapon was never recovered.
The body, which was clad in an old coat, tramway trousers, and minus collar and tie, was removed to the Morgue, where it was subsequently identified by Jury's father. In a pocket was found a shot cartridge. Jury was married some years ago, but there were no children. It was stated in the article that before and since the Police Court case, at which his wife gave evidence on his behalf, he had been on the best of terms with his wife, who had throughout believed in his innocence. He had been working last week, and was well liked by those who knew him.
The next day, (Wednesday, 8th December), The Home Edition of The News reported that no inquest would be held and that a decision had been recorded that he died through falling from a height. On the same day, another notice appeared in The Register- ‘The Friends of Mr. ALFRED ELLIS JURY, of Magill, are respectfully informed that his Remains were Laid to Rest in the St. George's Cemetery, Magill, on Tuesday afternoon, 7th December’.
A year later, his widow submitted a memorial notice, which read –
In fond memory of my dear husband, Ellis, who was killed on the 6th December 1926:
Death often comes to show
We love more dearly than we know;
So love in death should make us see,
What love in life should always be.
— Ever remembered by his loving wife, Ina.
Researched and compiled by Jonathon Dadds, from the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group.
If you have any comments or questions regarding the information in this local history article, please contact the Local History officer on 8366 9357 or hthiselton@campbelltown.sa.gov.au
References
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