Personal details of Australian Soldier killed in Afghanistan Lance Corporal Andrew Gordon Jones

It is with deep regret the Australian Defence Force announces the death of Lance Corporal Andrew Gordon Jones during operations in Afghanistan on 30 May 2011.

Twenty five year old Lance Corporal Jones was from the 9^th Force Support Battalion in Amberley.  Lance Corporal Jones was serving with the Force Support Unit. This was his first deployment to Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Jones leaves behind his loving parents, two younger siblings and girlfriend, who are receiving support from Defence.

Lance Corporal Jones was born in Melbourne, Victoria in 1986.  He joined the Army in 2004. After recruit training, he completed his initial employment training as a cook and was posted to the Catering Platoon of the 1^st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.  He was posted to the 9^thForce Support Battalion in 2008.

Lance Corporal Jones’ first operational deployment was to East Timor in 2008.  His second, to Afghanistan, commenced in November 2010.

Lance Corporal Jones was a loyal, reliable and trustworthy soldier who was dedicated to serving his country.  He was a team player who loved his job. He had a quiet personality but enjoyed a joke with his mates.

He was a skilled cook who was the first to volunteer to go on the road or on exercise. In 2010, he was promoted to Lance Corporal upon completing his Junior Leader Course.  He displayed definite leadership potential.

His interests included chess, reading, computers, drawing and soccer.

Lance Corporal Jones was awarded the Australian Service Medal with clasp Timor–Leste, and Australian Defence Medal. Lance Corporal Jones will be presented with the Australian Active Service Medal with ICAT Clasp, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and the NATO ISAF Medal.

During Lance Corporal Jones service in the Australian Army, he deployed on the following Operations:

OPERATION ASTUTE (East Timor) – Jul 2008 – Oct 2008.

OPERATION SLIPPER (Afghanistan) – Nov 2010 – May 2011.

Images of Lance Corporal Jones are available at: http://images.defence.gov.au/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5003=&search=20112926