The passing of Edward Price Jones. M.M. 2nd Btn Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Discussion in 'Burma & India' started by High Wood, Jul 27, 2019.

  1. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Very sad news, Edward Price Jones. M.M., perhaps the very last Burma veteran of the 2nd battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers has passed away age 99.

    I had the pleasure of meeting him several years ago and recorded an interview of his war time reminiscences. Ted, was a modest man and was greatly surprised in later life that people wanted to talk about his time in Burma. For so long no one had been interested in the war but in the last twenty years he became a minor celebrity in the Welshpool area. Whenever the local newspaper wanted a veteran for an Armistice day photograph, or whatever, Ted was the man to go to. Many of us were hoping that he would make his 100 but sadly, it was not to be. God bless you Ted, may you rest in peace.

    JONES Edward Pryce M.M. "Ted" Passed away peacefully on July 21st 2019. Aged 99 years, formerly of Ty Brith. Beloved Husband of the late Ruth. Much loved Father of John. A dear Brother and Uncle. Funeral Service at Guilsfield Parish Church on Monday August 5th at 1pm followed by committal at Emstrey Crematorium. Standards are welcome, medals to be worn. Enquiries please to R.G Peate Funeral Director Welshpool. Tel: 01938 559256.

    E P Jones 014.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2019
  2. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Ted in his prime, before Madagascar and before Burma.

    E P Jones 025.JPG
     
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  3. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

  4. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    One of the many newspaper articles.

    E P Jones 026.JPG
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2019
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  5. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    That is very sad news HW. I am currently compiling the next Chindit Society newsletter and we have lost another five veterans since the spring. We still hope to march at the Cenotaph again this year and most of the Chindits still capable of doing this are between 96-99. They were a tough breed, no doubting.
     
  6. Guy Hudson

    Guy Hudson Looker-upper

    :poppy: R.I.P. Ted :poppy:
    Transferred from the Welsh Guards to the R.W.F. in 1939
    Screen Shot 2019-07-27 at 18.57.18.png
     
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  7. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    When I interviewed him Ted mentioned the Commando raid and said that on the way back on a small boat, he and his pals cracked open a flagon of rum; on arrival back in England they were all the worse for wear and barely able to stand upright. They apparently had trouble persuading the Military police, who wanted to put them on a charge, that they were British soldiers and not French refugees.
     
  8. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    If you look carefully at the recommendation for the Military Medal you will notice that it is typed. Notice that the original recommendation has been crossed through with black ink and the letters M.M. written alongside it. I took a copy of this recommendation to show Ted when I interviewed him, I pointed out that he had originally been recommended something other than the Military Medal. He was very surprised to hear this and after a moment or two's reflection he said, in all modesty, that whilst he was recovering in hospital, he had been visited by one of his pals who said that he had been recommended for the Victoria Cross. He said that he never gave it another thought as he thought his pal was taking the micky.

    JONES MM 1.png
     
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  9. PackRat

    PackRat Well-Known Member

    He had a hell of a war. RIP Ted.

    At the time Ted won his MM, his Brigade had crossed the Irrawaddy at Tigyaing and were pushing south to take Twinnge before turning due east to march on Mongmit. War diaries from that day describing 2 RWF's action from 29 Infantry Brigade HQ, 36 Infantry Division HQ and 'D' Coy 2 Manchesters (36 Div's MG company):

    01.jpg 02.jpg 03.jpg 04.jpg

    Annoyingly 2 RWF's own diary is the only one from 29 Brigade that I didn't copy - it's hand-written and not particularly legible. The 'D' Coy 2 MANCH diary is incredible - the diary-keeper documented events in detail across the entire Brigade rather than focussing just on his own mob.

    Is there a digitised copy of your interview by any chance, High Wood? I'm researching 29 Brigade in the Arakan and North Burma as my grandfather's regiment provided their arty support, so I'm really interested in the little incidental details that only veteran accounts provide. December 44 - March 45 is especially interesting as 29 Brigade split from the rest of 36 Division and plunged off alone for several months, reliant entirely on air supply. Did he mention celebrating Xmas 1944 at Tigyaing? It seems to have been a massive shin-dig on the banks of the Irrawaddy as the Americans dropped a vast amount of food and booze to them for the occasion. 2 RWF were even filmed in the middle of it!

    WELSH CHRISTMAS DINNER IN NORTHERN BURMA
    This film is held by the Imperial War Museum (ID: FUB 40).

    Synopsis
    Men being served food, with a close-up of food being piled onto a man's plate. Shot of improvised marquee made of parachute. Men eating. Officers (?) arriving.

    Man pours beer from a bottle into an enamel mug. Man with a cauliflower nose eating. Shot of the menu; cameraman gives the menu on his dopesheet as goose, lamb, pork, roast potatoes, and vegetables with Xmas pudding, beer, cigarettes, sweets and nuts. Two men in front of a Christmas tree; one pours out a number of small sweets from a foil wrapper into the other's hand; behind a banner reads 'Merry Xmas and Happy New Year 1944-45' in English and Welsh. Men eating beneath a marquee of parachute silk. Two crossed Japanese swords beneath a 36th Division insignia provide decoration. Another badge, apparently of crossed leaks, with battle honour 'Arakan' below. A man, described on the dopesheet as 'one of the local comedians' seen drinking; he is handed a large hambone. Close-up man eating.

    At Tigyaing in northern Burma, troops of 2nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers enjoy a slightly belated Christmas dinner on 28 December 1944.
     
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  10. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    Thank you for your update. I have the interview on a memory stick and I will see if I can upload it.
     
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  12. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    I was lucky enough to see some items of Ted's uniform when I visited him. This is the tunic that he wore during the Madagascar fighting. EP Jones tunic.jpg
     
  13. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    This is his slouch hat, though he did tell me that it was not the one worn in Burma but a replacement that he was issued back in India. EP Jones bush hat.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2019
  14. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    I cannot upload the interview as the MP3 format isn't accepted on the forum. If anyone would like a copy please send me a personal message with your email address and I will forward a copy.
     
  15. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    I am very pleased to be able to tell you that Ted's funeral service was very well attended, the church was so full that for many of us it was standing up at the back with a hymn book, the service sheets having run out. A very moving service and a great send off for a very modest hero. God bless you, Sir.

    ted 003.JPG
     
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  16. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    The man himself with his 36th Division Formation Sign on the side of his slouch hat and his Fusilier's grenade on the front.
    TPJ 001.JPG
     
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  17. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Great to see the large congregation and the four Standard Bearers.
     
  18. High Wood

    High Wood Well-Known Member

    The photograph shows only a small part of the congregation. The 1st Battalion Royal Welsh sent a Bugler to play the Last Post and the choir sang Nunc Dimittis which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. There is something about a Welsh choir that gets me every time.
     
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  19. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Me too HW. It was the same with pipes and drums, as a child they seemed an awful noise, then I heard them in the London Scottish drill hall and it all became clear.
     
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