Pte. William Jones

Pte. William Jones
(593 B Co. 24th. Regiment)

Defending the post hospital to the last, he and Robert Jones managed to remove six men to safety,
the seventh being killed. He was 39 at the time of the defence.


Born in Evesham in 1839. He was attested at Birmingham in December 1858 aged 19 years. One of the founder
members of the 2nd/24th. Served in Mauritius, Burma and India. Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal.
Discharged at Netley Hospital due to chronic rheumatism on 2nd February 1880. He was unable to find regular
employment. He did some acting and also toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. After discharge he resided in
Birmingham, but later moved to Rutland Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock in Lancashire.

In 1910, he was admitted to Bridge Street Workhouse in Manchester. He died in April 1913 and is buried
in Philips Park Cemetery in Manchester. HM Queen Victoria awarded him his VC at Windsor Castle on 13th January 1880.
He pawned his VC in later years. (His VC and campaign medal are in the SWB Museum Collection).

Source:36regimentra

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"Although this letter is dated 1895 the badges must have been taken from Private W Jones's tunic soon after the Zulu War as the number 24 was discontinued in 1881. The brass numbers were worn on the undress frocks of the rank and file in the war. The Sphinx is facing right and was worn on the right side of the wearer's collar. The identical, but reversed version, was worn the other side, both being fixed to green tabs"
Source: British Empire.

Arrived in South Africa with his Regiment, and his Wife.
who as his Regiment moved up the line, fell ill,and
William got permission to stay behind and tend her, in
what was to prove her final weeks, he buried her and
rejoined his regiment!

W.H.Duggan,the painter of a certain picture?.

Yes 24th , these were badges worn by W.Jones at RD , this picture is in  ' Uniforms & Weapons Of The Zulu War ' by Christopher Wilkinson - Latham and another couple of books I think as well    , who from memory owned them at that stage when he wrote his book  , I think Ian Knight owned them before Wilkinson - Latham     , and this very item was auctioned this year ,  and sorry to say,  I didnt get it ! , I think Springy was also trying his hand at the bidding from memory .   
90th

I did indeed, seem to recall being outbid by an Aussie amongst others. Still rankles that I didn't follow through on that revolver as well. Another time another place


Cheers

Hi Springy .
  
Cheers 90th.

William Jones vc is commonly believed to have been born in
the evesham area of Worcestershire c 1839/40, this is according
to his army paper's, but in fact he was born in the city of
Birmingham!

Description 1858 Description 1880
Height 5ft 4 3/4 ins Height 5ft 5 ins
Hair Brown Hair Brown
Eyes Brown Eyes Brown
Complexion Sallow Complexion Sallow
Chest 32 in Trade Boot closer
Age apparent 19 years No reserve to be served
No next of kin given Pension 1s 1d ( 5 1/2 p )
He served with the Colour's 20 years and 311 days..

Decorations and awards..South Africa Medal 25/9/1877
2/12/1879 ' clasp 1877-8-9 ' issued 5/9/1881
Mentioned in Despatches ' Natal 1879 ' Victoria Cross '1856 '
for action at Rorkes Drift 22nd-23rd January 1879.
593 Private William Jones was decorated with his Victoria
Cross by her Majesty Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle
13/1/1880. His vc Annuity was made up to £50n per annum
from 2/3/1900.

His Medal's are held at the South Wales Borders Museum in
Brecon Wales.
Long Service Good Conduct Medal ' 1830 ' Awarded 1/7/1879
this Medal is held by a member of the family.

sorry about that, the description's were set out side
by side, till i pressed send.     

xhosa2000 wrote:

William Jones vc is commonly believed to have been born in
the evesham area of Worcestershire c 1839/40, this is according
to his army paper's, but in fact he was born in the city of
Birmingham!
.

Season's greetings Xhosa, all  

What makes you think that Xhosa? Any evidence?
According to this:

http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vc/tony_jones_doc.htm

The Jones family came from South Wales, and William Jones was born at:

5, Lucas Street,
Castle Precincts,
Bristol.

same to you kopie   

So i got this bio on 593 William Jones vc, sent to
me in december 2003 by Alan Baynham Jones pre
his book with Lee Stephenson, he was kind enough
to send me his file on 593, he was interested in
locating the grave of 1304 Lodge, and i was searching
for him on my own account.

The file is quite comprehensive on William and deal's
mainly with his military service and his account of his
part in the defence along with contemporary news
paper articles, but on the first page it states his
family history which is where it states Birmingham as
his place of birth! the last two pages have an extensive
family tree from 1840-1997.

I have of course read Tony Jones excellent family bio!
i have known of Tony for many years, he is an excellent
advocate of his great great grandfathers legacy..

So its Wales..Evesham..or Birmingham. i think Tony Jones is
the one who would know..

nice one koppie i wandered if any one would ' pull ' me on
this. cheers.

cheers xhosa, thanks for that.
having looked into my family tree a little bit, a number of my family ancestors were born in small villages in Essex and were farm labourers mainly, but in the census and birth records, they frequently come up as place pf birth Chelmsford. just a thought, but even in 1850s England, Bristol was more than a small village wasn't it?
just trying to make the Birmingham connection! Evesham I can understand as he lived there as a young boy from an early age so an easy mistake to make - but where does brum come in?

From the Bristol Mercury March 1882

'Hamilton's Panorama' at the Colston Great Hall, Bristol
"...Mr Jones was loudly cheered on presenting himself, and evoked a burst of perfect enthusiasm when he announced himself as a Bristol man, having been born, he said, in Maudlin Street."

(William Jones was on tour with Harry H. Hamilton's Panstereorama - "The Largest and Grandest Combination in the World of Realistic Zulu and Boer War Scenes, and the Striking Illustration of the Defence of Rorke's Drift, described by one of the heroes, viz., Mr. Wm. Jones, V.C., late of the 24th REgiment."]

Well everybody can not be right! Aston in
Birmingham features prominently..where he
was named on various census as a visitor
and then lodger. Wales, Bristol, Birmingham!.
where was he born?. a definitive answer is
desired please..Lee, you have no doubt read
Tony Jones very full family account. your
thoughts please. cheers