Private Philip Jones

Philip Jones was the son of Charles Henry and Julia Jones, of Saffron Walden, Essex.

He was enlisted into The East Surrey Regiment during World War II and volunteered for airborne forces in 1942.

Pte Jones qualified as a military parachutist on course 36, which ran at RAF Ringway in November 1942 and was posted to the 4th Parachute Battalion.

He deployed with the battalion to North Africa for the Sicily landings although, in the end, it wasn't used.

Pte Jones died, aged 21 years, on 19 September 1943 shortly after taking part in the seaborne landing at Taranto, Italy. He is now buried in Bari War Cemetery, Italy.

Profile photograph courtesy of Sharon Edwards.