Private Eric M Jones

Eric Jones was born 20 July 1923 in Llandrillo, N. Wales. His parents were farmers. Due to financial constraints Eric, then aged just 10, and 3 other siblings were sent to England to be looked after. 

Eric could only speak Welsh at this time, but found work on a farming estate driving tractors and working the land. The estate owner was a retired Army Colonel who supported Eric with his education and welfare. He suggested that Eric should join the Army. Eric joined the Queen's Regiment and then later volunteered for the airborne forces.

Eric was parachute jump trained at RAF Ringway on Course 81, which ran between 6 and 16 September 1943. his instructor noted this about his performance:

"Confident, adaptable pupil"

After successfully passing this trained he joined the 12th Parachute Battalion. 

At the end of the war Eric married Pamela Morris and went back to farm work. He was discharged from the army in July 1946. He later became a driver of heavy plant machinery for BW Brazers. A contractor that cleared the ground for the post war houses built at Biggin Hill. He lived in Albany Park, Sidcup and retired to Eirth in Kent. 

Eric's son recalls how tough life was for the family after the war. He described how they had to live in a condemned house called Hawkwood farm, before they moved to Sidcup. The house had 1 source of power, a diesel generator. Which only produced enough power for 1 light bulb and a TV. They kept chickens in the back garden. Eric's sons John and Trevor were successful banger and stock car racers in the 1980s. Eric would build the engines and help construct these winning cars.