Lance Corporal Jones

DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather Section 1 : Main Characters : Lance Corporal Jack Jones CHARACTER: Lance Corporal Jones PLAYED BY: Clive Dunn OBE 1920 - (All TV and Radio Episodes) FULL NAME: Jack Jones (often referred to himself as Jack Jones the Butcher) NICKNAME: Jonesy ADDRESS: May have lived above shop at 19 High Street, Walmington, but possible at one time he lived across road or round corner from shop, perhaps during refurbishment. Later, probably moved to a cottage with roses round the door and a big fridge in the kitchen, as Mrs Jones (ex Mrs Fox) said she wanted on her Wedding Day. TELEPHONE NUMBER: Walmington-on-Sea 252 (Butchers) DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH: During 1870 possibly in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. BRIEF DESCRIPTION: About 5’8” in height, thinnish wiry build, very agile for his age. Fine head of silvery grey hair, small moustache, permanently wore glasses. Claimed to have highly coloured eyes. HOME GUARD RANK: Lance Corporal, Commander of No 1 Section. On one occasion briefly promoted to Sergeant to replace Sergeant Wilson who was moving to Eastgate. Resigned his ‘Non-Commission’ during Private Frazer’s tenure of office as Platoon OC, refusing to serve under a common man. Burst into tears shortly after when he saw Private Pike wearing his Lance Corporal’s Stripes. Was official driver of platoon van. CIVILIAN / DAYTIME JOB: Ran his own Butcher’s shop assisted by young Raymond and various cash ladies, including Doris, Miss Mortimer and Mrs Johnstone. In earlier part of War a boy called Ronald worked at the shop. In much younger days, when 10 years old, Jack worked as a Milk Boy, getting up at 5am and looking after a grumpy Horse, for 2d a week. WORK ADDRESS: Jack Jones, High Class Butchers, 19 High Street, Walmington-on-Sea (Business Information: Weekly wages bill was originally £2 12s 6d rising to £3 2s 6d later. Used United Meat Suppliers for stock supplies) (See Separate File - Jones’ Butchers) 1 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER: Walmington-on-Sea 252. (See Postscript) EDUCATED AT: No details but assumed to be local schools in Leamington Spa. Left school to join army at age of 14 in 1884 QUALIFICATIONS: None currently established. KNOWN FAMILY / RELATIVES: At outbreak of WW2 had never been married. Healthy old age seemed to be a Jones family trait. Mother who resembled Queen Victoria, lived in Anmerring. Jack Jones’ father, George, was born in 1852 (being 88 in 1940 working as Caretaker at the Peabody Museum in Walmington) and married for the third time in 1939, although no reference is ever made to Jack’s step mothers. George had also been a butcher and one assumes Jack took over the family business. He was a God-fearing man and still around later in the War attending the ‘Freedom Ceremony’ for a visiting hero of the Soviet Union standing on a pillar box to get a better look, by which time he was probably about 90. (When asked by Captain Mainwaring if still with us Jack’s reply was “Not as much as he was”). Jack once claimed his father came to tea on a Saturday but this may have been an excuse not to attend range firing that day as Major Regan would be there. Had brother who probably lived in Eastbourne and used to be a customer at the late Edmund Mainwaring’s Drapers. Reference was also made once to a brother who was wounded on the North West Frontier, but not known if this was the same brother. A girl called Elsie was once mentioned, who according to his father, had fat bulging legs, which he also described as being like an elephant’s, but not known if this was a sister, cousin or what. Jack did refer to her as ‘My Elsie.’ Known to have a Cousin Ethel whose Daughter was married to Tony Fairbrother, (Sergeant Wilson’s school friend). Possible that both parents and brother died during later stages of War as they were not seen at Jack’s Wedding. KNOWN ASSOCIATES: Home Guard Colleagues. Fellow Darby and Joan Club Members. Fellow Chamber of Commerce members. Loved going to meet his old comrades at Re-Unions, especially at the annual Battle of Omdurman Re- Union. Charlie Higgins ate a tin of chocolate Jack received from Queen Victoria in South Africa in 1900, and he was looking after for Jack whilst he was in hospital in 1925, Jack reminding him about it afterwards in the wording of a song at annual Re-Unions. Claimed he knew an Officer called ‘Mad Harry’ from the Sudan. Claimed he had known Mr Drury the Undertaker since he was a lad in short trousers pinching his father’s apples. When Private Pike was due for call-up he defined comradeship to him as: ‘Always be first in the queue, never volunteer, drop others in it, look after No 1, and if any one pinches your kit, make sure you pinch someone else’s.’ KNOWN ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS: In younger days went out with an acid faced and flat-kneed girl from Leamington Spa. It was for her that he learnt to play his only tune of Onward Christian Soldiers on the Church Organ. Meantime she had moved to Bournemouth. In the early days of WW2 he was going out with a Mrs Prosser, (with whom Warden Hodges once caught him in an Air Raid Shelter), possibly two - timing her with the widow Mrs Fox. This is borne out by the occasion when they were seen by Captain Mainwaring in Anne’s Pantry and Jack said that there was nothing in it but not to tell Mrs Fox! Later, he seemed to focus his attentions towards Mrs Fox, who he claimed to have known for 17 years. Known to spend Saturday nights at Mrs 2 DAlcop Dad’s Army copyright Jimmy Perry & David Croft. File compilations copyright Gordon Brodie & Christopher Leather Fox’s listening to ‘In Town Tonight’, and eating some pork chops he had taken round. Mrs Fox once said he was a marvellous man for his age. Once took Mrs Fox to a Butcher’s Federation Dance celebrating the opening of the new slaughterhouse (by all accounts it was a grand occasion, with the men all in tails and dancing to Victor Sylvester’s music). After seeing off Mr Gordon the Town Clerk and American GIs, and getting beaten up once by Mrs Fox, Jack popped the question. After an anxious wait, she said ‘Yes’ and they eventually married, despite the age gap and Mrs Fox’s one time comment that Jack was old enough to be her Father, Mrs Fox being given away by Captain Mainwaring in a ceremony attended by all the Home Guard Platoon and their wives. Was going to spend Wedding Night at Esplanade Hotel in Eastgate but an invasion alert meant he had to spend it on watch with Private Pike. Once stated that he was so besotted with Mrs Fox, he even saw her face on the Gasworks! Was still ‘looking after’ Mrs Prosser later in the War before he got married, meeting her outside the Free Polish Club to give her eggs etc. Didn’t think anything would come of it as Mrs Prosser was then 83 years old! In early days of War followed Miss Beckwith, an Assistant Guide Leader one night and shone torch on her legs saying “Cor! What a pair of gameroos.” A complaint was later made to Captain Mainwaring by the Guide Leader! Mrs Fox also helped him to count the coupons on last Wednesdays of the month. Information has also come to light that when in the Sudan he fell in love with a local girl - until he saw her without clothes on!! PREVIOUS MILITARY CAREER: This NCO joined the Warwickshire Regiment as a Drummer Boy in 1884 at the age of 14. He served in numerous Campaigns including being with General Gordon at Khartoum, fought the Fuzzie Wuzzies in the Sudan, was in the Boer War, and was discharged from France in 1915 due to his poor eyesight. However, during WW2 he referred at least three times to longer service in WW1 including the chocolate the got from Queen Victoria being with him ‘through the 14-18 lot’ and also referred to being in the trenches in 1916. Also referred once to being at Ypres. In 1891 he was on a home posting as he formed part of the Guard of Honour for Queen Victoria’s visit to the town. We also know that in 1898 he was in the Sudan at Omdurman, and in 1900 (including Christmas) he was in South Africa in the Boer war. Served many years with Lord Kitchener and spent the rest of his life telling people about it. Also spent some time on North West Frontier fighting the Pattans. His service may have been distinguished, but his career was not - he was only a Lance Corporal on discharge, having been promoted to that rank in 1901. Also spent time serving with General French, and General Macully whom he claimed once said “Take it in turns” but said he was not important! Private Cheeseman, a local War Correspondent attached to the Platoon was going to do an article on Jack for the Eastbourne Gazette called ‘Battle Scarred Veteran’. DECORATIONS: Captain Square of the Eastgate Platoon once described Lance Corporal Jones as having the illuminated history of the British Empire on his chest.

Load more