Jones, Ralph

Date of birth:: September 26th, 1900 (Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, Great Britain)
Date of death:: August 5th, 1944 (Prisioner-of-War Camp, Cowra, Australia)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Cowra
Plot: D. Row: D. Grave: 10.
Nationality:: Australian

Biography

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George Cross

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Private
Unit:: 22nd Australian Garrison Battalion, Australian Army
Awarded on:: September 1950

"Private Hardy and private Jones were on duty at the No. 12 Prisoner of War Camp, Cowra, as members of a Vickers Machine Gun crew, guarding the Prisoner of War compound, in which were interned over 1,100 Japanese prisoners of war. On the night of the 4th/5th August, 1944, the Japanese prisoners, armed with knives, baseball clubs, and other weapons, staged a mass outbreak, stormed over the perimeter and bore down on the Machine Gun crew. Privates Hardy and Jones stood their ground and continued to work the gun until bashed to death, displaying outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty in their fight against an overwhelming onslaught of fanatical Japanese. They met their deaths in the true British spirit of sacrifice for their country."

Ralph Jones' medal group, comprising his George Cross, War Medal, and Australian War Medal 1939-45 (impressed R.Jones), were sold at Sothebys on 3rd July 1986 for £11,000.