Craig Everard Jones

Craig was born on the 14th December 1961 in Northampton. He was the eldest of two boys born to Richard and Pamela Jones. His younger brother Gareth was born in 1964. In 1966 the Jones family moved to Limmasol, Cyprus. During this time Craig became a very accomplished swimmer and very much enjoyed the outdoor life. On his return to the UK Craig went to School in Hanslope, Bucks., and the Northampton School for Boys and completed his education at The Campion School, Bugbrooke, Northants. Craig loved walking and camping and with his friends spent many holidays on the hills of Wales and Cumbria.

At the age of 17 years Craig joined the Royal Anglian Regiment TA based at the Drill Hall in Northampton. He enjoyed his time in the TA, particularly the weekends on exercise. Rugby was his favourite sport, he played for Campion School and the Bugbrooke Rugby Club. After completing his A levels, Craig applied to join the Parachute Regiment and after several exams and fitness tests he was accepted on an ‘O’ type engagement. He was so proud to be joining the Paras and when he got his wings and the Red Beret he was overjoyed. After further training Craig transferred to the Intelligence Section and enjoyed the many and varied aspects of this new role.

Craig was killed on Mount Longdon on June 13th, 1982 just a few hours before the ceasefire. Craig with many of his comrades was laid to rest in a temporary Military Cemetery at Teal Inlet. In November of 1982 Craig was brought home to a final resting place at Aldershot. Craig’s grave is in the “Falklands corner” of the Military Cemetery in Aldershot, where he lies at rest with seventeen of his friends and comrades.

Twenty years on;

In November 2002 my son Gareth and I joined 200 veterans of the Falklands conflict on their Pilgrimage to the Falklands. We met some wonderful friendly Islanders; we toured the Battle Sites and attended several Remembrance services. We went up Mount Longdon and saw where Craig was killed and talked to many of the survivors of this battle. On the Sunday we all attended the Remembrance Parade in Stanley. Gareth and I joined the Para group to march through Stanley to the memorial garden. It was whilst marching with these ex paras, all in their forties and early fifties, some with visible injuries others just showing normal signs of age that I thought of Craig, what would he look like and I just could not imagine him aged at all… only just as I last saw him, young, vibrant, full of life, just a normal twenty year old lad. And then Binyon’s words came to mind…

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”.

‘The spirit of our race that never dies’

Family and friends are encouraged to contribute.

We will add information to this memorial as we receive it.

If you have a photo, an anecdote, or simply to say you remember him, we will be very pleased to hear from you, so please contact the sama office at [email protected]