Matthew Kenneth JONES

JONES, MATTHEW KENNETH (KEN) (b. Swansea, South Wales, 1895; d. Hindhead, Surrey, England, 31 Jan 1972). Dean of St Peter's Cathedral, Armidale.

Jones served in World War One as an artillery Officer and gunnery observer with the RFC. He m. Agnes Solomon c. 1918, and accepted in 1920 Rev George Chambers' (q.v.) invitation to come to Australia and join his brother Bill at Trinity Grammar School. Regretfully he was forced to return to Swansea in 1922 where his wife died. He attended London College of Divinity in 1923 and University of Durham in 1924-25 (LTh and BA). Me was ordained in 1924, serving as curate of Neasden with Kingsbury 1924-26. He returned to Australia in 1927 to rejoin Trinity as house and sportsmaster, serving also as curate at Holy Trinity, Dulwich Hill. He m. Margaret Bullen c. 1930. He was rector of Austinmer with Clifton and Thirroul 1933-4, precentor St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney and headmaster Cathedral Choir School 1934-38, rector St Andrews, Roseville 1939-49, senior chaplain 8 Div AIF 1940-46, dean of Armidale 1949-60, chaplain New England Girls School 1950-55, vicar of Bentley in Suffolk 1960-66.

Ken Jones will be remembered for his valour and dedication serving as senior chaplain, electing to remain in Singapore to continue his Christian service in Changi Gaol, and for his counsel of younger chaplains mission to the servicemen suffering the duress of imprisonment and gaining co-operation of Christian Japanese guards in the construction of the bamboo chapels in the POW camp.

RICHARD KENNETH JONES