MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 29th 2024 - 07:31 UTC

 

 

Colonel H. Jones -- Hero or Hothead?

Sunday, March 3rd 2002 - 21:00 UTC
Full article

A new book about paratroop Colonel H. Jones VC , killed at Goose Green in the 1982 Falklands Conflict, defends him against criticisms of reckless impetuosity and foolhardiness leading to his death at the hands of an Argentine sniper. He was awarded the Commonwealth's highest medal for valour, the Victoria Cross.

The new book, "H.Jones VC: the Life and Death of an Unusual Hero" by his friend and fellow officer, John Wilsey, says the criticisms, written and in television documentaries, were deeply hurtful to his friends and family.

The book says Col H, as he was known, was "opinionated, stubborn and impatient..... But his virtues were noble and strong: courage, honour, loyalty and devotion to true friend and cause alike". Facing supreme challenge, "his intense commitment and profound sense of duty was likely to demand and secure the ultimate sacrifice".

That was to come at Goose Green, in command of 2 Para Battalion, on May 28th, on Darwin Ridge, where his troops were pinned down by stubborn Argentine defence.

Goose Green - crucial turning point

The battle was crucial. Failure to seize Darwin and Goose Green in the first land battle of the campaign would have resulted in humiliating British defeat in the war as a whole. Colonel H., sensing a critical, decisive moment had been reached, "rose to meet his destiny and his death", setting set off on his doomed charge, firing his sub-machine gun, until he was shot. But his sheer determination and the diversionary effect shifted the balance. Soon afterwards the Argentine defence collapsed.

The book reveals that before the Goose Green victory, the overall commander, Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse in London, gave the Army the impression that rather than lose more ships, he was ready to lift the troops off the beaches unless progress was made.

The book quotes a fellow Paratroop Colonel Hew Pike as saying the defeat over a much larger force at Goose Green gave the British "moral ascendancy" and the knowledge they could beat the Argentines.

The Chief of the General Staff, Field Marshal Lord Bramall, said: "If Goose Green had been lost, the whole campaign would have been lost". And the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, said Colonel H. Jones' sacrifice, matchless heroism and leadership gave renewed faith and demonstrated British resolve to reclaim the Islands.

His Victoria Cross citation said "this devastating display of courage had a shattering effect on the enemy and completely undermined their will to fight".

The book is published by Hutchinson on M

Categories: Falkland Islands.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!