Ajax Veterans Street Dedication: Jonesridge Drive (Gomer)

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Street Name: Jonesridge Drive
Name of Veteran: Gomer Kenneth Jones June 5, 1917-June 5, 1975
Rank: Stoker
Ship Served: HMS Ajax
Date of Service on Ship: April 1939 to November 1942
Year of Visit/Dedication n/a
Veteran or Family Visit n/a
Veteran of the Battle of the River Plate: Yes
Died at Battle: No

Gomer Kenneth Jones was born in South Wales on June 5, 1917, to parents Arthur and Bessie Jones. He attended Amman Valley Grammar School and joined the Royal Navy at sixteen years old, after falsifying his age.

After training, Gomer served several ships and joined HMS Ajax on April 1, 1939, as a Stoker. War was declared with Germany in September and a few months later the ship and her crew would be involved in the famous Battle of the River Plate, the Allies’ first naval victory in WW2. He left briefly for further training and then continued served HMS Ajax until November 1942. This was considered a long time to be on any single ship during war time.

Gomer was still onboard the Ajax when she joined the Mediterranean fleet and participated in the Battle of Cape Matapan. The ship was hit by bombs on May 21, 1941, and sustained significant damage.

On August 24, 1944, Gomer married Gladys Thomas in Carmarthenl and together they would have two children, David and Avril. After the War, he was awarded the 1939-45 War Medal, the Atlantic Star, the Africa Star, and the Burma Star.

Gomer returned home to his family in Ammanford, South Wales and had several jobs but would eventually end up working for local government in the Finance Department. He died on June 5, 1975, on his fifty-eighth birthday.

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