John Mesach Jones
Born 18 Oct 1920 - Died 3 Feb 2017
- Service number
- 180724 AWMM
- Also known as
- —
- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Last rank
- WW2
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 18 Oct 1920 AWMM
Wallsend on Tyne, Northumberland, England AWMM - Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- Pre 01 Jul 1942 AWMM Waiuta, West Coast, New Zealand AWMM
- Post war occupation
- Advertising Manager/Civilian AWMM
New Zealand Sales manager and media manager, advertising AWMM - Next of kin
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- Relationship status
- Pre 01 Jul 1941 AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
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- Armed force / branch
- Army AWMM
- Service number
- 180724 AWMM
- Military service
- HMSF Fiji AWMM
- Coastwatcher AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
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Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
- 1939-1945 Star AWMM
- Pacific Star AWMM
- Defence Medal AWMM
- War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf AWMM
- Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) AWMM
08 Nov 1945 AWMM
For exemplary conduct in coast-watching and communication duties in the Gibert Islands area in the face of the enemy, despite overwhelming odds and the knowledge that relief or escape was impossible. AWMM
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
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- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- WW2 Jul 1942 AWMM
Age 20 AWMM
Radio operator/Civilian AWMM - Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Jul 1941 AWMM
Ship (HMSF Viti) AWMM Vessel was Matua AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
- WW2
11 Dec 1941 AWMM
Captured by the Japanese Navy while a Coastwatcher AWMM - WW2
- WW2 POW - Zentsuji Camp, Zentsuji, Shikoku Islands, Japan AWMM
- WW2
- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
5 feet 10 inches AWMM - Eye colour, Unknown Period AWMM
blue AWMM - Weight, Unknown Period AWMM
11 stone AWMM
- Height, Unknown Period AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- WW2 11 Nov 1945 AWMM
- Last rank
- —
Biographical information
- Cenotaph record initially prepared with the serviceman in 2012.
Served as a Coastwatcher on Pikatias part of the Gilbert Group.
Radio Operator John M. Jones (Zenzugi Camp)
Letter: Undated
John M. Jones, Radio Operator, P&T Dept, Waiuta, Westland. I have finally been permitted to write to you and I hope it arrives alright. I am in Zentsuge War Prisoners' Camp in Japan and am being well treated. Our main food consists of soup, rice and bread. I am in good health and am not being bothered so please do not worry too much. Hope you are all keeping well and getting everything you want. I think we will return soon. Was captured in the north Gilbert Islands on 11/12/1941 and unfortunately lost all photos etc. 2 other operators are here with me - Sid Wallace of Greymouth and Max McQuinn of Oxford, also 4 other NZers and a few English, Australian and Dutch, the majority being Americans from Ocean and Wake Islands. Nearly 400 of us have quite a lot of fun with the American Navy men. I am now working clearing rocks and shrubs on a hillside and my hands are getting quite hard now. We were issued 30 cigarettes a week and will be able to buy them soon. I have seen quite a lot of Japan. It's very pretty at present with cherry blossom. I spoke from Radio Tokyo to NZ per recording 6 weeks ago. Hope you received it all right. Please do not worry about me, as I am keeping fine. Hallo Dad. I did my job A1 and don't forget to have a huge meal ready when I arrive. I'll never complain of food again. Keep your chins up and write to me through the Red Cross.
(Source: The New Zealand prisoner of war pamphlet (No. 9, March 1943, p.5)) AWMM
About death
- Death
- 3 Feb 2017 AWMM
- Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
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- Death notes
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- Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
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Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Warren, Geraldine and Pine, Madison. Our Coastwatchers. Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. First published: 21 April 2020
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/coastwatchers
Further Reference - References
- Cenotaph record initially prepared with the service person.
- Personnel - Medals and decorations - Awards to Pacific Coast watchers (1942-1946), Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R21465310)
- Mason, W.W. (1954) Prisoners of war. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
- Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society. Prisoners of War Enquiry Office. (1941–1944). The New Zealand prisoner of war pamphlet: Official pamphlet of the Prisoners of War Enquiry Office of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society. Wellington, New Zealand.
No. 9, March 1943, p.5
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