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Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 474

The poignant and well-documented Special Forces South Atlantic group of three awarded to Sergeant P. 'Taff' Jones, 23 Troop, 'G' Squadron, 22 Special Air Service, who lost his life when the Sea King in which he was travelling crashed into the sea on 19 May 1982; he had previously served during the Dhofar Rebellion and was present for Operation Storm

General Service 1962-2007, 2 clasps, Northern Ireland, Dhofar (24184150 Gdsm. P. Jones WG.), with rod between clasps; South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24184150 Sgt P Jones WG (SAS)); Elizabeth Cross (Sgt P Jones WG (SAS) 24184150), silver, hallmarks for Birmingham 2009, in fitted case of issue with award document dated 3 February 2010 and corresponding miniature award Badge; United States Delta Force Badge, slight contact marks to first, otherwise good very fine (Lot)

Philip Jones - or Taff to his friends and comrades - was born on 13 April 1954 and joined the Army originally at 1 JLB Oswestry as a Boy Soldier. He joined the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards in 1972 and went for - and passed - selection for the Special Air Service in 1975, the same year he was married.

He had seen active service in Northern Ireland and Dhofar (Operation Storm, 24 May-9 August 1976), whilst also qualifying as an Army Diver and serving with the United States Delta Force. By the time of the Falklands War, he was serving in 23 Troop, 'G' Squadron. The story of his final moments is recalled by the Fleet Air Arm Officers Association:

'On the 19th May 1982 when a Sea King Mk 4 of 846 Naval Air Squadron crashed while moving a large group of SAS troops from Hermes to Intrepid. The Sea King had taken off from Hermes at dusk. The Aircraft was slightly over loaded but because it was short fight the pilot reduced his fuel load to lighten the helicopter. At 300 ft the Sea King started it's decent towards Intrepid. Those on board heard a thump, then another from the engine above them. The Sea King dipped once then dived. Within four seconds it hit the water. Some men were killed instantly and other knocked unconscious in the initial impact. Amazingly 9 men managed to scramble out of the open side door before the helicopter slipped below the waves. One theory is at the Sea King was hit by a Black Browed Albatross which has an eight feet wing span. The S.A.S. lost 18 men, the biggest lost to the regiment since the end of the Second World War.'

A further personal account is offered by Mick Williams, the only survivor of 'G' Squadron that day:

'We were due to cross-deck from HMS Hermes to HMS Intrepid. I remember how still the water was before we took off and how many of us there were on the Sea King.

I sat down, with my back to a porthole, but my arms were so tight against my sides I couldn't put my seatbelt on. The engine struggled with the additional weight - it seemed as likely to drill a hole in the ship as to take off. As we climbed, I became drowsy. I didn't hear the bird get sucked into the engine. Instead, I woke when the helicopter hit the water. The Sea King had already tilted on its side and I was at the bottom of a heap of bodies. I had been thrown backwards and swallowed mouthfuls of water.

It was strangely calm and surreal in this cocoon of blackness and muffled sound. Then everyone's survival instinct kicked in. Men who had been SAS soldiers together for years fought each other, desperately trying to reach a tiny air pocket.

Guys were standing on top of me, their boots digging into my chest. So I pulled them down, grappled with them, my best mates, guys I loved, we all wanted to live. If I had died maybe some of them would have lived.'

Jones was buried in the St Martin's Churchyard, Hereford and is further commemorated upon a number of memorials.

Sold together with a superb and complete archive comprising:

(i)His Army Diver's Log (Army Book 576), together with British Sub-Aqua Club Qualification Record Wallet.

(ii)
A quantity of official letters related to his death.

(iii)
His Welsh Guards belt clip and red beret.

(iv)
A quantity of photographs of his career and memorial services.

(v)
A previously unpublished account of a comrade's encounters with Jones.

(vi)
His Service Record, a copy of which was provided to the family.

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