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Major Francis Jones, CVO, TD, DL, FSA, MA, KStJ
Late Wales Herald at Arms
1908 - 1993
Career Notes
Francis Jones was born in July 1908, at Trevine in Pembrokeshire. He was educated at Fishguard County School, and became a schoolmaster. He was Pioneer Archivist at Haverfordwest Records Office in 1931.
Commissioned into 4th Welch Regiment, and transferred to Pembroke Yeomanry. Archivist at National Library of Wales.
His Active Service began in 1939 and later took part in North. African landings and in the Battle of Beja (mentioned in Despatches) when Rommel’s last Panzer attack was repulsed. He fought in the Sicilian Campaign and landing. Then landing at Salerno, fought in Italian Campaign up to Monte Cassino battle as 2nd in Command of regiment. Posted as GSO to War Cabinet Offices Historical Section, he wrote the Official War Record of Sicilian and Italian Campaigns. Battery Commander in Surrey Yeomanry, QMR
Created Wales Herald in 1963, a post previously held in the 15th century. On Earl Marshal’s staff and officiated at State Funeral of Sir Winston Churchill; member of Prince of Wales Investiture ’66-’67.
He officiated at Caernarfon, and on numerous State occasions for thirty years, State Openings of Parliament, Knights of the Garter Ceremonies, etc. Created Commander of the Victorian Order. Past President of the Cambrian Archaelogical Society, Governor of National Library of Wales, Member of Gorsedd, Member of Society of the Church in Wales, Carmarthens. History Association., Pembrokeshire. Record Society, Croeso ’69 Committee. Acadamie International D’Heraldique, Heraldry Society, Hon. Soc. Cymmrodorion, Trustee of Elvet Lewis Memorial, Vice-President of Dyfed Local Council, Honorary. Member of Mark Twain Society in the United States. Deputy Lieutenant Dyfed, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, Honorary M.A. Wales University. Territorial Decoration with three clasps. Knight. of St. John, Carmarthenshire County Archivist 1958-73.
His first articles were published in Pembrokeshire in the late 1920’s. During his lifetime he wrote over a thousand articles, essays, lectures and books, and appeared in numerous BBC radio and TV programmes.
His works have been published in Cymmrodorion, Anglo Welsh Review, The Times, Radio Times, Archelogia Cambrensis, Carm. Historian, Merianet Hist. Pembs. Historian, Country Life, Church in Wales Hist. Soc., Cards Hist. Soc., Anglesey Hist. Assn. Board of Celtic Studies, Welsh History Review, Investiture Souvenir, Nat. Lib. Wales Journal, Burke’s Peerage, St. David’s Society New York, etc., etc., newspapers and many overseas learned journals.
BOOKS
History of the 172 Field Regiment
History of the Surrey Yeomanry QMR
The Holy Wells of Wales, 1954, 1969
The Principality and Princes of Wales, 1969
God Bless the Prince of Wales
An Approach to Welsh Genealogy
Historic Carmarthenshire Homes and their Families,
[Editions, 1987, 1988. 1996]
Historic Houses of Pembrokeshire and their Families, 1997
Historic Carmarthenshire Homes and their Families,
[Final Edition 1997]
The Francis Jones Treasury of Historic Pembrokeshire, 1998
Historic Cardiganshire Homes and their Families, 2000
The Francis Jones Archives MAIN INDEX
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