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Sgt Andrew James Jones

Sergeant Jones was born in Newport, South Wales, on 8 January 1975, and attended Lliswerry Comprehensive School before choosing to join the Royal Engineers. He completed basic training at the Army Training Regiment Bassingbourn in February of 1998, before passing out of the Royal Engineers Combat Engineering Course in August of the same year.

He deployed to Kosovo with 31 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 32 Engineer Regiment, before being posted to the Royal Engineers Armoured Trials and Development Unit in Bovington Camp, Dorset. After this Sergeant Jones was posted to D Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, as an Engineer Reconnaissance Troop Sergeant in February 2009.

His service with D Squadron saw him conducting demolition on ranges in Scotland, leading a team over the Yorkshire Three Peaks in 24 hours and overseeing the site reconnaissance and placing of bridges for The Queen's Royal Lancers Battle Group in British Army Training Unit Suffield, Canada, in 2009.

For his deployment to Afghanistan earlier this year he was placed in 1st Troop, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, and immediately made a name for himself as a tirelessly efficient, sharp-witted and boundlessly enthusiastic individual; his performance on Operation HERRICK 12 was second-to-none.
Sergeant Jones was quick to fit into regimental life in Catterick; his sense of humour and dulcet Welsh accent made him popular with the troops and in the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess. An avid supporter of the Welsh rugby team, he was never more at home than when arguing over a referee's decision in a test match against England.

Above all, Sergeant Jones was a family man. He spoke endlessly of his wife Joanne, and children, Natasha, Caitlin and Liam, and of his plans for the future. While his professional focus was unquestioned, his heart remained with his family for the duration of his tour in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Jones' wife, Joanne, said:"Andrew was a happy, funny and caring man. He was a loving husband, father and son, and he will leave a gaping hole in our lives."
Lieutenant Colonel Martin Todd, Commanding Officer, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:
"Sergeant Andrew Jones had been attached to The Queen's Royal Lancers for 18 months, during which time he gained a peerless reputation as a tough, resolute soldier and leader. He was in every way an outstanding representative of the Royal Engineers in whom he displayed an abiding pride. He brought their strong professional ethos and a wide range of specialist skills to our ranks.

Lieutenant Colonel Lincoln Jopp, Commanding Officer, Combined Force Lashkar Gah, said:"All of us in Combined Force Lashkar Gah have been deeply struck by the deaths of Sergeant Andrew Jones and Trooper Andy Howarth. Both were stalwarts of Fondouk Squadron and both were tremendous characters who had made an impact well beyond the squadron.

Major Ben Cossens, Officer Commanding Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"In the short time that I knew Sergeant Jones he made a lasting impression on me. He was a tremendous soldier and a tireless and committed engineer. He was excellent fun and was able to draw a smile during even the most sombre periods over the last few weeks. He was an absolutely essential part of my team and will be sorely missed.

Major Jim Walker, formerly Officer Commanding Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"Sergeant Andy Jones was a specialist, a Reconnaissance Engineer embedded with the squadron, but he was an important part of the team and an integral part of 1st Troop.

Captain Will Pope, Second-in-Command, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"I first met Sergeant Jones when I began the role of Squadron Second-in-Command back in September last year. The formation of a new squadron in the midst of build-up training for Afghanistan was a particularly hectic time for all of us, but Sergeant Jones had an admirable ability of being able to take absolutely anything I threw at him in his stride.

Major Jim Walker, said:"His appearance at the office door and his soft Welsh accent would inevitably be there to inform me of an impending possible drama which he had already sorted and implemented a plan to resolve, or some brilliant method in which to improve the training on offer to the boys in the squadron. I valued his opinion highly.

Captain Ollie Thornton-Flowers, Intelligence Officer, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"Sergeant Jones was a husband, father and Sapper. Although on attachment to the regiment he was someone that you would want in your troop.

Lieutenant Johnny Clayton, 1st Troop Leader, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"Sergeant Jones was an outstanding soldier and an asset to any unit he worked with. I was privileged to have had him with mine.

Lieutenant Rob Campbell, 2nd Troop Leader, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"Sergeant Jones always seemed to be chuckling, or smiling; a great guy to simply chat to, but whatever his view on a subject it tended to be more towards the positive.

Warrant Officer Class 1 (Regimental Sergeant Major) Leon Mattear, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"Sergeant Jones was quiet by nature, to those who didn't know him well, a keen rugby player and an active member of the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess. He was regarded very highly within Fondouk Squadron for his expertise and experience and was always on hand to help out with any engineering tasks, be it bridge-laying or counter-improvised explosive device countermeasures; an utterly dependable Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, an asset to the squadron and the regiment.

Warrant Officer Class 2 (Squadron Sergeant Major) Tony Gould, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"Sergeant Andy Jones was a loyal friend and a hugely trusted Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the squadron. He leaves a huge void in our ranks, but we will remember him always for his stories and the banter about his homeland in Wales.
Staff Sergeant (Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant) Tony Round, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said: "Sergeant Andy Jones came to the squadron to form part of the Operation HERRICK 12 deployment. It was in this early period I first got to know him, not only as a member of the squadron, but also as a friend.

Staff Sergeant Nicholas Robinson, Royal Engineers, Support Headquarters Troop, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"I first met Andy Jones when we were both serving in 31 Armoured Engineer Squadron [AES], 32 Engineer Regiment. Shortly after completing the training year we went to Kosovo together. It was here that I first got to know Andy as a person. As a young Sapper in the squadron Andy loved the ethos of 'work hard, play hard', especially at weekends when the squadron bar was open. It was a good test of our friendship when England played Wales at rugby; when England won he would sulk for about five seconds before getting another round of drinks.

Sergeant Kristoffer Haystead, 5th Troop Sergeant, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers, said:"I met Andy in January 2009 when he came to the regiment. I immediately hit it off with him because that was the type of person Andy was; he liked everyone. No-one had a bad word to say about him, he was the nicest guy you could ever meet.

Sergeant Andy Armitage, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), Light Aid Detachment, Fondouk Squadron, The Queen's Royal Lancers. said:"A colleague and true friend. Knowing you was an honour. Speaking to you was inspirational. We really got to know each other a few weeks ago. That week was filled with memories of laughter. You told me that you saw REME as your brothers. And your love for your family; thoughts go to them at this time. You will be missed mate, but never forgotten."

Secretary of State for Defence, Dr Liam Fox, said:"I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Sergeant Andrew Jones. His colleagues praise him as a tough, resolute soldier, a skilled engineer and an inspirational leader of men. His sacrifice, protecting our national security, will not be forgotten. I extend my deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones."

Comments

Michael Geary writes [22nd May 2012]:

Andrew was one of my closest friends during my time at RETDU(B). His resolute professionalism set him apart from his peer group and inspired them to improve themselves. Ever capable of sharing a joke, he would make light of some of the darkest days. A devout Welshman, we hit it off from the start because of a shared love of all that is British, but also staunchly proud of our different roots.

Andrew will always be remembered by me as a friend and comrade, embodying all the virtues of being ... [read more from Michael Geary]

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