MINER TO GENERAL.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 October 1918, Page 2

MINER TO GENERAL.

Colonel Godfrey Jones, D. 5.0., who began life as a boy in the mines of the Ebbw Vale Coal Company, has nominated for promotion to brigadiergeneral. His rise in the army is one of the romances of the war As a lad he attended a night school and eventually became a miner. In due coursa ho secured his mining certificate aDd was then appointed a foreman. In the view of his superiors, he did not at first show ability to command men, and was sent bach to the ranks, but later he was given another trial as foreman and soon proved his ability to occupy the position. Shortly after the outbreak of war ho joined the Cardiff "Pals" Battalion of the South Wales Borderers. He was speedily promoted corporal and further advancement soon followed until ho became sergeant-major, which rank he held for one day only, as his commission was on the way. His battalion went to France in the autumn of 1915, and he was then transferred to the Border Begiment. A little later he went with his regiment to Salonikia and it was on this front that he gained his D.S.O. and his promotion to lieu-tenant-colonel. Ho is a fair-haired man of athletic build/ 36 years of 'age, and well over 6ft. in height. The directors of the mining company have decided, on his return to civil life, to create a special position for him.