25B/1428 Private Evan Jones - a Rorke's Drift defender
Remember Them - November 2001

Captain Dick Phillips recently sent the Museum at Brecon an impressive photograph of the funeral of Evan Jones. This took place with full military honours at Welshpool, Montgomeryshire in August 1931. (Captain Phillips landed in France with 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers on D Day - 6 June 1944; his daughter now works in Welshpool).

25B/1428 Private Evan Jones of B Company, 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment, was present at the famous defence of Rorke's Drift, 22-23 January 1879. Hanging in the South Wales Borderers Museum at Brecon is the Union Flag that flew over the little mission station and, on the morning of the 23 January 1879, signalled to the approaching relief column that the small garrison had indeed held out against repeated Zulu attacks. The young Private Evan Jones brought this flag home. We are very proud that Evan Jones's family donated the flag to the museum. Evan Jones was born in Bedwellty near Ebbw Vale in Monmouthshire. His real name was Patrick Cosgrove. He enlisted at Brecon on 20 July 1877, aged 18 years and 4 months, having had some previous service with the Royal Monmouthshire Engineers Militia.

The young Private Evans was posted to 2nd Battalion on 26 January 1878 and subsequently saw service in South Africa (1 February 1878 to 12 January 1880), Gibraltar, India and Burma. He later became a Drummer and was allowed to continue his service beyond 21 years, finally claiming his discharge as a member of the Permanent Staff of the 4th Militia Battalion on 17 October 1899.

He next enlisted in the Royal Northern Reserve Battalion as a Musician and then joined the Montgomery Yeomanry. In April 1915, he was attested at Aberystwyth for the 2/7th Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers and rose to the rank of Lance Sergeant before being discharged on 15 February 1919. His final spell of duty was as a Private in the Northumberland Fusiliers, and he is thought to have served as part of the army of occupation in Germany in 1919-1920. At the time of his discharge, Evan Jones had served in excess of 40 years with the Colours. He died aged 72 years and was buried in the Parish Churchyard at Welshpool.

Evan Jones' medal group, now the property of the National Museum of Wales, consists of South Africa Medal with clasp 1877-89, India General Service Medal with clasp Burma 1887-89, and Territorial Force Efficiency Medal - a rare combination of awards, particularly for a Rorke's Drift defender. Evan Jones was one of three defenders at Rorke's Drift from the 24th Regiment to see army service in the Great War, the others being Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne and Private John Williams VC.