First worked in the James Cropper paper business in Burneside and became a director in 1907. On marriage (at the insistence of his mother in law, Mrs Bagot of Levens Hall 17, moved to Grand Falls Newfoundland, Canada to manage the paper mill being set up by Lord Northcliffe the owner of the Daily Mail. His departure was described as both a great loss to his friends and to the James Cropper business.17 For more details of his and his wife Mary’s relationship with Lord Northcliffe see The Great Outsiders by SJ Taylor18

He served in World War I, 4th Border Regiment in Afghanistan 1919, as Lt.-Col. and DAAG. Spent most of his career in the paper industry in Newfoundland. Vice President and Managing Director of Anglo-Newfoundland Development Co. Ltd. See Maisie Fletcher’s Book 19(She was a niece of CWJ’s mother Margaret) “The Bright Countenance”. Vincent Jones is described as Maisie’s “most loved cousin”. The book is a biography of her husband Sir Walter Morley Fletcher the well known physiologist who died in 1933.

His correspondence with Lord Northcliffe 1910-21 is contained in National Register of Archives British Library, Manuscript Collections GB/NNAF/P38809 Reference : Add MS 62230

His Who Was Who Entry is as follows:

"Sir Vincent Strickland Jones KBE cr 1941 (OBE 1918) b 15th Feb 1874; s of late Canon Jones, Burneside, Westmorland; m 1910, Mary, d of late Colonel Joscelyn Fitzroy Bagot, MP, Levens Hall, Kendal ;one s, one d; Educ: Haileybury College. Played Rugger for Westmorland County 1893, 1894, Capt 1895; 2nd VB Border Regt, 1900; 4th Border Regt, European War 1914-190; Lt Col AA and QMG Peshawar Division; Afghan War, 1919 (O.B.F despatches twice); Hon Lt Col Newfoundland Militia, 1940-1945. Went to Newfoundland, 1910, as Mill Manager of Paper Mill at Grand Falls and has been connected with its progress and expansion ever since. 1912-45: Vice-President and Managing Director, Anglo-Newfoundland Development Co. Ltd; Pres Anglo-Newfoundland Steamship Co.Ltd , Director Terra Nova Properties Ltd, Gaspesia Sulphite Co. Ltd, Vice-Chairman Newfoundland Forest Fire Patrol. Recreations : cricket, lawn tennis, golf”

He was held in great estime by the citizens of Grand Falls, Newfoundland where he lived for many years as the following e-mails show.


Dear Tim Clement-Jones,

I am writing on behalf of the Grand Falls-Windsor Heritage Society in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada. We are compiling a book on the first 100 years of our town's history and would like to include some information on Vincent Jones in the book. I am attempting to write a brief biography, but unfortunately cannot find much information. Do you have any biographical information other than that on your website? I see that you are aware of his work with the Anglo-Newfoundland Development Company, but do you know about his significant contribution to sport in Grand Falls? In 1934, he donated a hockey trophy, now known as the Jones Shield, to encourage competition between Grand Falls Academy and Notre Dame Academy. The series was played for 65 years until school amalgamation forced the retirement of the shield in 1999. The series is legendary and very important to everyone who lives here. He also played in the first hockey game in Grand Falls (1912) and was part of the Athletic Association.

I'm interested in any information you may have, but particularly in the story of why he originally came to Grand Falls (and left and came back), his involvement in sport, and his military service. I was also wondering if you know when he received the KBE. I've searched the London Gazette online archive, but can't seem to find the relevant document. If you have anything at all that will help us put the story together, it would be greatly appreciated.

If you are interested, I can send you copies of what we have here, including several early photographs - one of him in India with the Border Regiment in 1917, one with the local cricket team in 1914, and a later photo with his daughter Barbara. I believe we also have a portrait of Desmond Jones.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

Heather Ludlow
Editor


Dear Tim,

Thank you for the information from Who's Who. I've also uncovered quite a bit of information, which I'm compiling for you and will send out soon. I just want to make sure I've gone through everything first.

I was at a school heritage fair a few weeks ago and took a photo that I thought would interest you. It's of a student's project display and I think it demonstrates just how important Sir Vincent was, and still is, to this town. There are a few more things around town of interest and I'll take some photos for you.

Thanks again for the information. Please let us know if you find anything else.

Best,
Heather Ludlow


Vincent Jones Eulogy by by Bishop Michael Gresford Jones

We have come together to give thanks for the life of Vincent Jones and for all he meant to this community and to us individually, as a relation, a friend, a neighbour.

He was my uncle and my godfather and I have here the bible he gave me when I was baptised - it was typical that though he could not then have had money to spare, he bought the best bible money could buy and he saw to it he bought a bible that might interest a boy, with plenty of illustrations and maps and references. All his days he showed extraordinary generosity in his giving to and his thinking about other people.

His father was a country clergyman - for 25 years Vicar of Burneside and he grew up in a country parsonage. His father was a silent man I believe, and so was his mother, but Vincent and most of the family were great talkers. I used to wonder what would happen when the three brothers were together and who would hold the floor; the problem did not often arise for in 1910 Vincent went to Newfoundland and the brothers only met infrequently. His eldest brother was consecrated bishop and younger brother was honoured, as he was, with a knighthood.

In Burneside he had proved himself a trusted friend to all and he was trusted because loyalty was one of his chief characteristics - loyalyu [sic] - sincerity - simplicity, are marks of a son of God and Vincent knew God was the giver of these gifts which he treasured all his days. His religion was built in and not paraded, but sensing his warmth, his consistent out-giving friendship, you know its source was in God.

In Grand Falls before the first world war, he was facing the problems of building a New Town that have occupied Development Corporations since the second world war.

He had to manage the complex operation of paper making and assume responsibility for the development of the place. The writer of the admirable obituary notice in The Times describes how Vincent Jones never threw his weight about, but approached all problems with human understanding and sympathy and with charming modesty.

He was successful and tactful. Tact - means a sense of touch, an intuitive perception of what is fitting and of the right thing to do or say because you know that every man you meet is in truth your brother. Vincent was well balanced, and so a natural athlete and he captained his public school at Rugger and he was well co-ordinated mentally and spiritually able to lead a team.
He gave his best consistently and consistently he expected the best of others, and if he didn't receive it he didn't lose faith - he kept on expecting.

I can say little about his closing years in Willingdon which he loved, but this does not matter for you know of his patience and fortitude as he faced suffering.

In the Bible he gave me he wrote a text - Daniel XII, 3.
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

When I use the word 'righteousness' I usually interpret it was meaning 'integrity' - Vincent was a man of integrity who encourages integrity in others.

Those who knew him best spoke of him as a wonderful friend - he was a friend and a neighbour and he was this because he knew the friendship of Jesus Christ his Lord and took his place humbly in the life of Christ's Church.

He was reticent, I think, about his faith and I will respect his reticence. But occasionally he wrote me a letter and in his letters he used to say how he wished sermons were more frequently preached about the love of God. As we are taught in the Epistle for this week - 1 John 4 - God is love and his love was disclosed to us in this, that he sent his only Son into the world to bring us life. The love I speak of is not our love for God, but the love he showed us in sending his son as the remedy for the defilement of our sins. If God thus loved us, dear friends, we in turn are bound to love one another.

We believe the love of God now as always sustains his sons - but how are we to think of him.

We say we believe in the Resurrection of the Body, what do we mean? this doctrine excludes the notion that the future life is impoverished and ghostly. On the contrary, that life is as full as, and fuller than, the life here. We expect to be not unclothed but 'clothed upon.' (2 Cor 4). It excludes the notion that our treatment and use of our bodies is spiritually irrelevant. It safeguards the conviction that we shall have the means or recognising each other in the future life.

While we ought to reject quite frankly the literalistic belief in a future resuscitation of the actual physical frame which is laid in the tomb, it is to be affirmed, none the less, that in the life of the world to come the soul or spirit will have its appropriate organ of expression and activity, which is one with the body of earthly life in the sense that it bears the same relation to the same spiritual entity.

What happens here upon earth is in some sense taken up into the life of Heaven, so that the character of earthly and bodily life is of eternal significance. Death becomes not a mere gateway to be passed through, nor the mere casting away of a perishable body, but a loss which is turned into gain, a giving up of life which made the means whereby that life is received back again, renewed, transfigured and fulfilled.

Death is not a future operation, but successful surgery.
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