ARTICLE by John Lewis Jones regarding his memories of his merchant navy career in particular his time on the ship San Demetrio written in 1977

This material is held atGwynedd Archives Service - Caernarfon Record Office / Gwasanaeth Archifau Gwynedd, Archifdy Caernarfon

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- GB 219 XM13277/22
Dates of Creation
- n.d c.2015

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Correspondence and Papers relating to John Lewis Jones of NefynXM13277

LETTER from Eagle Oil & Shipping Company Ltd, Langdon Court, Wembury to R Jones, Police Station, Nefyn stating that they regret to inform that the ship in which his son was serving was lost by enemy action but all crew managed to get away safely in the boats. The master and 23 of the crew have arrived safely at St Johns, Newfoundland but the second boat has not yet reported. They are sorry that they are not able, as yet, to give news of his son's safety but as the boat is well found in every way, in charge of experienced men and the weather was fine at the time they hope to shortly have news of the safety of all the menXM13277/1

TELEGRAM from Wenbury PY to Jones, Police Station, Nefyn stating "Confirm vessel safe but awaiting news as to who is on board"XM13277/2

TELEGRAM from Wenbury PY to Jones, Police Station, Nefyn stating "Son arrived safely"XM13277/3

TELEGRAM from Wembury PY 10 to Jones, Police Station, Nefyn stating "We understand your son well"XM13277/4

TELEGRAM from 11.0 Bowling 23 to Jones, Police Station stating "Arrived Glasgow fine not definite when home but shall make it as soon as possible best love - Jack"XM13277/5

TELEGRAM from 11.30 Glasgow C Rail 11 to Jones, Police Station, Nefyn stating "starting home one o'clock Glasgow love - Jack"XM13277/6

LETTER from Eagle Oil & Shipping Company Ltd, Langdon Court, Wembury to J L Jones, Police Station, Nefyn stating that they have pleasure in enclosing a cheque for £18.2.5 representing the amount due in wages, they also enclose a temporary Unemployment Insurance Card. They trust that he will be restored to normal health within a short period after his recent dire experience. They would like to congratulate him on the splendid and heroic way he and his shipmates actedXM13277/7

JUDGMENT before Mr Justice Langton regarding the salvage of the San DemetrioXM13277/8

LETTER from Botterell & Roche, Solicitors, Baltic Exchange Chambers, 24 St Mary Axe, London to J L Jones, Police Station, Nefyn stating that the matter of the salvage of the MV San Demetrio came before the Admiralty Court last Thursday and Friday and that the daily papers made mention of it at some length. The Judge gave all concerned unstinted praise for the work they had accomplished. He was asked to apportion the awards and in your case has awarded £1200. A little time may elapse before they are able to collect the money from the underwriters. They have been requested by some of the participants in the award to advise as to the best way of dealing with the money they are to receive and they have suggested that it should be invested in 3% Defence Bonds.XM13277/9

LETTER from Julia E Wilson, 95 Benwell Dene Terrace, West Benwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne to John stating she felt that she must write to say how pleased she was to read about his great success. She wishes him the very best of luck and every success for his future and states the she is sure that his parents must be very proud of him. She states that he will know that Mr Wilson is lost, he and Mr Duncan were coming home and nothing more has been heards of it but she is still living in hope that perhaps he has been taken prisoner. She asks that if he has time to let her know which ship he joins and how he isXM13277/10

LETTER from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, St James's Palace to Mr John L Jones stating that the King will hold an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday the 18th of March at which his presence is requested. An immediate acknowledgement is requested. Attached: Two Admission tickets for witnessesXM13277/11

LETTER from H Markham, Admiralty, Whitehall to J L Jones, Police Station, Nefyn stating that he is commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that they have learned with great satisfaction that the Prime Minister has obtained the King's approval for the award to you of the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for meritorious service in SS San Demetrio, in action with the enemyXM13277/12

SUPPLEMENT to the London Gazette regarding the central chancery of the orders of Knighthood including John Lewis Jones, apprentice on the SS San DemetrioXM13277/13

LETTER from the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, St James's Palace to John L Jones stating that the King will hold an Investiture at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, 27 May, 1941 at which his attendance is requested at no later than 10.15 o'clock. This leteer should be produced on entering the palace as no further card of admission will be issued. Two tickets for relations or friends to witness the Investiture may be obtained on applicationXM13277/14

LETTER from Eustace R Pulbrook, Chairman of Lloyd's, Committee Room, Lloyd's, London to Apprentice J L Jones stating that he has much pleasure in forwarding the Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea as an acknowledgement of his bravery when the ship was attacked by a raider in November, 1940XM13277/15

LETTER from E E Robyns Owen,clerk to the governors, Pwllheli County School to J Lewis Jones, Police Station, Nefyn stating that the governors at their last meeting had their attention drawn to the OBE awarded to him by the King and sending their congratulations and good wishesXM13277/16

LETTER from Michael Balcon, Ealing Studios Limited, Ealing Green, London to 3rd Officer J L Jones c/o Eagle Oil & Shipping Co Ltd, 16 Finsbury Circus, London stating that they are proposing to produce a film dealing with the story of the San Demetrio and that they should like him to say that he agrees to such a film being made. In addition they should like him to say that he agrees to being impersonated in this film and that they may introduce any fictional elements as they may determineXM13277/17

LETTER from Michael Balcon, Ealing Studios Ltd, Ealing Green, London to 3rd Officer J L Jones, c/o Eagle Oil & Shipping Co Ltd, 16 Finsbury Circus regarding the company's intention to make a feature film based upon a BBC radio broadcast about the story of the San Demetrio. This proposal has met with sympathetic approval of the Eagle Oil & Shipping Co Ltd and in due course the story will be submitted to the Admiralty and the Minister of Information for their approval. He points out that this film will have a strong propoganda value and that he feels that its production is in the national interest as it will be distributed throughout this country and America. Although the film is factual it will be necessary to introduce some fiction, in this respect they may depict him in the film but this will only be done in a dignified manner bearing in mind the heroic episode with which they are dealing. He requests that he concur with the propoals outlined in this letter and encloses a stamped addressed envelopeXM13277/18

LETTER from F Tennyson Jesse, 14a, King's House, St James' Court, London to Mrs Jones stating that a film is being made of the Saga of the San Demetrio. They are not having any star actors or actresses because the audience are then apt to go see either the particular actor or actress instead of the film and they do want to present this as the great epic of the sea that it is. The want to show people in their homes and shall pick out people as like as possible to the original. She wonders if she could lend her a photograph of her and her husband and if possible, one of the police station. She will take great care of everything and will duly return anything that she is sentXM13277/19

NEWSPAPER CLIPPING regarding the attack on the Demetrio and the awards to the crewXM13277/20

TORIAD PAPUR NEWYDD ynglyn a J Lewis Jones, Nefyn a'r ymosodiad ar y San DemetrioXM13277/21

ARTICLE by John Lewis Jones regarding his memories of his merchant navy career in particular his time on the ship San Demetrio written in 1977XM13277/22