99-year-old Auschwitz survivor is Britain's oldest Poppy Appeal volunteer

For over 35 years, 99-year-old Ron Jones has been a poppy collector for the Bassaleg and Rhiwderin branch of the Royal British Legion, and is now believed to be the oldest collecting in Britain.

The veteran and Auschwitz survivor has been a recognisable local face of the appeal and, after stating that last year would be his final campaign, has decided to continue volunteering at the Tesco store in Harlech Retail Park, Newport for two more weeks.

“The poppy, means everything to me,” said Mr Jones. “The Legion was there for all my mates who returned home from World War Two and needed help, and today the Legion is still there to help all those who come back from wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“It’s important everyone wears a poppy to remember what other generations went through for them. Every donation to the Legion for the Poppy Appeal will make a real difference to the lives of Service men and women, veterans and their loved ones.

“I love helping the Poppy Appeal and I’ll be doing it for the next two weeks. It’s a good chance to have a natter and share a yarn with people. They love hearing our stories.”

Prisoner of war

Mr Jones was a 23-year-old lance corporal in the First Battalion Welch Regiment when he was captured in Bengazi, Libya in January 1942. He was then taken to work at E715 POW camp which was located near Auschwitz.

For two years Mr Jones and his fellow prisoners of war got through their time in camp by playing football on Sundays, but they were soon forced to join the “death march” of prisoners across Europe in 1945.

“Me and my mates were marched from Auschwitz for 900 miles across Europe before we were freed by the Americans. We were marching for four months in freezing conditions. I watched more than 100 of my comrades die on that march,” he recalled.

“The way the Nazis treated the Jews was horrible. It was like they were less than human. The first thing you would notice was the smell, and if the wind was in your direction the smell was terrible.

“We did not know what would happen to us. We thought at one time they would stick us in the gas chamber, the same as the Jews. We were always frightened we would be next.”

On the second week of May in 1945, Mr Jones finally returned home. He worked at the Docks in Newport until his retirement in 1980, and started collecting for the Poppy Appeal ever since.

“I was 13 stone when I left for war and seven stone when I returned five years later,” he added. “I remember when I finally got home, my wife Gwladys put me in the bath. I looked into her eyes and saw tears rolling down her cheeks. I said ‘Don’t cry my love. I’ve come home. I left men out there who will never come home’.”

Poppy Appeal

Mr Jones revisited Auschwitz three years ago and told how the horrors of war continued to drive him forward in selling poppies. He has since written a book about his survival called The Auschwitz Goalkeeper.

“People need to remember what has gone before them and the sacrifices made,” he said. “I’ve been collecting for the Poppy Appeal for more than 30 years. It’s not just about remembering my generation, the Legion is here for all generations of the Armed Forces community, and it’s important to remember there’s a new generation that needs support.”

Officials, including Lynne Woodyatt, Royal British Legion’s fundraiser for South East Wales, have praised Mr Jones’ age-defying volunteering for the Poppy Appeal. She said: “We are delighted that Ron is able to help us collect again for the Poppy Appeal this year. He has been volunteering in Newport for more than 30 years and has contributed greatly to the appeal. At 99 we believe he is one of the Legion’s oldest supporters.

“Individuals and families from across the generations of our Armed Forces community need the Legion’s support, as well as older veterans like Ron. That’s why this year we are inviting people to Rethink Remembrance and who it is they picture when they think of a veteran. That could be someone like Ron who fought in World War 2 and survived Auschwitz or a young veteran injured in Afghanistan.

“The Royal British Legion’s vital work wouldn’t be possible without the public’s generous support and the work of our volunteers.”

This year, The Royal British Legion is asking the nation to Rethink Remembrance by recognising the sacrifices made not just by the Armed Forces of the past, but by today’s generation too. For more information, visit: www.britishlegion.org.uk/poppy-appeal-2016.