VJ Day: the Royal Navy hero who never learned to swim

Caradog Jones was called up to the Royal Navy in November 1942 Credit: Big Lottery Fund

It's 67 years after the Second World War ended on Victory over Japan (VJ) Day. Caradog Jones, a Royal Navy veteran from Anglesey who's now 88, will return to Australia later this year to recall where his war ended back in 1945. He was part of some of the war's central conflicts, in the Mediterranean and the Pacific, and survived countless dangerous attacks.

He was called up as an Able Seaman, at the age of 18, in 1942. He joined the Torpedo Branch and was responsible for firing torpedoes from Destroyers on enemy ships and dropping depth charges to sink incoming enemy submarines.

After successfully completing his training in Plymouth, in 1943 Caradog joined the men - who were to be his closest colleagues - on board HMS Queenborough.

Caradog was involved in the invasion of the Italian island of Sicily that summer. During this successful mission the ship had one of its lucky escapes.

In September 1943, Caradog and the Queensborough had a central role to play, shelling positions and protecting other warships, during the invasion of mainland Italy.

At the end of 1944, the Queensborough was deployed to the Pacific Ocean to support the war against Japan. Caradog was therefore part of the Battle of Okinawa, off the south coast of Japan, from April until June 1945. It's been referred to as the 'Typhoon of Steel' in reference to the size of the forces, the ferocity of the fighting and the dangers posed by the Kamikaze attacks from the Japanese defenders. Thousands of Navy personnel died and at least 47 vessels were sunk by Kamikaze attacks.

The war ended with the surrender of Japan and the end of fighting on 15 August 1945, after atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Their ships were then involved in transporting prisoners of war from the Pacific, escorting many Australians back to Sydney.

Caradog returned back to the UK on another ship, HMS Norman, in December 1945.

Caradog will be going back to Australia this year to recall where his war ended Credit: Big Lottery Fund

Now, 67 years later, he will be returning Down Under again for three weeks in November to pay his respects to fallen colleagues and retrace his steps. He will be taking part in Australian Remembrance Day in Canberra on 11 November.

  • Caradog will be going back to Australia thanks to the Big Lottery Fund’s Heroes Return 2 programme