Extraordinary story of Wigan military pioneer's war heroics shared

SAS soldiers were trained to survive the most hostile of situations, learning and developing skills that could very much mean the difference between life and death.

Now Corporal Jones' great-niece Carol Kilgannon has come forward to share his incredible tale.

She said: “One day, Tom - known as Ginger Jones - was sent on a mission.

“He was part of a parachute jump into occupied France but was captured by the Nazis straight away and was taken as a prisoner of war.

“I remember my dad telling me how the soldiers were put into a lorry and driven round and round in circles to disorientate them, before being executed by firing squad.”

Tom and the other prisoners were shot but his unfathomable bravery and intense training dealt him a cunning escape from death.

Carol said: “Somehow Tom survived. He lay down in a ditch and pretended to be dead for five days until he was rescued by the French Resistance.”

Thanks to his courage, Corporal Jones survived the war but it wasn’t until decades later that his remarkable story was uncovered and rewarded.

He was finally presented with the Croix de Guerre, a high-ranking French military decoration celebrating distinguished acts of heroism.

Other notable recipients of the Croix de Guerre include President Eisenhower, who served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

Amazingly Corporal Jones' story is just one of three tales of military heroism among Carol's family members that she has been able to share with Warrington Museum and Library.

Her grandfather George Porter’s served with the South Lancashire Regiment during World War Two.

And her father Robert Porter joined the regiment in the 1950s and served in West Germany, where his duties included watching over high-ranking Nazi Rudolf Hess.

Carol is urging people to remember what happened during the war to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day today (Friday).

She said: “My great uncle was really lucky and came back home but thousands didn’t.

“It’s really, really sad but that’s why they need to be remembered, especially by younger generations.

“It could have all been so different.

“They can’t just be forgotten after all they went through to give us our today.”