| Gwynn Jones Second Cabin Passenger Saved |
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| Born | William Gwynn Jones 14 February 1891 Blaina, Monmouthshire, Wales, United Kingdom |
| Died | 26 December 1963 (age 72) London, England, United Kingdom |
| Age on Lusitania | 24 |
| Traveling companions | Gwent Royal Welsh Singers – George Davies – William Hill – George Lane – Dewi Michael – John Preston-Smith – Thomas Williams |
| Roommates | unknown |
| Rescued by | unknown |
| Citizenship | British (Welsh) |
| Residence | United Kingdom |
| Other name(s) | Gwynne Jones Parry Jones |
Gwynn Jones (1891 – 1963), 24, was a tenor in the Gwent choir from Wales. Although traveling aboard Lusitania in second cabin, he and his fellow choir members performed in the saloon (first class) lounge and music room in a Seamen’s Charities Benefit concert on the evening of Thursday, 6 May 1915. Jones survived the Lusitania sinking.
Gwynn Jones was born in Blaina, Monmouthshire, Wales on 14 February 1891. He sang tenor. Jones studied singing at the Royal Academy of Music in London and in Weimar, Germany; Milan, Italy, and in London with John Coates. Jones made his performing debut in 1914. Shortly after his debut, Jones went on an opera and concert tour in the United States.
Jones was returning to the United States aboard Lusitania with the Gwent Royal Welsh Singers. When the ship departed New York, the choir was singing “The Star Spangled Banner.” On Thursday night, 6 May, Jones and his fellow choir members performed at the Seamen’s Charities Benefit concert in the saloon lounge and music room. The concert was open to passengers in saloon (first class) and second cabin (second class).
Jones survived the sinking of the ship and wrote an article, “On Board the Lusitania,” about his experience. He also suffered a nervous breakdown due to the sinking.
After he recovered, Jones joined the D’Oyly Carte Repertory Opera Company in July 1917. Jones was principle tenor until November 1917, playing Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore, Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe, Prince Hilarion in Princess Ida, and Colonel Fairfax in The Yeoman of the Guard. After his tour with D’Oyly Carte Repertory Opera Company, Jones joined the Beecham Opera Company. He was also an original member of the British National Opera Company. He also started using the name “Parry Jones” professionally.
Throughout his career, Jones appeared in all the leading English festivals and appeared in that of the International Society of Contemporary Music in 1938. Jones’ repertoire included opera, German leider, French and English songs, and music contemporary to his time. In his performances, he appeared with the Carl Rosa Opera Company, the Covent Garden Company, the Royal Philharmonic, the Liverpool Philharmonic and Royal Choral Societies, and in the BBC Symphony and Promenade concerts.
Jones also sang with Toscanini in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and was in the first performances in England of Wozzeck, Gurrelieder, Doctor Faustus, Psalmus Hungaricus, Christopher Columbus, and Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.
Gwynn Jones retired in 1954 and died in London on 26 December 1963 at age 72.
Links of Interest
Gwynn Jones at D’Oyly Carte Who Was Who
Contributors:
Michael Poirier, USA
David Stone, USA
References:
Hoehling, A. A. and Mary Hoehling. The Last Voyage of the Lusitania. Madison Books, 1956.
Hickey, Des and Gus Smith. Seven Days to Disaster. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1982. Pages 155, 244.
Stone, David. “Gwynn Jones.” D’Oyly Carte Who Was Who. Web. < http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/whowaswho/I-J/JonesGwynn.htm >
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