Ben Jones

At Tokyo in 1964, Sergeant Ben Jones of the King’s Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery became the first NCO to represent Great Britain in the Olympic equestrian events. At the Tokyo Games, Britain was eliminated in the team event but individually Jones finished a commendable ninth. Four years later in Mexico City, Jones improved to place fifth in the individual event and won a gold medal in the team event. He was a regular member of the British team and won gold medals at the European Championships in 1967 and 1969. For many years, Ben Jones was the staff sergeant in charge of equitation of the King’ss Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery at St. John’s Wood in London. In 1968 he was posted to The Royal Army Veterinary Corp and later on being commissioned he transferred into the General Service Corps and took charge of training of the RAVC re-mount depot at Melton Mowbray. Having then retired from army service Ben Jones died in a tragic accident whilst schooling a young horse.