Jones, Thomas
We regret to record the death of a well-known and distinguished Guy’s man, Professor Thomas Jones, F.R.C.S. and., of Owens College. Mr. Jones was, at the time of his death, Suoerintendent of the Welsh Army Hospital in South Africa, and his loss will be felt not only among his friends at home but on the staff of that hospital, which has already suffered heavily. We are indebted to the Manchester Guardian for the following biography:-
Mr. Jones, who had not completed his fiftieth year, was the son of Mr. Favid Jones, of Derlwyn, near Camarthen, who was a justice of the peace for the county. The elder Mr. Jones was instrumental, through his love for education, in establishing Derlwyn College, where Mr. Thomas Jones and a great many other Welshmen who have distinguished themselves in after- life, were students. Mr. Jones pursued his education at the Normal Collegeat Swansea, passed the London Matriculation examination, and afterwards began what proved to be a mist distinguished career. His professional studies were begun at the Northern Hospital, Liverpool in 1865, and continued at Guy’s Hospital, London, where he remained for six years. During this time he passé the respective examinations for the degree of bachelor of Medicine, obtaing honours in anatomy and the gold medal in chemistry and materia medica at the first M.B. examination (1872) and receiving honours in medicine, besides qualifying for the gold medal in midwifery at the second examination. He came to Manchester to take up the appointment of house-surgeon to the Royal Infirmary in 1872, and was pathological registrar from 1873 to 1876. In 1875 he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. From 1876 to 1879 he was surgical registrar at the Royal Infirmary, and in the latter year he took his Batchelor of Surgery degree, being placed first in honours. He was appointed assistant surgeon at the Royal Infirmary in 1879, and on the death of Mr.Bradley in 1880, he was appointed full honorary surgeon. This office he held at the time of his death. From 1874 to 1880 he was surgeon at the children’s Hospital, Pendlebury. In the work of this exceedingly useful institution he took the keenest interest. He was indeed largely instrumental in making it one of the first hospitals for children in the kingdom, and on this account if no other, Manchester people owe him a deep meed of thankfulness.
On his resignation of the office of honorary surgeon to the hospital he was appointed its consulting surgeon. In 1880 he was appointed lecturer on practical and operative surgery at Owen’s College, and in 1892 he accepted the chair of surgery at the College. Amongst other honorary positions held by Mr. Jones, and filled with unfailing activity was that of surgeon to the Cancer Pavilion and Home. From the commencement of his career Professor Jones secured the complete confidence of the medical profession, and he very rapidly acquired an extensive and honourable practice. It would not, indeed, be too much to claim for him that at the time of his departure to South Africa he had one of the largest surgical practices in the provinces. He was acknowledged to be a sound diagnostician and a most intrepid and skilful operator. He had filled the position of president of the Manchester Medical Society, and his contributions to the medical journals were numerous and important. He was also the author of a standard work on diseases of the bones, published in 1887. Guy’s Hospital Gazette 7 July 1900
Professor Thomas Jones, F.R.C.S., died of enteric at Springfontein. He was the chief of the Welsh Military Hospital in South Africa, a professor of Owens College, a leading honorary member of the Manchester Infirmary and Hospital Staff, and a renowned operator. After leaving Guy’ s Hospital he settled in Manchester. When the Welsh Hospital was formed, Professor Jones was asked to take charge of it, which position he accepted and proceeded to South Africa. In mentioning his services F.-M. Earl Roberts in his despatch, L.G., April 16th 1901, states “ that none but those on the spot can realise how much the Welsh Hospital under Professors Jones and Hughes, contributed to the comfort and well-being of the sick and wounded. The Last Post, Mildred Dooner
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Jones |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Thomas |
| Date of birth | 1848 |
| Place of birth | Derlwyn, Carmarthenshire |
| Family details | Son of David Jones |
| College | Guy's Hospital |
| Qualifications | M.B., F.R.C.S. |
| War / conflict | Second Boer War (1899-1902) |
| Date of death | 18-Jun-00 |
| Rank at death | Chief of the Welsh Military Hospital in South Africa |
| Cause of death | Enteric fever |
| Burial place | Springfontein |
| Commemoration(s) | Guy’ s Hospital |
| Notes | On December 10th, a bronze medallion portrait of the late Professor Tom Jones, which has been placed in Owen’s College Medical School, was unveiled in the presence of a large gathering of friends and students. Guy’s Hospital Gazette 4 January 1902 |
| Sources | Guy’ s Hospital Medical School Records, King’ s College London Archives; The Last Post |