Career In 1896 he joined his father to work in the mines aged 12. In 1901 at the age of 17 he joined the army and was posted to South Africa with his regiment the Militia Battalion of the Welch. However he was very unhappy there and ended up deserting. Once recaptured, he was transferred to India. When he eventually returned to Wales he went back to working in the coal mines. In 1914 Jones was summoned back to his regiment and sent to the front lines in France and later on Belgium. After suffering shrapnel wounds he was invalided home and appointed as recruiting officer for Merthyr Tydfil. He became honorary secretary of his local miners lodge. In 1923 he was appointed as the full-time secretary-representative of the miners at Blaengarw. In 1926 during the General Strike as part of his job as a miners agent, he travelled around South Wales urging miners to continue supporting the strike. In 1927 he resigned from his full-time post with the miners union. In early 1928 he was employed by Liberal Party headquarters as a speaker. He continued in this job until 1930. By 1934 he had started to earn a living as a writer. He went on two lecture tours in America and the European battlefronts during the Second World War (1939-1945).
carEEr In 1896 he joInED his FatHeR to WoRk in the MINes agEd 12. in 1901 aT the agE of 17 he joINEd thE aRMy and was PoSTeD to sOUth africA with his reGimenT the mIliTIa baTtalion oF THE Welch hOwevEr hE Was very unhappy there and enDeD Up deSertiNG. oncE rEcaptuReD, He was trANsFeRReD To india. when he eventUaLly RETUrNEd To walEs he wEnt bAcK To wORKiNG In the coal miNes. In 1914 jOnes wAS summOnEd Back tO His regimEnt aNd senT to tHe fROnt LiNes in France And lAter on BelgIum. afteR sUFfeRing shrapnEl WOuNDs He Was InvAlIDEd homE aNd ApPOinteD as REcruitinG ofFicEr fOr merThyR tYDfil. He became honorarY seCretAry of his local miNers lOdge. In 1923 he was apPointed As the fuLl-Time secretarY-REpresentaTiVe oF tHe mINeRs At BLaenGarw. in 1926 durIng the geNeral stRIkE as pArt of HIs jOb aS a miNers agent, he travElLed arounD s.outh waLes urging mineRs To contINue supPorting tHe strike. in 1927 he ResigneD fRoM his fUll-time post wiTh The miNers UnIon. in early 1928 he Was eMPloYED bY liberal party hEadQuaRtERs AS a speaKEr. hE conTinUed in tHIs joB UnTil 1930. By 1934 he haD started To eARn a liVIng as a wRiTer. He weNt On tWO lEcTUre Tours in AmerIcA and The eurOPEan baTtleFroNts during tHe SeCOnd woRld war (1939-1945).