RFA Fort Victoria

Military experience

Captain Shaun Jones joined the RFA as a deck cadet in 1974 at the age of 16. Over the next three years he trained in various Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and simultaneously studied for his professional qualifications at the Plymouth School of Maritime Studies. Following promotion to Third Officer in 1977, he served in Olmeda, Cherryleaf, Sir Galahad and Olna.

He was promoted Second Officer in 1979 and served in a range of RFAs, including Sir Tristram during the Falklands War in 1982. On the 8th June 1982, Sir Tristram was severely damaged and eventually abandoned after heavy Argentinean air attacks at Fitzroy near Bluff Cove. He returned to the UK and resumed his career with a Far East deployment in Pearleaf.

He was awarded his Master Mariner’s Certificate in 1984 and was appointed as Navigator in Grey Rover and subsequently Fort Austin. In 1987 while serving in HMS Manchester he was promoted First Officer and was appointed to PWO Course 76 at HMS Dryad. Qualifying as a PWO(A) in 1988 he went on to serve as the Operations Officer in HMS Bristol throughout 1989. His PWO expertise was put to full operational use in 1990/91 when he served as a Group Warfare Officer on SNOME Staff during the Gulf War in HMS London. On return to the UK, he served as a Staff Warfare Officer to Flag Officer Sea Training in Portland prior to being promoted Chief Officer in 1994 and appointed to the newly formed staff of COMRFA as SO1R7 (Warfare).

On departure COMRFA in 1996, he served as Staff Operations Officer in Fort George during a Barents Sea Patrol. A return to conventional appointments followed in 1997 as Executive Officer in Sir Percivale for the Hong Kong handover. Subsequently, he served as Executive Officer in Fort Victoria, Fort Austin and Sir Bedivere. Early in 2000 he was appointed as SO1(Surface) responsible for UK Strategic Sealift and STUFT Charter policy in the Defence Transport Movements Agency at Andover. Promoted Captain in December 2000 his first Command was Sir Tristram. In 2003, he was awarded a QCVS in recognition of his contribution to Operation Enduring Freedom whilst in Command of Bayleaf, the Gulf Ready Tanker. Other Sea Commands have included Wave Ruler, Cardigan Bay, Sir Bedivere, Gold Rover, Brambleleaf, Argus, Grey Rover and Diligence.

A Younger Brother of Trinity House, Freeman of the City of London, Liveryman of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners and the St Barbara Association, Captain Jones is married to Stephanie, a qualified solicitor. He is keen on outdoor activities especially photography.