Fifty years on and Eileen can't forget (From Penarth Times)

Fifty years on and Eileen can't forget

AN EMOTIONAL Penarthian has told of her shock after reading in the Penarth Times about a friend who died over fifty years ago.

Eileen Hurley, 74, of John Street, could not believe it when she saw the face of her best friend's brother in 'Search for family of late Marine' (May 16).

We told how Plymouth man, Fred Hayhurst, was searching for the family of Penarthian Marine Peter Jones, who was killed in action in North Korea in 1950, aged 18.

The White Ensign used in Marine Jones' burial service had been discovered in Bridport, Dorset. As a result the Bridport Royal Navy Association, custodian of the White Ensign, had agreed to present it to the Royal Marines, at a ceremony open to family and friends.

Mrs Hurley (nee Fitzgerald) was shown the article by friend Max Scott-Cook. She said: "I cried all day. I've been best friends with his sister Iris since I was eight. She's in Barry Hospital now.

"My sister Kathleen Manley, who's 68, was friends with his sister Pamela and my brother Cyril was friends with Peter. We all lived in Glebe Street." She said: "After Peter died, the US sent a telegram opened by Peter's younger sister Eileen.

"She was very upset and brought it to me. Their mother, who I called Mrs Jones, was working, so I phoned her.

"I've never known a woman take it so calmly. She said make sure they're all right until I come home. She was a wonderful woman, she was like a mother to me."

The White Ensign was sent to the family following the funeral, and was taken to Dorset by Peter's eldest sister Emily, who lived there. It was eventually passed on to the Bridport Royal Navy Association.

Fred Hayhurst said: "The response to your article was immediate, the first telephone call being before 9am on the morning of publication from Peter's sister, Eileen Chick, of Broad Street, Barry.

"I'm now making arrangements to meet relatives of friends of Peter, over 50 years after he was killed."