Owen Jones

Owen Jones in his Royal Flying Corps uniform. Photograph probably taken 1917 (Source: Australian Forestry Journal circa 1920-22 via Mike Roche). FCRPA Collection.

Owen Jones (1888–1955) was an English forester, wartime aviator, foundation Chairman of the Forests Commission Victoria, conservationist and political casualty.

Jones was in many ways the archetypal colonial forester. Educated at Kingswood School near Bath, he was head of the 1st XI, and the 1st XV rugby teams, and sporting achievement was taken as an indicator of teamwork and a capacity to adapt to arduous forestry work.

Royal Flying Corp In February 1917, after several attempts, Jones resigned to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps as one of Britain's original "Warbirds".

The key principals in the legislation are thought to have been derived from the earlier 1907 Act and include:

conservation, development and utilisation of the indigenous forests, based on sound forestry principals. establishment of adequate exotic softwood plantations. prosecution of essential research work concerning the natural products of the forests. the need for an effective bushfire prevention and bushfire suppression organisation.

The new Commission was intended to be a “corporate and politically semi-independent body” maintained by a fixed annual grant of £40,000 from the Treasury.

A worldwide search began in January 1919 for a candidate for the important new role of FCV Chairman with a salary of £1000 per year and over 100 applications were received.

With an eye to career advancement, Jones chose not to return to Ceylon after the War, and at the age of 32, applied on 3 February 1919 for the Chairmanship of the Forests Commission Victoria.

On 4 July 1919, eight days after receiving notification, he married Elsie Veronica Farmer in London.

By the time Jones arrived in 1919 the small fraternity of foresters often clashed with the powerful Lands Department which sought to release more public land for clearing and settlement.

New Zealand Perpetual Forests Jones had been an early advocate for the value of aerial photography in forestry and of aeroplanes for firefighting. He presented a paper at the State Premiers' conference in Melbourne in 1920 titled “The possibilities of Aerial Photographic surveys for forest purposes”.

Later in New Zealand in 1937, Jones used aircraft to search for fires in plantations and direct fire-fighting efforts.

NZ Forestry Company At the outbreak of World War II Owen Jones joined the NZ Forestry Companies and was appointed Commanding Officer of the 14th Company. They joined up in England with two forestry companies raised in Australia.

However, once in England Jones sought a role that would make fuller use of his experience and forestry skills. He became a photographic interpreter for the Royal Air Force at peaceful Maidenhead on the Thames.

On his return from WW2 Jones remained dedicated to his profession and became a respected figure amongst New Zealand foresters. He was one of the foundation members of the NZ Institute of Foresters in 1928 and later established a Rotorua Branch, and in 1946–48 served as national president of the institute.

He died at Rotorua on the 7 February 1955.