A NEW memorial plaque for a Colchester war hero who fought in the Napoleonic War has been unveiled in the city.

Captain Jesse Jones fought at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and had a distinguished military career in the early nineteenth century fighting against France under Napoleon.

A memorial plaque commemorating the life of Cpt Jones was officially unveiled on Friday, October 21.

During the Battle of Waterloo, Cpt Jones was wounded in the chest by a musket ball.

During his later life, while living in Colchester, he would recount his war exploits by displaying the actual musket ball to other residents.

Cpt Jones served for almost 21 years, from June 1804 until retiring in April 1823, where he became the administrative officer in the East Essex Militia with the rank of captain.

Cpt Jones died in 1868, aged 81, and was buried in St Botolph’s churchyard. Years of weathering left the gravestone illegible, leading Colchester Civic Society and Colchester Council to install the plaque.

The new bronze plaque installed on his grave was unveiled under the presence of mayor Tim Young, the Right Reverend Roger Morris, the Bishop of Colchester, and members of the Civic society, council and Garrison.