A scarce Waziristan 1919-20 operations O.B.E. group of nine awarded to Major W. A. Jones, 21st Lancers, late Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1919-21 (Maj., 21 Lrs.); Defence and War Medals; Medaille de la Reconnaissance Francaise, bronze; Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem, Knight Companionate of Merit’s set of insignia, neck badge and breast star, by Toye, Kenning & Spencer, London, gilt and enamel, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, the fourth with officially re-impressed naming, very fine and better (17) £700-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Tom Gustard Collection of Medals & Militaria and to the 21st Lancers.

View
Collection

O.B.E. London Gazette 10 June 1921:

‘For valuable services rendered in the Field with the Waziristan Force.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 1 August 1920 (Waziristan) and 3 August 1920 (Afghanistan).

William Angus Jones was originally commissioned into the 8th Battalion, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry from the Bristol O.T.C. in March 1916, having already served in the ranks of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Yeomanry and the North Somerset Yeomanry. Later that year, however, he transferred to the Reserve Regiment of Cavalry, and in August joined the 21st Lancers out in India. He was subsequently employed as a Staff and Intelligence Officer in the Waziristan and Afghanistan operations 1919-21, services that resulted in the award of his O.B.E. and a brace of “mentions”. Jones, who resigned his commission in the rank of Major in 1920, was awarded the Medaille de la Reconnaissance in 1946, having served as Honorary Secretary of the S.W. England Branch of the Friends of the French Volunteers Organisation in the 1939-45 War.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s O.B.E. warrant, dated 1 August 1920; certificate for his Medaille de la Reconnaissance, dated 23 December 1946; a letter of commendation from the Association Des Francais Libres, dated 18 June 1948, acknowledging his good work for Free French troops based in England; and the Buckingham Palace B.E.M. forwarding letter inscribed to the Major’s second wife, Miss Barbara E. T. Parks.