A good Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain L. J. Kent-Jones, 23rd (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment, for his gallantry during an enemy liquid fire attack on 9 November 1917, in which he was severely wounded

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse contemporarily engraved ‘2nd. Lt. L. J. Kent-Jones 23rd London Regt. 9th Nov. 1917’; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. L. J. Kent-Jones.); Defence Medal, contemporarily named ‘Capt. L. J. Kent-Jones, M.C.’, mounted as worn, suspension ring on VM replaced, good very fine (4) £1,200-£1,600

M.C. London Gazette, 18 July 1918.
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After a heavy bombardment, the enemy attacked in large numbers, using liquid fire, and penetrating into a portion of the post. He instantly organised a party and counter-attacked, driving them back. Although severely wounded, he remained on duty until our original sentry posts were re-established. His courage, leadership and example to the men were splendid.’

Lionel John Kent-Jones was born in Camberwell, Surrey on 5 June 1888. A clerk working for London County Council, he attested for service with the 1/2nd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment for service during the Great War, and briefly served on the Western Front from 28 June 1916, before being selected for a commission and returning home. Commissioned into the 21st Battalion, London Regiment, he returned to the Western Front and was immediately transferred to the 1/23rd (County of London) Battalion, with whom he was awarded the Military Cross whilst serving in the Bourlon Wood area.

Kent-Jones’s personal typewritten life story states, ‘On the 9th December at about 6.30 a.m., after a heavy bombardment, the enemy, using flame-throwers, penetrated into a part of our post but they were driven back by us. The enemy’s attack was resumed from time to time all day but they were repeatedly driven off. It was not found possible to get reinforcements through to the garrison of the post but at nightfall the remnants of the company, then about 30 strong only, withdrew to a position at the rear of the post. Here again, the Company Commander who had succeeded Captain Entwisle was awarded a D.S.O. for gallantry, after having been recommended, as Entwisle had been, for a V.C. (I also got a decoration in my case an M.C.). I was severely wounded in this ‘show’ in the right arm and was later evacuated to a Red Cross Hospital at Rouen about a fortnight before Christmas’.

A few pages later he wrote, ‘And so, on one fine day in September 1918, accompanied by my wife, I presented myself at Buckingham Palace... Eventually, I reached the dais. I stood rigidly at attention in front of the Sovereign looking straight to my front, saluting with my left hand, because my right arm was still out of action. Then I heard a voice say ‘won’t you shake hands with me?’ I quickly made my apologies to the King and was then warmly shaken by the left hand and was asked about the state of my wound. What the spectators thought about this little incident, I of course, don’t know. Perhaps they thought I had got onto the dais by mistake!’

Post-War Kent-Jones worked for the Ministry of Pensions and served as a Firewatcher during the early part of the London Blitz, before being posted to Lancashire. In 1945, he resigned from the Civil Service, to train to fulfil his ambition to be called to the Bar. He died, aged 82, in Croydon, Surrey, on 19 July 1970.

Sold with a detailed and interesting personal 142 page life story, addressed to his son, dated 1970; a photograph of the recipient in Barrister’s robes; and the recipient’s binoculars in the remains of an initialled leather case.