Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Chief Stoker J. A. Jones, Royal Navy, who died on 15 November 1918

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (300369 Sto. 1 Cl., H.M.S. Fox); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (300369 Lg. Sto., H.M.S. Fox); 1914-15 Star (300369 S.P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (300369 Act. Ch. Sto., R.N.) extremely fine (5) £280-320

James Arthur Jones was born in Breconshire on 21 August 1882. A Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class on 16 April 1902. He was promoted to Stoker in May 1903 when on the Mersey, to Stoker 1st Class in July 1906 and Leading Stoker in July 1907 when on Powerful. He served on Fox, January 1908-July 1910 but served once more as a Stoker 1st Class, August 1908-February 1909 before regaining his rank as Leading Stoker. In January 1911 he was promoted to Stoker Petty Officer when on Leander. During the war, as Acting Chief Stoker, he served on Blake, the depot ship for the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla at Scapa Flow, serving on the destroyers Brisk and Mounsey; then on Hecla, the depot ship for the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla at Belfast and Buncrana, serving on Mounsey. He attained the rank of Chief Stoker in May 1918. On 16 October 1918 the Mounsey was heavily involved in the rescue operations involving the liner Otranto.

The former armed merchant cruiser was at the time carrying troops from America. On 16 October 1918 in poor visibility and rough seas she collided with the S.S. Kashmir off the north coast of Islay. Losing her steering and in a sinking condition, the Mounsey came alongside the Otranto four times to take off survivors. On the second occasion the Mounsey was damaged with a large amount of water entering the engine room (where Jones would have been). The Otranto eventually drifted ashore and became a total wreck. The loss of life was heavy, 431 persons were lost (351 American soldiers and 80 crew); 367 were saved - many by the Mounsey. For his courage and seamanship, the Mounsey’s captain, Lieutenant F. W. Craven was awarded the British D.S.O. and American D.S.M.

Chief Stoker Jones was posted to Vivid II on 1 November 1918 and died of pneumonia in the War Hospital Chester on 15 November 1918, aged 36 years. He was buried in St. Mary’s Church Cemetery, Tenby. He was the son of William and Sarah Jones of 1 Upper Park Road, Tenby. With original Admiralty slip to accompany the 1914-15 Star trio; copied service records and other research.