The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

A Great War D.S.C. group of six awarded to Commander L. J. Pitcairn Jones, Royal Navy, for his distinguished services as a Navigating Officer aboard H.M.S. Cleopatra in the Baltic Sea 1919

Distinguished Service Cross, G.V.R., unnamed, hallmarks for London 1919; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.N.); Defence and War Medals, mounted as worn, good very fine (6) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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D.S.C. London Gazette 8 March 1920. ‘Honours for Services in the Baltic, 1919’ ‘ Lieut. Lewis John Pitcairn Jones, R.N. For distinguished services as Navigating Officer of H.M.S. “Cleopatra.”’

Lewis John Pitcairn Jones was born in Greenwich on 25 March 1890. Joining the training ship Britannia (or Eclipse?) in January 1905, he was appointed a Midshipman in May 1906. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant in August 1909 and Lieutenant in April 1912. In May 1914 he was appointed to the torpedo boat H.M.S. Lyra, then to H.M.S. Mischief in July 1915 and to H.M.S. Gabriel in May 1916. He served throughout the war as a Navigating Officer, being posted to the light cruiser H.M.S. Cleopatra in September 1918. During 1919 H.M.S. Cleopatra was part of a squadron of ships operating against the Russian Bolsheviks in the Baltic Sea. For his services as Navigating Officer, Jones was awarded the D.S.C.

His recommendation by Captain Little of the Cleopatra reads: ‘Has carried out his duties as Lieut (N) of Cleopatra also as Lieut. (N) of same ship while carrying the flag of S.N.O. Baltic in a conspicuously able manner & in the latter capacity especially when the squadron first entered the Eastern Waters of the Gulf of Finland which were infested with mines. He first placed the Baltic Hydrographical Orders on the present basis & arranged the Fleet Destroyers at Revel & Biorko Sound. Was present in practically all engagements with Bolshevik ships and shore parties.’

In March 1920 he was appointed Navigating Officer on H.M.S. Lucia - submarine depot ship for the 11th Submarine Flotilla and in April 1920 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander. In February 1925 he was appointed Navigating Officer on the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Furious in the Atlantic Fleet. Jones retired as a Commander on 1 May 1932. Recalled in 1939, he served ashore in the Tactical, Training and Staff Division of the Admiralty until 1945. Both during and after the war he was employed as a Historian and was a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

With copied service papers; a copied print-out of Jones’s personal log as a Cadet aboard H.M.S. Eclipse, September-December 1905; reproduced photographs of the ships he served aboard; and other copied research.

See lot 567 for the medals awarded to his brother.