Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

‘The exploit of swimming the Jordan was one of great gallantry, as well as picturesque and historic, and the names of the men taking part will long be remembered as adding to the Regiment’s roll of honour.’

The Second Nineteenth, by Major F. W. Eames, refers.

A scarce Great War Palestine operations M.C. group of four awarded to 2nd Lieutenant G. E. Jones, London Regiment, who was decorated for his gallantry in leading the crossing of the River Jordan in March 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Lieut. G. E. Jones, The Jordan, 21/22.III.18’; 1914-15 Star (1670 Pte. G. E. Jones, 21-Lond. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. G. E. Jones), contained in an old fitted velvet-lined case, good very fine (4) £1200-1500

M.C. London Gazette 16 September 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the forcing of a river, he swam across by night, with ten other ranks, and in spite of great difficulties superintended the transport of the remainder of the Battalion by raft. Throughout the night and day he set a very fine example, and the success of the venture was due in large measure to his courage and resource.’

Griffiths Ellis Jones enlisted in the London Regiment shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, and went out to France as a Private in 21st Battalion in mid-March 1915. Subsequently commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion in October 1917, he was attached to the 2/19th Battalion in Palestine, in which theatre of war, as cited, he won his M.C. for the crossing of the Jordan.

Of his trail-blazing exploits on the Jordan on the night of 21-22 March 1918, The Second Nineteenth by Major F. W. Eames states:

‘About midday on 20th March the battalion began to move down to the river valley. Our Brigade was to force the crossing, and the task allotted to the Battalion was to get over at Makhadet-Hajlah, while 2/17th made a similar attempt at Ghoraniyeh. The river was unfordable and running fast, so the first crossing had to be effected by swimmers carrying a line by which a raft was to be pulled backwards and forwards. For this task Second Lieutenant G. E.Jones, of ‘A’ Company, was selected as leader and a small party of volunteers was made up.’

Eames continues:

‘On the evening of the 21st the Battalion moved down to the river. ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies halted within a hundred yards of the bank, with ‘B’ in support and ‘D’ in reserve near Battalion Headquarters. Besides the two genuine attempts to cross, several feints were made at points up and down the stream from about midnight onwards. The attempt at Ghoraniyeh began at this hour, but the strength of the river was too great and the swimmers could not get across. By 1 a.m., when our own attempt was to be made, there was a considerable amount of enemy rifle and machine-gun fire going on, but luckily they had little idea of what was happening and the firing was quite at random. The position was critical, but Lieutenant Jones with his gallant party, composed of Corporal Margrave, Lance-Corporal Henderson, Lance-Corporal Popham, Lance-Corporal Davis, Lance-Corporal Silver, Pte. Hardwick, Pte. Hoxton and Pte. Powell, succeeded in getting across, swimming with rifles strapped on their shoulders, and with the line they carried the first raft-load was pulled across at 1.20 a.m. Only eight men at a time could be carried on the raft, so it was a slow job getting the battalion over. Lieutenant Mackay, of ‘A’ Company, collected the first few raft-loads together and pushed a little distance into the thick undergrowth to protect as far as possible the crossing of the remainder.

This exploit of swimming the Jordan was one of great gallantry as well as picturesque and historic, and the names of the men taking part will long be remembered as adding to the Regiment's roll of honour. In recognition of their devotion and determination Lieutenant Jones was awarded the Military Cross, Corporal Margrave the Military Medal and Lance-Corporal Popham the French Medaille Militaire. The signallers were able to report the success of the crossing within a few minutes of the event, and in consequence of the failure to get over at Ghoraniyeh, a complete change in the plan took place, and a considerable concentration was made at our crossing point at Makhadet-Hajlah.’

Sold with a copy of Eames’ The Second Nineteenth, and some related research.