Orders, Decorations and Medals

A good Great War R.R.C. group of five awarded to Matron K. C. Jones, Territorial Force Nursing Service, who, having won a “mention” and the A.R.R.C. for her part in nursing Gallipoli’s wounded, further distinguished herself on the occasion of the mining of the S.S. Tyndareus off South Africa in February 1917

Royal Red Cross, 1st Class (R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver-gilt, gold and enamel, privately engraved on the reverses of the four arms, ‘Katherine’ ‘Conway’ ‘Jones’ ‘1917’; Royal Red Cross, 2nd Class (A.R.R.C.), G.V.R., silver and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Sister K. C. Jones, T.F.N.S.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Sister K. C. Jones), very fine and better (5)
£800-1000

R.R.C. London Gazette 14 June 1917:

‘For gallantry and meritorious service on the occasion of the mining of a hospital ship.’

Katherine Conway Jones served as a Nursing Sister in the Territorial Force Nursing Service in support of the Gallipoli operations and was mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch, dated 11 December 1915 (London Gazette 5 May 1916, refers), in addition to being appointed A.R.R.C. for like services (London Gazette 2 May 1916, refers).

Subsequently advanced to Matron, she won the R.R.C. for her gallant and meritorious services on the occasion of the mining of the S.S. Tyndareus off Cape Agulhas, South Africa on 6 February 1917. The mine - laid by the German raider Wolf - caused a terrific explosion and the ship rapidly began to fill with water and go down by the head. Nonetheless, the embarked troops, around a 1,000 men of the 25th (Garrison) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, paraded on deck in an orderly fashion and, as a consequence, the boats were lowered without mishap and not a single life was lost; nor, in fact, the stricken Tyndareus, which was eventually coaxed into Simonstown.

H.M. The King sent the survivors a congratulatory message in which he voiced his admiration for their courage and discipline - ‘which worthily upheld the splendid tradition of the Birkenhead, ever cherished in the annals of the British Army.’