Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant E. D. Jones, Royal Air Force, late Army Cyclist Corps and Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in action while serving as a pilot in No. 10 Squadron in Flanders on 2 April 1918

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., A. Cyc. Corps); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut., R.A.F.); Memorial Plaque (Evan Davies Jones) extremely fine (4) £800-1000

Lieutenant Evan Davies Jones was born in January 1893, the son of Sir Evan Davies Jones, Bt., and his wife, Cecilia Ann Jones, of Pentower, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire.

Having been commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Cyclist Corps direct from the O.T.C. shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, Jones witnessed active service in France during the course of 1915-16.

Transferring to the Royal Flying Corps as an Observer in the latter year, he was posted to No. 2 Squadron and flew operationally in the period December 1916 to April 1917. Returning to the home establishment to undertake pilot training, he duly gained his ‘Wings’ and rejoined No. 2 in October but was hospitalised in early December, when he was found ‘unfit for any service’ and sent home on leave.

Jones returned to an operational footing in mid-February 1918, when he joined No. 10 Squadron, in which capacity he flew at least 20 sorties prior to his death in action on 2 April. In a letter to his father, Major Keith Murray, O.C. No. 10 Squadron, provided details of his son’s death:

‘I am very sorry to have to tell you of the death of your son Evan Davies Jones on April 2nd. He and his Observer left the ground at 12.30 p.m. on Counter-Attack Patrol, and from all evidence we can gather he had dived down on some target in the enemy lines. At any rate, he was flying very low, and was heavily fired at by enemy machine-guns. He was seen to turn back, partly shut off his engine, and glide back into our own lines. When so low that their heads could be seen, the pilot seemed to disappear, as tho' he had fainted and fallen forward, and the machine at once dived straight into the ground. A party of Infantry were within a few yards, and a Medical Officer also, but they found the machine totally wrecked and both occupants dead - undoubtedly killed at once. They were buried yesterday at the Cemetery at Remy, about one mile south of Poperinghe. Jones had many friends in this Squadron whom he knew before he came here - They all wish me to offer their sincerest sympathy.’

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including a telegram dated 5 April 1918 with the news of Lieutenant Jones’s death; another telegram, dated 24 April 1918 from the Keeper of the Privy Seal, passing on the condolences of the King and Queen to Sir E. D. Jones; Air Ministry letter dated 6 April 1918 informing Sir E. D. Jones of the death of his son; a letter to Sir E. D. Jones from Major Keith Murrary, O.C., 10 Squadron, dated 13 April 1918, giving the particulars of his son’s death; War Office letter to his father concerning his grave, 13 May 1918; a similar letter from the British Red Cross; Director of Graves & Enquiries card with photograph of Lieutenant Jones’s grave cross; commemorative scroll; portrait photograph; and metal and cloth R.F.C. badges for display purposes, together with copied research.