Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Chief Blacksmith T. E. Jones, Royal Navy

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (342270 T. E. Jones, Blksth., H.M.S. Diana); 1914-15 Star (342270 T. E. Jones, Blk. 2, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (342270 T. E. Jones, Blk. 1, R.N.); Defence Medal 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (342270 T. E. Jones, Blksth 1 Cl., H.M.S. Blake), together with a Royal Ancient Order of the Buffaloes (R.A.O.B.) badge, silver-gilt, the reverse inscribed to the recipient for rendering first aid and saving life on 16 March 1929, one or two edge bruises, generally very fine and better (7) £300-350

Thomas Evan Jones was born in Llanelly, Carmarthen in August 1879 and entered the Royal Navy as a Blacksmith’s Mate in August 1898. Advanced to Blacksmith in February 1906, he served in the cruiser H.M.S. Diana from November 1908 until February 1911, in which period he witnessed active service off Somaliland (Medal & clasp). As it transpired, Jones was again serving in the Diana on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914 and remained similarly employed until removing to the Cornwall in April 1916, in which latter ship he participated in convoy escort duties until coming ashore to Vivid II in March 1917. His final wartime seagoing appointment was in the light cruiser Cassandra from April 1918 and he was similarly employed when she struck a mine in the Baltic less than a month after the Armistice. Among the survivors, he came ashore for a final time as a Chief Blacksmith in September 1920 and - after an old “Good” conduct assessment was re-graded as “Very Good” - he was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal in July 1921; sold with copied service record.