Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1917 ‘Ypres’ M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal H. Jones, 37th Battery, 10 Australian Field Artillery Brigade, late 6th Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force. He received a gunshot wound to the face, 8 August 1918

Military Medal, G.V.R. (1852 Dvr: H. Jones. 37/By: Aust: F.A.); 1914-15 Star (275 Pte. H. Jones. 6 LHR A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (275 A/Cpl. H. Jones 6 LHR. A.I.F.) VM partially officially corrected, very fine (4) £700-£900

M.M. London Gazette 4 February 1918. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. East of Ypres, on the 25th October 1917, during the advance of the Batteries from Birr Cross Roads to Bellewarde, Driver H. Jones, who was in charge of the Leading Gun team, by his courage and devotion to duty, succeeded in getting his gun into position under very heavy shell fire and across almost impassable ground. His sterling work under very heavy fire and very adverse condition not only permitted his gun to get into action, and be registered at a very critical time, but also set a splendid example to his comrades.’

Harry Jones was born in Nyngan, New South Wales, in 1892, and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 13 September 1914. He was posted for service with the 6th Light Horse, and had to return from Egypt to Australia due to illness in August 1915.

Jones re-attested in December 1915, and transferred to the 12th Australian Field Artillery Brigade. He served with the 37th Battery as part of the 10th Australian Field Artillery Brigade 4th Australian Division in the French theatre of war from February 1917.

Jones was awarded the M.M. for his gallantry during a Battery advance under heavy fire from Birr Cross Roads to Bellewarde, Ypres, 25 October 1917. He received a gunshot wound to the face, 8 August 1918, and returned to Australia is S.S. Windhuk. Jones was discharged 24 January 1920, and died in October 1951.