Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of five awarded to The Reverend D. M. Jones, Army Chaplains’ Department, attached 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, for gallantry attending wounded under heavy fire during an attack on Gouzeaucourt, 18 August 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Rev. D. M. Jones); Defence Medal; Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Rev David M. Jones) mounted as worn, good very fine (5) £800-£1,200

M.C. London Gazette 1 February 1919:
‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion during the attack on Gouzeaucourt on the 18th August, 1918. He was stationed at the R.A.P., and, learning that a number of wounded were lying in “No Man’s Land”, he at once, without a thought of danger for himself, went out to attend the wounded. His cheery determination under heavy fire inspired the whole battalion, and encouraged the stretcher-bearers in their arduous work.’

The Reverend David Morris Jones attested as a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and served with them during the Great War in Salonika from October 1916. He was Commissioned Chaplain in the Army Chaplains’ Department on 30 December 1916.

The Dictionary of Welsh Biography notes:
‘Born 14 March 1887 at Maes-y-groes, Maenan, Caernarfonshire, son of William Maurice and Elisabeth Jones. He was educated at the elementary and free schools in Llanrwst, the University College, Bangor (where he graduated with honours in Welsh and philosophy), Bala College, and Cambridge. He joined the armed forces in 1915, but was recalled from Salonica in 1916 to receive a commission as chaplain to the Welsh regiments in France; he was ordained the same year. He was awarded the M.C. for his bravery whilst administering to the wounded. He was minister of Gorffwysfa, Skewen (1920-24), Blaenau Ffestiniog (1924-29), and Trinity, Swansea (1929-34) before being appointed Professor of the philosophy of religion and history of religions at the Theological College, Aberystwyth, where he remained until he retired in 1953. In 1916 he married Esther Ann Williams, Pwllheli, and they had two sons and two daughters. He died 8 October 1957, during his year of office as Moderator of the Association in the South.
Morris was a thorough scholar. He became president of the theology section of the Guild of Graduates of the University of Wales, and was the first editor of its periodical Diwinyddiaeth. The Davies Lecture (in Welsh) delivered by him in 1953 on ‘God the Creator and God the Saviour’ was not published. He published Llên a dysgeidiaeth Israel hyd gwymp Samaria (1929), Efengyl Ioan a'i Hystyr (1944), and a commentary on the first epistle to the Corinthians (1952).’