Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Vimy Ridge operations M.C. group of four awarded to Captain C. W. Jones, Royal Artillery

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse with contemporary engraved inscription, ‘Captain C. W. Jones, 144 Heavy Battery, Vimy Ridge 1917’; 1914-15 Star (2437 Sjt., R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) contact marks, otherwise about very fine or better (4) £500-600

M.C. London Gazette 18 June 1917: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On a dump of cartridges being set on fire by hostile shelling, he immediately went and removed the unfired boxes. His brave action and example under shell fire saved many casualties and much material.’

Charles William Jones, who was born in Surrey in December 1880, enlisted in the Royal Artillery in January 1900 and served in India, Aden and Malta prior to the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, by which stage he had attained the rank of Sergeant.

First entering the French theatre of war in January 1915, with No. 71 (H.B.) R.G.A., Jones was commissioned in the Field in the following August and posted to 139 (H.B.) R.F.A. He returned home later in the same year and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1916 refers).

Advanced to Temporary Lieutenant in July 1916, he went back out to France with 144 (H.B.) R.G.A. about the same time and remained similarly employed until the end of hostilities, attaining the rank of Acting Captain and winning the M.C. Interestingly, his service record reveals him as having been wounded slightly in the hand and leg at Cite St. Pieere, Vimy.

Discharged in December 1919, Jones retained his rank of Captain and ‘served during the emergency in 1921 in the Royal Defence Force.’ He died at the Star & Garter Home at Richmond, Surrey in December 1942.