Orders, Decorations and Medals

The mounted group of twelve miniature dress medals named to Brigadier N. Hugh-Jones, Indian Army, late Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Military Cross, G.V.R.;1914 Star; British War and Victory Medals, these four named, ‘Captn. N. Hugh-Jones, 4th R.W.F.’; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, named ‘Capt. N. Hugh-Jones, 53rd Sikhs F.F.’; India General Service 1936-39, 2 clasps, Northwest Frontier 1936-37, Northwest Frontier 1937-39; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; India Service and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Jubilee 1935, mounted court-style as worn; together with a Royal Humane Society Medal, small, bronze, successful, named, ‘Cadet N. Hugh-Jones’, with bronze buckle on ribbon, fine and better (12) £240-280

Noel Hugh-Jones was born in Wrexham on 24 March 1894 and educated at Colet House, Rhyl and Radley College, Berkshire. Hugh-Jones was commissioned in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers T.F. and served in France between 5 November 1914 and 10 October 1916. He was wounded in the left groin on 7 June 1915. In July 1916 Hugh-Jones was nominated as a Gentleman-Cadet at the the Indian Army College, Wellington, Madras. En-route to India, the S.S. City of Birmingham was torpedoed by a German submarine in the Mediterranean. For his heroism in rescuing survivors and freeing a life-boat he received the Royal Humane Society Medal. He completed a six-month course at Wellington, winning the ‘Sword of Honour’ and was commissioned into the 53rd Sikhs. He then served in Palestine, March-October 18, where he won the Military Cross (London Gazette 3 June 1919). Hugh-Jones served on the North-West Frontier in 1919, and then again into 1938, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 18 February 1938). He was made Temporary Brigadier and formed the 48th Gurkha Brigade at Secunderabad in October 1941. It went to Burma as part of the new 17th Division and there found itself a player in one of the most tragic events of the war. As C.O. of the 48th Gurkha Brigade, Hugh-Jones, with Major-General John G. Smyth, V.C., M.C., G.O.C. 17th Division, was a key figure in the disaster of the demolition of the Sittang River Bridge to block the Japanese advance on Rangoon in February 1942. The bridge was blown prematurely, trapping most of the 48th Gurkha Brigade (1/3 and 1/4 Gurkha Rifles, 2/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles) on the east side of the river. Those trapped were either killed or captured. As a result of the disaster, General Smyth was reduced to Colonel, relieved and dismissed from the British Army; Hugh-Jones was returned to staff duty as Deputy Director General of Recruiting, and retired in 1946. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 28 October 1942, 17 December 1942). After trying unsuccessfully to be court martialled to clear his name, Hugh-Jones drowned at East Preston on 10 June 1952. Although an excellent swimmer the coroner ruled his death an ‘accident’. In 1958 the Official History exonerated both Hugh-Jones and General Smyth of blame.

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