Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-war B.E.M. group of five awarded to J. C. J. Jones, late Able Seaman, Royal Navy and a senior draughtsman in the Royal Navy Hydrographic Department

British Empire Medal (Civil) E.II.R. (John Charles Joseph Jones) in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; copy Arctic Star; War Medal 1939-45; Russia 40 Year Commemorative Medal of the Great Patriotic War, as awarded to veterans of the Arctic Convoy, the last four all unnamed as issued, the first extremely fine, others very fine or better (5) £700-£900

B.E.M. (Civil) London Gazette 15 June 1974: ‘John Charles Joseph Jones, Higher Grade Cartographic Draughtsman, Ministry of Defence’.

John Charles Joseph Jones was born on 26 September 1914, in Willesden, London. He was the son of Joseph and Margaret Jones.During the Second World War he joined the Royal Navy on 12 September 1941, at the age of almost 27. As an Admiralty civil servant in Chart Depots he was probably in a ‘reserved occupation’ so was not called up earlier. Although also described as an Able Seaman, the inference from his badge is that he was a telegraphist, his Official Number was P/JX 291871. His identity disc records him as an Ordinary Seaman. He served in the Hydrographic Department of the Admiralty from 1939 but also must have had an appointment at sea in the Royal Navy (ships not known). His war medals were sent to him at an address at Stonehouse, Plymouth, suggesting that he was then working at the Devonport Chart Depot. Following the Second World War he returned to his pre-war occupation in Chart depots of the Royal Navy Hydrography Department. He retired in 1974, at the age of 60, and in the Birthday Honours list of 1974, he was awarded the British Empire Medal which he receive on 11 October 1974 from Vice Admiral Sir Peter White at the Ministry of Defence. He died at the Musgrove Park Hospital on 15 September 1994, aged almost 80, and was living in North Petherton, near Bridgwater, in the Taunton Deane district, which suggests that his last posting may have been in the R.N. Hydrographic Office at Taunton.
An accompanying Press cutting relating to the award of the B.E.M. states: “John is a higher grade cartographic draughtsman and joined the Hydrographic Department, Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy, as a chart depot assistant in 1939, and except for wartime service in the Royal Navy, he has remained in the department since. The citation said that throughout his service he had maintained the highest standards of technical proficiency.

The Arctic Star is a copy.