Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Second Lieutenant L. G. W. S. Jones, 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment, who died of wounds on 20 June 1917

British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut.); Memorial Plaque (Louis Gueret Walter Southwell Jones), extremely fine (3) £250-300

Louis Gueret Walter Southwell Jones was born on 13 January 1898, the only son of Walter Southwell Jones, and his wife, Blanche Louise Southwell Jones, of 27 Harley House, Regent’s Park, London and Bessett, Hampshire. He was educated at Harrow and passed for entry into Magdalene College, Oxford. Commissioned into the 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment in January 1916 and posted to France/Flanders in May 1916. He took part in the battle of the Somme, being at Gommecourt, and, until his death at Lens on 20 June 1917, was continuously on the Western Front except for 10 days leave during January 1917. He was killed while in charge of covering party which was protecting a wiring party engaged on a newly made trench, on the right of the Lens Liévin Road. He was between the trench and the enemy lines which ran through the Cité de Moulin, when the enemy counter-attacked and he was mortally wounded by machine-gun fire. Lieutenant Jones was buried in the Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

His Adjutant wrote to his father: ‘Ever since your son came to this battalion in the field about a year ago, he proved himself a truly gallant officer. His age, good spirits and charming nature endorsed himself to us all, and his death will be a dreadful loss.’

His Company Commander wrote: ‘As his Company Commander I would like to say what a good officer he was; always bright and cheerful and full of pluck. His platoon was devoted to him and would have followed him anywhere.’

A brother officer wrote: ‘Your boy and I came out together last year. We have been in the same Company ever since and have had some very unpleasant times together. He was always a most cheery boy, no matter what had to be done, and I was always glad to have him with me, though I am nearly twice his age. I don’t think he was ever frightened. .... I heard afterwards from the stretcher-bearers that he was more concerned about their safety than his own need. ... He was exceedingly popular with the men, who were always ready to follow him anywhere.’

With copied photograph of the recipient and other research. The medals and plaque in a wooden glazed frame, 33 x 23cm.