Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A remarkable family group to three brothers all of whom were killed or died of wounds during the Great War:

Private Theophilis Jones, 18th (Pals) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, killed in the bombardment of Hartlepool on 16 December 1914, the first soldier to be killed on British soil by enemy action in the Great War

British War Medal 1914-20 (295 Pte. T. Jones. Durh. L.I.) in named card box of issue with forwarding slip and registered packet addressed to his mother, Mrs L. Jones, together with several local news cuttings and a Book of Common Prayer presented to him on 2 October 1914 by his pupils, this deeply embedded with a piece of iron shrapnel and khaki uniform

Private Alfred Jones, 18th (Pals) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, killed in action at Gavrelle, Arras on 3 May 1917

British War and Victory Medals (18-1419 Pte. A. Jones. Durh. L.I.) in named card boxes of issue with named forwarding slips addressed to Mrs L. Jones

Sergeant Herbert ‘Bert’ Jones, 1st Grenadier Guards, who received the Royal Victorian Bronze Medal for services with the King’s Company at the funeral of King Edward VII, and who was mortally wounded whist winning the D.C.M. in October 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11916 Sjt: H. Jones. 1/G. Gds:); 1914 Star, with clasp (11916 Pte. H. Jones. 1/G. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (11916 Sjt. H. Jones. G. Gds.) the last three with named card boxes of issue; Royal Victorian Medal, E.VII.R., Bronze, unnamed as issued, together with Buckingham Palace certificate for R.V.M., a ‘Pass’ dated 5 September 1914 signed by Edward, Prince of Wales, then a Major in the regiment, and associated news cuttings, the R.V.M. a little polished, therefore very fine, otherwise all medals extremely fine (8) £1400-1800

Theophilis Jones resigned from his position as Headmaster of the Thringstone Church Day School on 2 October 1914 in order to enlist into the 18th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. According to one of the accompanying news cuttings, ‘Shortly after the outbreak of the war he returned north and joined the “Pals” Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. He was on guard at the Lighthouse Battery, Hartlepool, when the bombardment commenced. One of the first shells fired dropped right among the guard, killing five of the men outright.’ He is buried in Stranton Cemetery, Hartlepool, and is widely recognised as being the first British soldier to be killed by enemy fire, on mainland Britain.

There was a report, printed on Christmas Day 1914 of a remarkable circumstance concerning the death of Mr Jones:

‘A prayer book given to the late schoolmaster on leaving Thringstone was pierced by a piece of shell. The deceased was carrying the book in the breast pocket of his tunic and but for the other wounds the book would have saved his life. The iron fragment of the shell penetrated about halfway through the book which is of a fair thickness, and also firmly adhered to the cover of the book was a piece of khaki cloth from the tunic, held by the shell.’

Medal Index Card confirms sole entitlement of the British War Medal.

Alfred Jones, Private, 18th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action on 3 May 1917, and is commemorated by name on the Arras Memorial. He was aged 27, son of Mrs Leslie Jones, of 44, Ashgrove Avenue, West Hartlepool. Accompanied by a small photograph taken in France, the back inscribed ‘Gavrelle. The place where the 18th DLI and 15th West Yorks were wiped out. May 3/1917’.

Herbert Jones was awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in bronze for services when a Private in the King’s Company, 1st Grenadier Guards, at the funeral of King Edward VII. The award of the D.C.M. was announced in the London Gazette of 4 March 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as acting C.S.M. during an advance. Company headquarters was set on fire by an enemy sniper, who hit some Very lights, and all personnel had to evacuate to shell holes. He dashed into the fire and endeavoured to pull off the burning part of the building, in spite of the Very lights going off all around him and the fire of the sniper, until hit in the wrist. After having his wound dressed he at once returned to work on the fire, undoubtedly saving many lives. He was afterwards wounded in the back.’

Sergeant Herbert Jones died of wounds on 15 October 1917, and is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery. He was aged 31, son of Mrs Leslie Jones, of 44, Ashgrove Avenue, West Hartlepool.

Mrs Leslie Jones - a final [undated] news cutting announcing the death of Mrs Leslie Jones states:

‘MOTHERS TRIPLE LOSS RECALLED. The death of Mrs Jones of Ashgrove Avenue, will recall to the minds of many West Hartlepool people her three sons, all of whom lost their lives in the Great War. Perhaps Theo was the best known. A member of the staff of St Aidan’s School for many years, a keen sportsman, and a member of West Hartlepool Cricket Club, he joined the 18th Durhams soon after the outbreak of the war and was killed in the bombardment of the Hartlepools. Alf, another popular figure, also joined the 18th Durhams and was killed at Mons, 1916, and Bert while serving in the Grenadier Guards, died from wounds in a hospital in Boulogne. Even after her great loss, Mrs Jones never failed to help and sympathise with others. Her quiet generous nature was admired by all who knew her. She leaves one daughter to mourn her loss.’