Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual Welsh 'Dysynni Valley Foxhounds rescue' Our Dumb Friends League Medal awarded to Mr. G. V. Jones, a local farmer who braved bitter and windy December weather for many hours at 2,900 feet altitude in order to effect the rescue of a couple of hounds trapped on an exposed ledge

Our Dumb Friends League Medal, silver (Griffith. V. Jones. For Conspicuous Courage in rescuing dogs from a precipice. 1927.) with top wearing pin, in fitted case of issue; together with the original rare named award certificate, extremely fine £600-£800

Griffith Vaughan Jones worked as a young sheep farmer at Erw Goed at the time of the rescue. Known today as a popular starting point for the exploration of southern Snowdonia, in 1926 the Welsh valleys caught the attention of the UK press as home to three young farmers, willing to brave the worst of the pre-Christmas weather in order to save the hounds. The Weekly Dispatch (London) of 26 December 1926, describes events: 

'Men lowered from Precipice Top
Cader Idris, the Merionethshire mountain, has been the scene of a gallant feat by three farmers, who rescued foxhounds imprisoned for three days on a ledge.
The Dysynni Valley Foxhounds, while hunting Cader Idris range, scented a fox at the foot of the mountain. The fox made for the summit, which was thickly covered by fog, and cleverly eluded the hounds on the edge of a precipice. The hounds were following hard and four of them dashed over the precipice. After three days' search two of the hounds were found dead, and the other two were found to be alive and imprisoned on a ledge two feet wide and 200 yards from the top of the precipice. Messrs. Arthur Jones, John Tudor, of Penant Farm, and Griffith V. Jones, of Erw Farm, volunteered to rescue the animals. With ropes round their waists they were lowered over the precipice and at risk to their lives they brought the foxhounds to safety.'

Though suffering greatly from exposure, the men returned the two foxhounds to their pack kennels. Interestingly, the mountain range later caught the attention of the Western Mail following a similar rescue in October 1949; using ropes, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Thomas M. Roberts of Dolgelley, lowered himself onto a narrow and precipitous ledge to rescue a trapped climber. The feat in near identical conditions earned him the B.E.M. and the Stanhope Gold Medal for what was judged to be the bravest deed of 1949.