Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Persia (M. H. Jones, Midn. Semiramis. S.F.) extremely fine £2500-3000

After taking part in the Persian Expedition as a Midshipman aboard the steam frigate Semiramis, Jones joined the sloop Elphinstone, the crew of which vessel volunteered to join the expedition against Lahej in Arabia, under Brigadier William Coghlan. The events that followed are recorded in C. R. Low’s History of the Indian Navy:

‘As soon as it was known that an Expedition was projected against Lahej, the crew of the Elphinstone, then quartered on shore at Steamer Point, wrote and despatched the following letter, or “round robin,” to Brigadier Coghlan, the original of which we have now lying before us, signed by “all hands,” whose honest Saxon names are familiar to us as those of shipmates:-

“Honoured Sir, We, the Elphinstone’s crew, having heard that there is to be an Expedition against Lahej, humbly beg that you will kindly allow us to serve with the forces (as many of our comrades are doing in India) where we flatter ourselves we might be of use in working the field-pieces or else as infantry, and, Sir, if you will kindly have the kindness to grant our humble petition, we will ever pray for your health and prosperity. Would you allow us to be the forlorn hope as we are living ashore and have got nothing else to do, and
We remain, Sir,
Your most obedient servants.”

The gallant Brigadier was the last man to refuse such a request, and almost the entire ship’s company, under the charge of a lieutenant and two midshipmen, with field-pieces, accompanied the force.

On the 18th of March, 1858, Brigadier Coghlan marched out of Aden with a force of two or three companies of H.M.’s 57th Regiment, a wing of the 29th Bombay Native Infantry, and the detachment of seamen.

The force was unopposed till it arrived within two miles of the village of Sheikh Othman, when the Arabs opened fire under cover of the hillocks, where they had taken up their advanced position. The British main body being halted, the enemy were dislodged from their cover by skirmishers sent out from both flanks, aided by the guns, and a small detachment of horse. This operation discovered about five hundred men, under the command of a brother of the Abdali chief, mostly mounted on camels, who disputed the ground with obstinate bravery and considerable skill, but in less than an hour gave way. Brigadier Coghlan then advanced upon the fort and village, which were quickly stormed by the sailors, the first to enter the village, cutlass in hand, being a gallant young midshipman, Mr Montagu H. Jones, who outran his men, like Achilles, “podosakûs.” (swift of foot) and, heedless of aught but the honour of being “in at the death,” received a wound as he vaulted lightly over the low wall.’

In a footnote Low added: ‘This young officer realized all that Marryat wrote in his wildest imaginings of reckless dare-devil midshipmen. Montagu Hornby Jones would dive off the maintop-gallant yard-arm or under the ship’s bottom, and perform feats that would seem impossible to any but the genus midshipman. He was the son of the late General Sir Harry Jones, R.E., G.C.B., who led the forlorn hope at San Sebastian, and was worthy of such a father, possessing talents that would have made him a Cochrane had opportunity permitted. He was cut off within two years of the Lajeh Expedition, and in penning these few lines the author fulfils a pleasing duty to the memory of a friend and most promising young officer.’