Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Madagascar’ replacement D.C.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant R. O. Jones, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (3385592 Sjt R O Jones R W Fus) and additionally stamped ‘R’ for replacement; 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for wear, good very fine (5) £500-£700

D.C.M. London Gazette 16 June 1942.
M.I.D. London Gazette 9 May 1946.
M.I.D. London Gazette 19 September 1946.
‘This NCO was part of ‘A’ Company 2nd Battalion who advanced into the night attack under command of 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. On reaching the pillbox area, several men both of 6th Battalion and ‘A’ Company 2nd Battalion fell; Sergeant Jones continued his advance and entered the machine-gun pill box single handed, when he immediately killed (with the bayonet) three men who were working the gun, whereupon twelve other men who were sheltering in the pill box, having come in from the trenches, surrendered to him. This NCO showed dash and determination and disregard for his own safety.’

Robert Owen Jones, a Warehouseman from Llanbeblig, Caernarvon, was born on 11 March 1915. He attested into the East Lancashire Regiment on 27 March 1935 and transferred into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 6 January 1936 before service in Sudan, Hong Kong, Shanghai and India. Advanced Sergeant, he served during the Second War in Madagascar and was awarded the D.C.M. before further service in India ahead of deployment to Burma where he was twice mentioned in despatches and twice wounded, first by a mortar bomb fragment in his left breast, and latterly by a bayonet wound to his groin. From regimental records, he described the injury thus ‘We were advancing on the outskirts of the jungle when I saw a ‘dead’ Jap lying in the ditch. As I stepped over him he suddenly lifted his arm and stabbed me in the groin with his bayonet, the blade went in 1 1/2” or 2”. As I fell a comrade who was coming up behind me let go at the Jap with a burst from his Tommy gun - He was dead then and no mistake’. Advanced Company Sergeant Major, he was discharged on 20 March 1946 and awarded a medical pension until February 1950. It is suggested that, unbeknown to him, his original medals were possibly sold by a family member around 1972, resulting in the issue of a replacement set.

Sold with a copied photograph of the recipient in uniform and detailed copy research.