A very scarce ‘North West Persia 1920’ M.C. group of five awarded to Captain Ivor Ridge-Jones, Royal Army Medical Corps, attached 122nd Infantry, Indian Army

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. I. Ridge-Jones.); General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, N.W. Persia, Kurdistan (Capt. I. Ridge-Jones.); Iraq, Order of El Rafhidain, 4th Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamels with rosette, mounted as worn but some ribbons very distressed, good very fine (5) £1,400-£1,800

M.C. London Gazette 10 August 1921: T/Capt. Ivor Ridge-Jones, R.A.M.C., attd. 122nd Inf., I.A.

‘For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Jubin on 26 October 1920. During five hours fighting he displayed great coolness and daring in bringing back the wounded from the front line under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. Throughout he set an excellent example, and it was due to his pluck and resource that all the wounded were retrieved.’

Lieutenant A. A. Russell, 43rd Regiment (with 122nd Infantry) Indian Army, also won the M.C. for gallantry in the same action. His citation adds further detail: ‘For conspicuously good leadership when sent out with his company on reconnaissance at Jubin, on the 26th October, 1920. About three miles out he met with strong opposition, and, taking advantage of the high ground, attacked the enemy, who were about a thousand to fourteen hundred strong, with field guns in front and at flank. After an engagement lasting five hours he withdrew his company, bringing back his wounded, after obtaining very valuable information regarding the strength and disposition of the enemy. By his initiative he thoroughly disheartened the enemy, and was largely responsible for their retreat on the following day.’

Order of El Rafhidain, 4th Class London Gazette 14 February 1933.

Doctor Ivor Ridge-Jones died on 29 February 1940. An obituary notice reported:

‘Dr. Ivor Ridge-Jones, who lived at The Cleave, Kingsand, died suddenly at his surgery at Millbrook on Thursday. He was 55. Born in London, he was the third son of Mrs Ridge-Jones and the late Dr. T. Ridge-Jones, of 4 Chesham Place, London. He was educated at Eton and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and after taking his degrees he made a special study of tropical medicines, and was later employed in his profession in Egypt.

During the Great War he served as a captain in the R.A.M.C. in Mesopotamia and later in the North Persian campaign, where he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in tending the wounded under very heavy fire. He also received the North Persian Medal with two clasps.

Later he was employed by the Government as a medical officer of health in Iraq, where he was awarded the Order of the Ramadan (sic) by King Faisal for devotion to duty.

In 1933 he acquired the practice of the late Dr. J. Currie at Kingsand. During the last seven years he had carried on an extensive practice in the three parishes of Maker, Rame and Millbrook. He was unmarried.’

Sold with several original obituary cuttings.