Three: Captain E. R. Jones, Cheshire Regiment, killed in action during the Retreat from Mons, 24 August 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (Capt., Ches. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); together with memorial plaque (Ernest Rae Jones) this pierced at top and bottom; illuminated memorial scroll, this laid on card and with some damage to edges, the medals and plaque contained in a contemporary mahogany hinged display case, generally good very fine or better and a very early Great War casualty (4) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars.

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Ernest Rae Jones was born on 17 November 1877, educated at Merchiston Castle School, and resided at Caverhill Hall, St John, New Brunswick, Canada. He entered the Cheshire Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant from the Local Military Forces, Canada, in November 1898; promoted to Lieutenant, June 1900; Captain, 1906; and from 1904-1907 was Adjutant of his battalion. He was killed in action during the retreat from Mons on 24 August 1914, whilst serving with the 1st Battalion, and is buried at Wiheries Communal Cemetery, Belgium.

The following detail is extracted from the regimental history of The Cheshire Regiment: ‘Captain Jones, with support platoons of “D” Company on the right, must have received early news of the withdrawal, either from the groups of cavalry which were retiring through his position or from the left company of the 1st Norfolks. Although it is impossible to say, with any accuracy, at what time the various occurrences took place - everyone was too fully occupied to glance at their watches - it seems clear that these platoons started to retire down the mineral railway about the same time as the two left platoons of “B” Company withdrew from the left flank (3 p.m.)’

‘Shortly after Stapylton had moved off, and while No. 9 Platoon was reforming, Captain Jones appeared. It is not clear how he came to be there, but it is probable that, after having ordered his company to retire, and having seen or heard nothing of the rest of the battalion, he returned, either with the object of getting into touch with Battalion Headquarters, or to find out what had happened to his two platoons under Rich.

Having heard the latest information from Raynor, he moved off with No. 9 Platoon, which now left the road and made for the railway. To reach the railway several hundred yards of rising ground had to be covered which was under heavy machine-gun fire, and, before the shelter of the cutting was found, the platoon had been reduced to some half a dozen men. The retirement was then continued down the railway line to the Bois d’Audregnies. Here Raynor himself fixed his bayonet and acted as scout. On leaving the cover of the trees, the party took to a track and, later, to a hedge-bordered lane, which brought them to some enclosed country south-west of Wiheries. Here they ran into the Magdeburg Regiment which was going into bivouac. Of those who remained, Captain Jones and Hogan were killed.’

The following is extracted from a letter published in the regimental history, written by Lieut.-Colonel D. C. Boger, D.S.O., who commanded the 1st Battalion at Mons, during which action he was severely wounded. It was penned on 29 August 1914 whilst in a Red Cross Hospital at Wiheries: ‘...I hear Jones, tho’ wounded, refused to surrender and pointed his revolver at them. They shot him but left his arms, and the 66th Regt. buried him with mil’y honours and a speech was made at his grave. A very gallant man...’