Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, O.B.E.; British War Medal (2.LIEUT. R.C. JONES.); 1939-45 Star; France & Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45 with M.I.D. Oakleaf; Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937; American Legion of Merit Medal; Belgian Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Robert Clifford Jones was born in Melksham, Wilts in 1891. As a boy he attended the Adcroft Boys' School in Trowbridge before entering the service of the Railways as a Shedman at Trowbridge Station on 19 August 1907. He left their employ not long after, on 31 January 1908 enlisting with the 7th Hussars in 1909 and being posted to India soon afterwards. When war broke out was a Sergeant with the Machine Gun Corps with no. 4188 before being commissioned into the 7th Hussars with whom he was to spend a lengthy military career. His service with them in India meant that he was only awarded the British War Medal, being denied the Victory Medal as a result.
Whilst in India he was a member of the Lodge Hope - the Free Masons lodge at Meerut which he joined in July 1919 whilst still a Lieutenant. During WWI he served for a time on Field Marshall Montgomery's Staff and was awarded the OBE in the London Gazette of 11 July 1940. Further recognition came his way with the award of the Croix de Guerre, twice M.I.D. and the American Legion of Merit on 15 August 1936 whilst in the rank of Lt Colonel with HQ 21 Army Group which planned the invasion of Europe.
Jones' obituary appeared in the Wiltshire Times & Trowbridge Advertiser of 29 September 1961. It read, in part, "He served with the Army, and was for the latter part of his service, on the staff of Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (21st Army Group H.Q.)"
The recommendation for the American award is difficult to decipher but is included with the documentation -
Medals are in good condition unless otherwise indicated. Sold with copied research.
