Medals for Shropshire battalion’s first soldier killed in WW1 go up for auction
Three medals awarded to the first soldier from the King's Shropshire Light Infantry 6th Battalion killed in action during the First World War will be going up for auction in Shrewsbury this week
The medal trio and death plaque relating to Private Albert Jones, who was born in 1891 at Rushbury, near Munslow, Craven Arms, are included in Halls Fine Art’s militaria auction on Wednesday, February 26.
Private Jones was only in France for three weeks before he was killed at the age of 24. Valued modestly at £180 to £220, the medals awarded to him comprise the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 War Medal and Victory Medal.
The 6th Service Battalion, formed by companies at different towns in Shropshire, left the depot for Blacktown on September 10, 1914 and became a unit of the 60th Brigade, which left for Folkestone, en route to Boulogne, on July 21/22, 1915, entrained.
Private Jones was killed in action on August 13, 1915 and buried at the Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleuxbaix. The unit war diary for that day states that the 6th Battalion was at Rouge de Bout and trenches at Petillon and there was one soldier – Private Jones – killed, one seriously wounded and one slightly injured.
Sergeant E. S. Williams was the man seriously wounded and he later died of his wounds.
Private Jones was the son of John and Jane Jones and husband of Rose Elizabeth Jones of 82, Elkington Street, Aston, Birmingham. He enlisted at Ludlow in late August, 1914 and landed in Franche on July 24, 1915.
He is commemorated on War Memorials at Ludlow and Wistanstow, near Craven Arms.
Another poignant First World War Killed In Action medal group, with death plaque and related letters, relates to Corporal George Jay, of Military Foot Police, No. 3 Traffic Control Company.
The group, valued at up to £350, includes the Military Medal, 1914 Mons Star, 1914-18 War Medal and Victory Medal. Corporal Jay was awarded the Military Medal for bravery whilst on traffic duty on June 5, 1917, when a lorry convoy carrying gas cylinders was hit .
There were several casualties, including two deaths and Corporal Jay cleared the remaining lorries, sent for ambulances and gave first aid to wounded men before resuming his patrol on the road, which was still under heavy fire.
The medals are accompanied by photographs, silk postcards and several heartfelt letters from his commanding officer and fellow serving police.
The letters praise the courage and devotion of Corporal Jay who died on March 24, 1918, aged 38, after being severely wounded. He was buried with full honours in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium and his colleagues raised £20 and 8 shillings for his widow, Rosena and four children.
Born on August 8, 1879, Corporal Jay joined the Great Eastern Railway in 1911 and was one of the first to answer the call at the outbreak of war. British Transport Police History Group recently worked with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to get Corporal Jay's Military Medal recognised on his headstone.
