Thomas Alfred Jones
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Thomas Alfred Jones VC DCM (25 December 1880 - 30 January 1956) of Runcorn, Cheshire, was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 35 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 25 September 1916 during the Battle of Morval Private Jones was with his company covering the advance in front of a village, when he noticed an enemy sniper 200 yards (200 m) away. He went out and, although one bullet went through his helmet and another through his coat, he returned the sniper's fire and killed him. He then saw two more Germans firing on him although they were displaying a white flag. Both these he shot. On reaching the enemy trench he found several occupied dug-outs and single-handed disarmed 102 of the enemy, including three or four officers, and took them prisoner.
He was known affectionately locally as 'Todger' Jones.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the The Cheshire Regiment Museum in Chester, England.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - The Somme (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)
[edit] Further reading
- Thompson, Dave. I Laughed Like Blazes: The Life of Private Thomas 'Todger' Jones, VC, DCM Dave Thompson, 2002.
