Jones, Thomas: Service no. 54324 (Military Medal)

CVWM Page

Digitized Service Record

Find-A-Grave

Family Search: Private Thomas Jones was born on 9 January 1889, in Bristol, England, United Kingdom as the son of Jones. He immigrated to Canada in 1913. In 1915, at the age of 26, his occupation is listed as miner. He died on 11 April 1916, in Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium, at the age of 27, and was buried in Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium.

Military Medal

AKA Tommy Cronan.

Private Thomas Jones. Regimental no. 54324.

This men enlisted with the 18th Battalion at London, Ontario on April 13 1915. He was a miner by trade.

He went overseas with the Battalion and after training in England he arrived with the 18th at Boulogne, France on 15 September 1915 and they, along with the 2nd Canadian Division, proceeded to Belgium for service in the Ieper area west of the town.

He was sentenced to 10 days Field Punishment No. 1 for being drunk and out of bounds on 20 December 1915.

Private Jones suffered a short bout of influenza and bronchitis starting 9 February 1916, which required treatment at No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance. He rejoined his unit on 11 February 1916.

On 11 April 1916 at St. Eloi Craters, he was conducting an officer over the ground when he was killed by a German sniper.

Military Medal

Earned the Military Medal, gazetted August 10th, 1916. Citation read:

Military Medal (London Gazette No. 29701, dated August 10, 1916, page 7891)

“For gallant conduct and devotion to duty. He remained under fire in the front line during the entire night, and in the morning carried back reports in the open. On the following night and day he guided several parties under most difficult circumstances to forward positions under heavy fire.

He carried an Officer who was wounded, from the front line to a position of security, and rendered valuable aid throughout the next night in bringing in wounded.”

Source

Contributed by Annette Fulford at the 18th Battalion Facebook Group.
Pte Tom Jones of 18th Battalion General Favorite London Advertiser April 24 1916 Page 3
London Advertiser. April 24, 1916. Page 3.
St. Thomas Times. 24 April 1916. Via Allan Miller 18th Battalion Facebook Group.

Transcription of news article dated April 27th, 1916, from the London Free Press:

“Three London men killed and nine wounded is the official casualty report of last night and this morning from Ottawa. In addition there are many others in the list from Western Ontario. No less than three of Windsor’s sons are mentioned killed in action.

Pte. Thomas Jones, who was shot through the head, according to a cable news story in which he was mentioned for his conspicuous gallantry, was guiding an officer to an advanced position in broad daylight when he was hit and died almost instantly. He enlisted at London with the 18th Battalion, joining the sanitary section, and afterwards becoming a stretcher bearer. He was said to have been previously in both the British and American armies with an alias “Tommy Cronan.” Reports from the front referred to his repeated display of marked bravery and repeatedly he chose the most dangerous tasks on the battle front, often dressing the wounds of the injured men under a heavy fire. He had been recommended by his commanding officer for a Distinguished Conduct Medal. No matter who he was or where he came from, he was a real hero and his deeds will not be forgotten.”

London Free Press, April 27th, 1916

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Source: CVWM
The Boston Globe
Mon, Apr 24, 1916 ·Page 5.
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“KILLED IN ACTION”
Source: CVWM via Marg Liessens.
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