Source: War Diary, multiple dates.
Family Search:
Distinguished Service Order, MID.
Fighting Commander of 18th Battalion Brings Back Unit
[Photograph of Lieut.-Col. Louis Elgin Jones]
LIEUT-COL. LOUIS ELGIN JONES, D.S.O., WITH BAR.
The present commander of the 18th Battalion—one of the famous Canadian regiments of the war in whose ranks were many Border Cities, Essex County and Michigan men—who led his unit back from overseas a few days ago, sharing with Col. E. S. Wigle the honors showered upon them by the citizens of London, in the big celebration held in the Forest City coincident with the return of the “Good Old Eighteenth.” He went overseas as a lieutenant and returns home as the commanding officer, and wears on his breast decorations in recognition of his services in the war.
Lieut.-Col. Jones is a son of Capt. T. H. Jones (now of Guelph). Although born in Southwold township, Lieut.-Col. Jones lived in St. Thomas from infancy to manhood. He was educated in the public school and Collegiate Institute there, and graduated in arts in 1900 from Toronto University. He has held positions on the teaching staffs of the Collegiate Institutes at St. Thomas, Sarnia and Collingwood. Leaving the teaching profession he returned to the School of Practical Science in Toronto, graduating from that institution.
Lieut.-Col. Jones was a practicing civil engineer at New Westminster, B.C., when the war broke out, and at once applied for a commission. He had previously had some experience in military matters. He had passed through the various ranks in the St. Thomas Collegiate Cadets from bugler to lieutenant, and was captain of a Sarnia company of the 27th Lambton Regiment.
While serving with the 18th Battalion in France he has participated in many of the important engagements in which that great fighting unit has participated. He was wounded at Courcelette on Sept. 15, 1916.
Lieut.-Col. Jones is still a comparatively young man—one of the youngest commanding officers in the Canadian army.
Windsor Star. May 29, 1919.
Wounded, 28-9-16.
Awarded the Distinguished Service Order, L.G. No. 30340, 18-10-17.
Awarded Bar to Distinguished Service Order, L.G. No. 31119, 11-1-19.
Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 31448, 11-7-19.
Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 31089, 31-12-18.
Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 30448, 28-12-17.
Mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 30706.
To be a Companion of St. Michael & St. George, L.G. No. 31370, 3-6-19.
Attended University of Toronto and listed in the The Varsity War Supplement 1915. Brother to Captain J.H. Jones of 212 Liverpool Street, Guelph, Ontario.
Page 580; Supplement to the London Gazette, January 11, 1919.
Lt.-Col. Louis Elgin Jones, D.S.O., 18th Bn., Can. Infy, Western, Ont. Regt.
He commanded his battalion with marked skill in connection with an attack on a strongly-held position, during which his flanks were threatened. His initiative and personal direction led to the success of the attack and permitted the advance of his own and neighboring units. He personally supervised the work of consolidation of the objective gained, and throughout, under exceptionally adverse conditions, he set a splendid example to his officers and men. (D.S.O. gazetted 18th October, 1917.)
Source:
Page 580; Supplement to the London Gazette, January 11, 1919.
Thursday July 19, 1917
Warm and sultry.
At the Battery all day and in the evening went up to the H.Q. of the 18th Battalion. Found that the O.C. Lieut-Col. Jones was my one time mathematical Master at Sarnia Collegiate. Also found Jimmie Bell was a Captain in the Battalion. The rest of the boys seemed to be a good bunch of scouts.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 