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{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name=Loftus William Jones
|name=Loftus William Jones
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|birth_date={{birth date|df=y|1879|11|13}}
|birth_date={{birth date|df=y|1879|11|13}}
|death_date={{death date and age|df=y|1916|5|31|1879|11|13}}
|death_date={{death date and age|df=y|1916|5|31|1879|11|13}}
|birth_place= [[Petersfield]], [[Hampshire]]
|birth_place= [[Southsea]], [[Hampshire]], England
|death_place=
|death_place= {{HMS|Shark|1912|6}}, [[North Sea]]
|placeofburial=Kviberg Cemetery, [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]]
|placeofburial=Kviberg Cemetery, [[Gothenburg]], [[Sweden]]
|image=Loftus William Jones.jpg
|image=File:Loftus William Jones VC.jpg
|image_size=
|image_size=
|caption=
|caption=
|nickname=
|nickname=
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|serviceyears=1896-1916{{KIA}}
|serviceyears=1896–1916{{KIA}}
|rank=[[Commander]]
|rank=[[Commander]]
|branch={{navy|United Kingdom}}
|branch={{navy|United Kingdom}}
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|unit=
|unit=
|battles=[[World War I]]
|battles=[[World War I]]
* [[Naval warfare of World War I|Naval campaign]]
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|awards= [[File:Victoria Cross (UK) ribbon.png|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
** [[Naval warfare of World War I#North Sea|North Sea campaign]]
*** [[Battle of Jutland]] {{KIA}}
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|awards= [[File:UK Victoria Cross ribbon bar.svg|30px]] [[Victoria Cross]]
|laterwork=
|laterwork=
}}
}}
[[Commander]] '''Loftus William Jones''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (13 November 1879 – 31 May 1916) was an [[England|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 [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.
[[Commander]] '''Loftus William Jones''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (13 November 1879 – 31 May 1916) was an [[England|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 [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.


==Naval career==
==Naval career==
Born 13 November 1879 to Admiral Loftus Francis Jones and Gertrude (née Gray), of [[Petersfield]], [[Hampshire]],<ref name=cwgc>[http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=4028286 Jones, Loftus William],
Born 13 November 1879 in [[Southsea]] to Admiral Loftus Francis Jones and Gertrude (née Gray), of [[Petersfield]], [[Hampshire]],<ref name=cwgc>[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/4028286 Jones, Loftus William],
Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref> Jones was educated at [[Eastman's Royal Naval Academy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_loftusjonesvc.htm |title=Biography: Loftus William Jones VC |publisher=Royal Naval Museum Library |year=2005 |accessdate=4 December 2012}}</ref> He was promoted to a [[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|lieutenant]] on 1 April 1902,<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=27422|supp=|startpage=2281|date=4 April 1902}}</ref> and rose to become a commander in the [[Royal Navy]] aboard [[HMS Shark (1912)|HMS ''Shark'']] during the [[First World War]]. He was 36 years old, on 31 May 1916, at the [[Battle of Jutland]] when he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Jones went down with his ship.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref> Jones was educated at [[Eastman's Royal Naval Academy]].<ref name=RNM>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_loftusjonesvc.htm |title=Biography: Loftus William Jones VC |publisher=Royal Naval Museum Library |year=2005 |accessdate=4 December 2012}}</ref> He was appointed as a [[sub-lieutenant]] to [[HMS Spiteful (1899)|HMS ''Spiteful'']] in 1901.<ref name=RNM /> Promoted to [[Lieutenant (navy)|lieutenant]] on 1 April 1902,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27422|page=2281|date=4 April 1902}}</ref> he was appointed later that year to {{HMS|Tamar|shore station|6}}, shore station at [[Hong Kong]], for service on destroyers in reserve at the [[China Station]].<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence|date=25 August 1902 |page=8 |issue=36855}}</ref> He rose to become a commander in the [[Royal Navy]] aboard {{HMS|Shark|1912|6}} during the [[First World War]].

Jones was 36 years old, on 31 May 1916, at the [[Battle of Jutland]] when he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Jones went down with his ship.


===Citation===
===Citation===
{{quote|On the afternoon of the 31st May, 1916, during the action, Commander Jones in H.M.S. "Shark", Torpedo Boat Destroyer, led a division of Destroyers to attack the enemy Battle Cruiser Squadron. In the course of this attack a shell hit the "Shark's" bridge, putting the steering gear out of order, and very shortly afterwards another shell disabled the main engines, leaving the vessel helpless. The Commanding Officer of another Destroyer, seeing the "Shark's" plight, came between her and the enemy and offered assistance, but was warned by Commander Jones not to run the risk of being almost certainly sunk in trying to help him. Commander Jones, though wounded in the leg, went aft to help connect and man the after wheel. Meanwhile the forecastle gun with its crew had been blown away, and the same fate soon afterwards befell the after gun and crew. Commander Jones then went to the midship and the only remaining gun, and personally assisted in keeping it in action. All this time the "Shark" was subjected to very heavy fire from enemy light cruisers and destroyers at short range. The gun's crew of the midship gun was reduced to three, of whom an Able Seaman was soon badly wounded in the leg. A few minutes later Commander Jones was hit by a shell, which took off his leg above the knee, but he continued to give orders to his gun's crew, while a Chief Stoker improvised a tourniquet round his thigh. Noticing that the Ensign was not properly hoisted, he gave orders for another to be hoisted. Soon afterwards, seeing that the ship could not survive much longer, and as a German Destroyer was closing, he gave orders for the surviving members of the crew to put on lifebelts. Almost immediately after this order had been given, the "Shark" was struck by a torpedo and sank. Commander Jones was unfortunately not amongst the few survivors from the "Shark" who were picked up by a neutral vessel in the night.|[[The London Gazette]], 6 March 1917<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=29751|supp=yes|startpage=9067|date=15 September 1916 |accessdate=19 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=29972|supp=yes|startpage=2254|date=6 March 1917 |accessdate=19 May 2015}}</ref>}}
{{quote|On the afternoon of the 31st May, 1916, during the action, Commander Jones in H.M.S. "Shark", Torpedo Boat Destroyer, led a division of Destroyers to attack the enemy Battle Cruiser Squadron. In the course of this attack a shell hit the "Shark's" bridge, putting the steering gear out of order, and very shortly afterwards another shell disabled the main engines, leaving the vessel helpless. The Commanding Officer of another Destroyer, seeing the "Shark's" plight, came between her and the enemy and offered assistance, but was warned by Commander Jones not to run the risk of being almost certainly sunk in trying to help him. Commander Jones, though wounded in the leg, went aft to help connect and man the after wheel. Meanwhile the forecastle gun with its crew had been blown away, and the same fate soon afterwards befell the after gun and crew. Commander Jones then went to the midship and the only remaining gun, and personally assisted in keeping it in action. All this time the "Shark" was subjected to very heavy fire from enemy light cruisers and destroyers at short range. The gun's crew of the midship gun was reduced to three, of whom an Able Seaman was soon badly wounded in the leg. A few minutes later Commander Jones was hit by a shell, which took off his leg above the knee, but he continued to give orders to his gun's crew, while a Chief Stoker improvised a tourniquet round his thigh. Noticing that the Ensign was not properly hoisted, he gave orders for another to be hoisted. Soon afterwards, seeing that the ship could not survive much longer, and as a German Destroyer was closing, he gave orders for the surviving members of the crew to put on lifebelts. Almost immediately after this order had been given, the "Shark" was struck by a torpedo and sank. Commander Jones was unfortunately not amongst the few survivors from the "Shark" who were picked up by a neutral vessel in the night.|[[The London Gazette]], 6 March 1917<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29751|supp=y|page=9067|date=15 September 1916 }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29972|page=2254|date=6 March 1917 }}</ref>}}


Commander Jones' body was washed ashore in Western [[Sweden]] some days after the battle. He was originally buried at [[Fiskebäckskil]], [[Västra Götaland]], Sweden. His body was transferred to the British War Graves plot in Kviberg Cemetery, [[Gothenburg]] in 1961.<ref name=cwgc/>
Commander Jones' body was washed ashore in Western [[Sweden]] some days after the battle. He was originally buried at [[Fiskebäckskil]], [[Västra Götaland]], Sweden. His body was transferred to the British War Graves plot in Kviberg Cemetery, [[Gothenburg]] in 1961.<ref name=cwgc/>


[[File:HMS Shark (WWI).jpg|thumb|HMS Shark]]
[[File:HMS Shark (WWI).jpg|thumb|HMS ''Shark'']]


==The Medal==
==The Medal==
His medal was purchased by Lord Ashcroft in 2012 and is on display at the Imperial War Museum’s Victoria Cross and George Cross gallery in London.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/inside-first-world-war/part-five/10544345/vc-winner-commander-jones.html | title='No finer act' had the Royal Navy ever known | date=5 January 2014 | accessdate=6 January 2014 | author=Ashcroft. Michael | location=Inside the First World War OPart 5: A World War | pages=10–11}}</ref>
His medal was purchased by Lord Ashcroft in 2012 and is on display at the Imperial War Museum's Victoria Cross and George Cross gallery in London.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/inside-first-world-war/part-five/10544345/vc-winner-commander-jones.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120063941/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/inside-first-world-war/part-five/10544345/vc-winner-commander-jones.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=20 January 2014 | title='No finer act' had the Royal Navy ever known | date=5 January 2014 | accessdate=6 January 2014 | author=Ashcroft. Michael | location=Inside the First World War OPart 5: A World War | pages=10–11}}</ref>

==Home town memorial==
There is a memorial to him outside [[St Peter's Church, Petersfield]].<ref>[http://www.petersfieldpost.co.uk/article.cfm?id=105091&headline=Plaque%20in%20hounor%20of%20Petersfield%20Victoria%20Cross%20hero%20to%20be%20laid%20in%20The%20Square&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2016 Petersfield Post]</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
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==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Loftus Jones}}

* [http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_loftusjonesvc.htm Royal Naval Museum]
* [http://www.royalnavalmuseum.org/info_sheets_loftusjonesvc.htm Royal Naval Museum]
* [http://www.seayourhistory.org.uk/content/view/149/237/ See Your History - Loftus William Jones]
* [http://www.seayourhistory.org.uk/content/view/149/237/ See Your History – Loftus William Jones]
* {{Find a Grave|8016393}}
* {{Find a Grave|8016393}}


{{Authority control}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}


{{Persondata
| NAME =Jones, Loftus William
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =Recipient of the Victoria Cross
| DATE OF BIRTH =13 November 1879
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Petersfield]], [[Hampshire]], England
| DATE OF DEATH =31 May 1916
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Loftus William}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Loftus William}}
[[Category:1879 births]]
[[Category:1879 births]]
[[Category:1916 deaths]]
[[Category:1916 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Petersfield]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Portsmouth]]
[[Category:People from Southsea]]
[[Category:Royal Navy officers]]
[[Category:Royal Navy officers]]
[[Category:British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
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[[Category:Royal Navy officers of World War I]]
[[Category:Royal Navy officers of World War I]]
[[Category:People educated at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy]]
[[Category:People educated at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy]]


{{england-mil-bio-stub}}
{{UK-navy-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 11:43, 15 December 2022

Loftus William Jones
Born(1879-11-13)13 November 1879
Southsea, Hampshire, England
Died31 May 1916(1916-05-31) (aged 36)
HMS Shark, North Sea
Buried
Kviberg Cemetery, Gothenburg, Sweden
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
Years of service1896–1916 †
RankCommander
Commands
Battles/warsWorld War I
Awards Victoria Cross

Commander Loftus William Jones VC (13 November 1879 – 31 May 1916) 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.

[edit]

Born 13 November 1879 in Southsea to Admiral Loftus Francis Jones and Gertrude (née Gray), of Petersfield, Hampshire,[1] Jones was educated at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy.[2] He was appointed as a sub-lieutenant to HMS Spiteful in 1901.[2] Promoted to lieutenant on 1 April 1902,[3] he was appointed later that year to HMS Tamar, shore station at Hong Kong, for service on destroyers in reserve at the China Station.[4] He rose to become a commander in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Shark during the First World War.

Jones was 36 years old, on 31 May 1916, at the Battle of Jutland when he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Jones went down with his ship.

Citation

[edit]

On the afternoon of the 31st May, 1916, during the action, Commander Jones in H.M.S. "Shark", Torpedo Boat Destroyer, led a division of Destroyers to attack the enemy Battle Cruiser Squadron. In the course of this attack a shell hit the "Shark's" bridge, putting the steering gear out of order, and very shortly afterwards another shell disabled the main engines, leaving the vessel helpless. The Commanding Officer of another Destroyer, seeing the "Shark's" plight, came between her and the enemy and offered assistance, but was warned by Commander Jones not to run the risk of being almost certainly sunk in trying to help him. Commander Jones, though wounded in the leg, went aft to help connect and man the after wheel. Meanwhile the forecastle gun with its crew had been blown away, and the same fate soon afterwards befell the after gun and crew. Commander Jones then went to the midship and the only remaining gun, and personally assisted in keeping it in action. All this time the "Shark" was subjected to very heavy fire from enemy light cruisers and destroyers at short range. The gun's crew of the midship gun was reduced to three, of whom an Able Seaman was soon badly wounded in the leg. A few minutes later Commander Jones was hit by a shell, which took off his leg above the knee, but he continued to give orders to his gun's crew, while a Chief Stoker improvised a tourniquet round his thigh. Noticing that the Ensign was not properly hoisted, he gave orders for another to be hoisted. Soon afterwards, seeing that the ship could not survive much longer, and as a German Destroyer was closing, he gave orders for the surviving members of the crew to put on lifebelts. Almost immediately after this order had been given, the "Shark" was struck by a torpedo and sank. Commander Jones was unfortunately not amongst the few survivors from the "Shark" who were picked up by a neutral vessel in the night.

— The London Gazette, 6 March 1917[5][6]

Commander Jones' body was washed ashore in Western Sweden some days after the battle. He was originally buried at Fiskebäckskil, Västra Götaland, Sweden. His body was transferred to the British War Graves plot in Kviberg Cemetery, Gothenburg in 1961.[1]

HMS Shark

The Medal

[edit]

His medal was purchased by Lord Ashcroft in 2012 and is on display at the Imperial War Museum's Victoria Cross and George Cross gallery in London.[7]

Home town memorial

[edit]

There is a memorial to him outside St Peter's Church, Petersfield.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Jones, Loftus William, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  2. ^ a b "Biography: Loftus William Jones VC". Royal Naval Museum Library. 2005. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  3. ^ "No. 27422". The London Gazette. 4 April 1902. p. 2281.
  4. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36855. London. 25 August 1902. p. 8.
  5. ^ "No. 29751". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 September 1916. p. 9067.
  6. ^ "No. 29972". The London Gazette. 6 March 1917. p. 2254.
  7. ^ Ashcroft. Michael (5 January 2014). "'No finer act' had the Royal Navy ever known". Inside the First World War OPart 5: A World War. pp. 10–11. Archived from the original on 20 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. ^ Petersfield Post
[edit]

Media related to Loftus Jones at Wikimedia Commons

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