Canada, Cef. A Dcm Group To 2Nd Lieutenant Jones, 3Rd Canadian Battalion/Royal Flying Corps

Distinguished Conduct Medal, George V; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal with MID Oak Leaf; Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; War Medal 1939-1945; King George V and Queen Mary Silver Jubilee Medal 1935; Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, George V; and Efficiency Decoration with Canada Bar, George VI. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback as worn by the veteran, label affixed to the reverse inscribed "Worn by Eric H. Jones / 3rd Bat. CEF + RFC observer", original ribbons, very light contact, near extremely fine. Accompanied by his Royal Flying Corps Identification Bracelet (in sterling silver, obverse engraved "ERIC. H. JONES. / R.F.C. / C OF E.", reverse maker marked "RYRIE" and marked "STERLING", measuring 43 mm (w) x 20.5 mm (h) inclusive of its integral rings, on a wrist chain); plus an Easter Day Card, a Woman's Photograph and a Parisian-Issued Postcard (all with 1915 dated descriptions in pencil inscribed on their reverses), along with copies of his Attestation Paper, Service Records and Discharge Certificate.

Footnote: Eric Hornshaw Jones was born on May 13, 1893 in Toronto, Ontario. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (9063) with the 3rd Infantry Battalion, on September 22, 1914 at Valcartier Camp, at the age of 21, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Sydney F. Jones of Toronto (later changed to F.M. Pellatt of London, England), stating that he belonged to an Active Militia and had one years' previous service with the Queen's Own Rifles, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Clerk. The Battalion was raised in Toronto with mobilization headquarters at Camp Valcartier, Quebec under the authority of P.C.O. 2067, August 6, 1914. The Battalion sailed October 3, 1914 from Quebec City, Quebec aboard the S.S. Tunisian, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. Rennie with a strength of 43 officers and 1,100 other ranks. Private Jones entered the European theatre on February 13, 1915 and would serve with the 3rd Infantry Battalion in France and Belgium, as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on July 31, 1915 and was appointed Acting Corporal on September 26, 1915. 9063 Lance Corporal Eric Hornshaw Jones, 3rd Canadian Battalion was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the announcement appearing in the Fourth Supplement to the London Gazette 29438 of Tuesday, January 11, 1916, on Friday, January 14, 1916, page 615. His citation was published in the Supplement to the London Gazette 29503 of Friday, March 10, 1916, on Saturday, March 11, 1916, page 2741 and in the Canada Gazette of April 8, 1916, page 3320: "For conspicuous and consistent good work when he laid twenty-five telephone lines from the firing line under heavy artillery fire and succeeded in maintaining direct communication with advanced headquarters."

Lance Corporal Jones was on the list of officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men recommended for gallant and distinguished service in the Field in the despatch from the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, the British Army in France, dated November 30, 1915, the announcement appearing in the Third Supplement to the London Gazette 29453 of Tuesday, January 25, 1916, on Thursday, January 27, 1916, page 1100. Jones was promoted to Signalling Sergeant on March 26, 1916, which would last seven weeks, before he reverted to the ranks at his own request, upon transfer to the Canadian Corps Troops Supply Column on May 16th. He would serve with the Mechanical Transport unit beginning on June 4th. Six months after his transfer and still with the CCTSC, he was attached to the 70th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps on November 18, 1916, where his interest in flying was nurtured. Lance Corporal Jones was transferred to the Canadian Training Division at Shorncliffe and was discharged in England on January 15, 1917, on appointment to a commission in the Royal Flying Corps, his trade stated as that of Bookkeeper.

A little over eighteen weeks after accepting his commission, while serving with the Royal Flying Corps, 2nd Lieutenant Jones suffered an "explosive bullet wound to the right leg", on May 24, 1917 while in France. He was invalided to England and was admitted to Bathurst House Hospital, Belgrave Square in London on June 9, 1917, where he was treated for his injuries. However, the decision was soon made to invalid him to Canada. In his Medical History of Invalid, dated August 17, 1917 at Base Hospital in Toronto, the attending physician described 2nd Lieutenant Jones's condition: "There are six recently healed scars from two to four inches long on (the) right leg, halfway between (the) knee and ankle. The right leg is much smaller that the left, with considerable puffiness about the scar area. After walking for a few minutes, (he) has considerable pain in (the) leg, and after walking for half an hour, (the) leg invariably cramps. Walks with a slight limp with (the) aid of a cane." He had a radiograph taken the same day, with the doctor noting that there were "Several pieces of shrapnel fragments in (the) leg" and recommended Jones "for admission to Base Hospital for further surgical treatment" and two months' rehabilitation, the Medical Board subsequently declaring him "Category B" (Temporarily Unfit). Nine months later, and now almost a year after his wounding, he was reassessed at the Recruits' Depot in Toronto. In his Medical History of Invalid, dated May 17, 1918, the attending physician noted that Lieutenant Jones, now of the Royal Air Force (the Royal Naval Air Service having merged with the Royal Flying Corps, to form the Royal Air Force on April 1, 1918) "sleeps poorly", that he was "easily startled by noises" and was "more easily fatigued than before his wounding but not so easily fatigued as when last examined", suffering from "neurasthenia". He was "continually catching cold in his head...the nose becomes blocked up and is subject to hay fever in the late summer. Very rarely has had bronchitis." The doctor also went on to explain that Jones was at Bathurst House Hospital in London "for treatment of (his) wounds, but has had no definite treatment for neurasthenia", that his "incapacity (was) due to partial loss of function of (the) nervous system." He had five operation scars on the front and medial aspect of his right leg and was cut midway between the ankle and the knee, in order to remove portions of the explosive bullet. The Medical Board stated that "It is recommended that he have the necessary treatment for his rhinitis and adenoids and that he be given ground duty for two months", that he be declared "Category D" (Temporarily Unfit) and that Jones be "admitted to hospital as an inpatient for operation". Two and a half weeks later, Jones was reassessed on June 4th, his leg and nose improved, allowing him to be declared "Category B" (Service Aboard, not General Service) and that he was "fit as an Observer".

For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal with MID Oak Leaf. Lance Corporal Jones was awarded the Efficiency Decoration by Government Order 22 in 1935, along with the King George V and Queen Mary Silver Jubilee Medal the same year. Jones would continue his military career with the Toronto Regiment, where in the rank of Major, he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal. He would later see service in the Second World War, in the rank of Colonel, and for his service, was awarded the Defence Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945.