Loftus Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Loftus William Jones
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| Born | 13 November 1879 Southsea, Hampshire, England |
| Died | 31 May 1916 (aged 36) HMS Shark, North Sea |
| Buried |
Kviberg Cemetery, Gothenburg, Sweden
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Years of service | 1896–1916 † |
| Rank | Commander |
| Commands held |
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| Battles/wars | World War I
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| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
Loftus William Jones was a very brave English naval officer. He lived from 1879 to 1916. He is famous for receiving the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for bravery. This special medal is given to British and Commonwealth forces for amazing courage in battle.
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Loftus William Jones was born on November 13, 1879, in a place called Southsea, England. His father was Admiral Loftus Francis Jones. Loftus went to Eastman's Royal Naval Academy to study.
He joined the Royal Navy and became a sub-lieutenant in 1901. A sub-lieutenant is a junior officer in the navy. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1902. Later, he served on destroyers in Hong Kong.
Jones became a commander during the First World War. He was in charge of a ship called HMS Shark.
Bravery at the Battle of Jutland
On May 31, 1916, Commander Jones was 36 years old. His ship, HMS Shark, was part of a huge sea battle. This battle was called the Battle of Jutland. It was one of the biggest naval battles of World War I.
During the battle, Commander Jones showed incredible bravery. He performed an act of courage that earned him the Victoria Cross. He stayed with his ship, HMS Shark, and went down with it during the battle.
The Victoria Cross Medal
The Victoria Cross is the most important award for bravery in the British military. It is given for showing great courage when facing the enemy. Commander Jones received this medal because of his actions at the Battle of Jutland.
His medal was bought by Lord Ashcroft in 2012. You can see it on display at the Imperial War Museum in London. It is in the Victoria Cross and George Cross gallery.
Remembering Commander Jones
There is a special memorial to Commander Loftus William Jones. It is located outside St Peter's Church, Petersfield. This memorial helps people remember his bravery and sacrifice.
