Loftus Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Loftus William Jones
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Born | Southsea, Hampshire, England |
13 November 1879
Died | 31 May 1916 HMS Shark, North Sea |
(aged 36)
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 |
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.
Contents
Born 13 November 1879 in Southsea to Admiral Loftus Francis Jones and Gertrude (née Gray), of Petersfield, Hampshire, Jones was educated at Eastman's Royal Naval Academy. He was appointed as a sub-lieutenant to HMS Spiteful in 1901. Promoted to lieutenant on 1 April 1902, he was appointed later that year to HMS Tamar, shore station at Hong Kong, for service on destroyers in reserve at the China Station. 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.
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.
Home town memorial
There is a memorial to him outside St Peter's Church, Petersfield.
See also
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)