Henry Mitchell Jones
Encyclopedia
Henry Mitchell Jones VC
(11 February 1831 - 18 December 1916) was an Irish
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.
Jones was born in Dublin. He was 24 years old, and a captain in the 7th Regiment (later The Royal Fusiliers), British Army
during the Crimean War
. The 19th century conflict pitted France, Turkey and Britain against Russia in the Crimean peninsula on the Black Sea. The Royal Fusiliers fought at the Battle of the Alma in September 1854 and at Inkerman in November 1854. The Regiment endured brutal winter conditions during the Sebastopol, and were present through the end of that siege in September, 1855.
Jones was awarded the VC for the following deed. On 7 June 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea
, Captain Jones distinguished himself while serving with the party which stormed and took the Quarries. He repeatedly led his men to repel the continual assaults of the enemy during the night. Although wounded early in the evening, Jones remained at his post until after daylight the following morning.
He later served as a Consul General and died in Eastbourne
, Sussex
on 18 December 1916.
Jones' Victoria Cross is displayed at the Victoria Barracks
in Sydney
, New South Wales
, Australia.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(11 February 1831 - 18 December 1916) was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Jones was born in Dublin. He was 24 years old, and a captain in the 7th Regiment (later The Royal Fusiliers), British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
. The 19th century conflict pitted France, Turkey and Britain against Russia in the Crimean peninsula on the Black Sea. The Royal Fusiliers fought at the Battle of the Alma in September 1854 and at Inkerman in November 1854. The Regiment endured brutal winter conditions during the Sebastopol, and were present through the end of that siege in September, 1855.
Jones was awarded the VC for the following deed. On 7 June 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, Captain Jones distinguished himself while serving with the party which stormed and took the Quarries. He repeatedly led his men to repel the continual assaults of the enemy during the night. Although wounded early in the evening, Jones remained at his post until after daylight the following morning.
He later served as a Consul General and died in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
on 18 December 1916.
Jones' Victoria Cross is displayed at the Victoria Barracks
Victoria Barracks
There are several Victoria Barracks in the world.*Victoria Barracks, Windsor Castle*Victoria Barracks, Melbourne*Victoria Barracks, Hong Kong*Victoria Barracks, Sydney*Victoria Barracks, Brisbane...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia.
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (East Sussex)