Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 139


A fine Second War ‘North Africa’ M.M. group of six awarded to Acting Sergeant P. Jones, Royal Artillery, a long served ‘Desert Rat’ who was decorated for his bravery in the ‘Knightsbridge Box’ during the protracted tank and artillery battles of June 1942: as an N.C.O. commanding the signals of a battery in 2nd R.H.A., it is worth speculating as to whether he was subsequently present at the famous ‘Snipe’ V.C. action in the El Alamein offensive that October


Military Medal, G.VI.R. (784673 A. Sjt. P. Jones, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, generally good very fine (6)


£1,000-£1,400


M.M. London Gazette 24 September 1942. The original recommendation states: ‘Sergeant Jones was the N.C.O. in charge of signals in the Battery at “Knightsbridge” on 6-7 June 1942. This N.C.O. showed a magnificent example to his signallers in his devotion to duty in the repair of his battery communications under fire. He repeatedly mended the lines in most dangerous circumstances and under enemy machine-gun fire. His battery was newly formed and the signallers inexperienced. His fine example, leadership and courage deserve the highest praise and but for his efforts the guns of his battery must inevitably have been silenced on several critical occasions.’


Percy Jones was serving in the 2nd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (R.H.A.) at the time of the above deeds, so had probably witnessed extensive action in the ‘Crusader’ operations of November 1941, when 2nd R.H.A. formed part of 4 Armoured Brigade, and fought alongside the 8th Hussars, and 3rd & 5th Royal Tank Regiments, with 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards in support. But by May 1942, the Battery was attached to the 201st Guards (Motor) Brigade, moving up to the ‘Knightsbridge Box’ on the 28th, just in time to face Rommel’s latest offensive - thus ensued an almighty tank and anti-tank battle in an area that became known as the ‘Cauldron’, heavy losses resulting in XXX Corps’ retreat to El Alamein. From the very start, the Gunners of 2/R.H.A. were under no illusions as to the task ahead, their Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel L. Bolton, D.S.O., having been told by a visiting General that his men had to ‘stay here and die’ - it was Bolton who put Jones up for his M.M. and who later wrote an account of 2nd R.H.A. in the ‘Knightsbridge Box’ for the Royal Artillery Commemoration Book 1939-1945, in which he concluded: ‘It is impossible to single out anyone for special praise. But as I look back on that time from years afterwards I remember most the signallers [such as Jones], who, regardless of the plastering which the Box was getting at the time, went out along the telephone wire from battery position to O.P., discovering and mending the breaks, often under circumstances which must have been very frightening indeed.’


Following the epic battles of the ‘Cauldron’, 2nd R.H.A. transferred to the 1st Armoured Division, in readiness for El Alamein in October 1942, when its batteries fired on average 150 rounds per day. But in so far as Jones is concerned, and not forgetting his role as an N.C.O. in charge of signals, it is worth speculating whether he was among those men chosen to support 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, in the famous ‘Snipe’ action of 26-27 October 1942, for in his definitive history, Alamein, C. E. Lucas Phillips states, ‘one other small party was added to [Lieutenant-Colonel V. B.] Turner’s force - Captain Noyes, 2nd R.H.A., who, with his signallers, came as F.O. O.’ Indeed it is hard to imagine that a man like Jones, already a hardened ‘Desert Rat’ with an M.M. to his name, was not among the very first chosen for this challenging role. Lucas Phillips continues: ‘Shortly after this the garrison unaccountably sustained a serious loss in the disappearance of 2nd R.H.A’s F.O.O. For some reason, Noyes left Turner’s dug-out at about 4 a.m., possibly to find a good position for observation, lost his way, ended up miles away in the lines of the London Rifle Brigade, whence he was never able to return. His signallers remained, but the lack of a F.O.O. was sorely felt.’


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