Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 34


A Great War ‘East Mediterranean’ D.S.M. group of four awarded to Air Mechanic W. E. Jones, No. 2 Wing, Royal Naval Air Service, who was wounded when his Heni Farman was shot down over Mudros on 30 March 1917, and was subsequently taken Prisoner of War


Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (217874. W. E. Jones, A.M. 1 Gr. R.N.A.S. E. Mediterranean 1917.); 1914-15 Star (217874 W. E. Jones. A.M.1, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (217874 W. E. Jones. L.M. R.N.); together with a privately commissioned R.N.A.S. brooch, this lacking reverse pin, good very fine (4)


£2,000-£2,400 D.S.M. London Gazette 1 October 1917: ‘For services in reconnaissance and bombing flights in the Eastern Mediterranean.’


William Edward Jones was born at Ruabon, Denbighshire, on 1 May 1886, and joined the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 21 Octobr 1901. He was advanced Able Seaman on 12 October 1905, and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Chatham on 22 August 1908. Recalled for service during the Great War, he transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service, and was posted to No. 2 Wing.


No. 2 Wing, R.N.A.S., the HQ of which was H.M.S. Ark Royal at Mudros, was known as the Aegean Group. It flew seaplanes and landplanes from aerodromes situated on various small islands in the Aegean Sea off the Turkish, Bulgarian and the Greek coasts. This including bases at Mudros, Stavros, Thasos and Imbros. The aircraft used at this time were usually a mixed bag of types and many aircraft obsolete from use on the Western Front. For example, a typical raid flying from Thasos in in late 1916 consisted of four Henri Farmans, a Nieuport two seater and one or two Bristol Scouts! Pilots were often involved flying for long distances over the sea and rugged enemy held territory in Thrace and Macedonia, bombing strategic targets in the eastern Mediterranean. The problems of flying in this area were compounded by heat and dust which often meant overheated and clogged engines.


Having been advanced Leading Mechanic, was taken Prisoner of War when his Henri Farman F27, of 2 Wing R.N.A.S., piloted by Flight Sub-Lieutenant B. A. Trechmann, was shot down over Mudros on 30 March 1917: ‘Engaged and brought down during this engagement by a bullet-proof Fokker, piloted by Budeke, they landed among a crown of Turks. The pilot, Trechmann, succeeded in keeping them off with his revolver until he had burnt his machine, and was then fêted by the enemy aviators and driven around the town in the Vali’s carriage, being sent to Constantinople the following day. His observer, W. A. Jones, being wounded in the foot, was taken to hospital in Smyrna.’


For his services with the Eastern Mediterranean Station, Royal Naval Air Service, Jones was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the London Gazette entry recording that he was, at the time of the award, a Prisoner of War. Repatriated at the end of the War, he was shore demobilised on 25 March 1919.


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