Keep the Home Fires Burning - detailing wartime life in the towns and villages mentioned.

NBT 1917 June 12th Tue.

Details have been received regarding the presentation of the military cross to Lieutenant Harold Jones, Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, at headquarters in France on May 30th. The son of the village schoolmaster, Lieutenant Jones was in command of two platoons which formed the flank guard of a company raiding the enemy’s trenches. The considerable opposition was successfully dealt with, and the action set an example of pluck and dash in attacking a crater strongly held with machine guns. During the withdrawal of the main body the flank guard came under very heavy machine gun fire from several directions, but again Lieutenant Jones showed great skill and courage in dealing with the situation. His party suffered heavy casualties, but by his own example of indifference to fire he encouraged the men to make the efforts which largely contributed to the success of the operations. Since his platoon were unable to return to their own lines during the day, he remained with them in the open until nightfall, when he brought them - together with all the wounded - back to the trenches. Before the war, Lieutenant Jones was an apprentice with Mr. F. Taylor, A.R.I.B.A., Bourbon Street, Aylesbury but as a volunteer he joined the Public School Brigade, attached to the Royal Fusiliers. After serving for six months in France he returned to Balliol College, Oxford, to train for a commission with the Officer Cadet Brigade, and again went to France in November, 1916, as a 2nd Lieutenant of the Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry.