Henry Jones was born in Dublin in 1831 and joined the British army in 1849, serving in several regiments including the Royal Irish Rifles and Royal Fusiliers. During the Crimean War in 1854-1856, Henry fought bravely at the Battle of Alma and the Siege of Sevastopol, where he was badly wounded but remained at his post defending his men. For his actions at Sevastopol, Henry was awarded the Victoria Cross, though it was not officially gazetted until 1857. After resigning his military commission, Henry had a long career in diplomacy, serving as Consul General in various locations until his retirement in 1898. He died in Eastbourne, England in 1916.

1. Early Life
Henry Jones the son of Robert and Charlotte was born in Dublin on the 11th February 1831.
Military Life
On the 10th April 1849 he joined the 18th Regiment of Foot later the Royal Irish Rifles as an Ensign but within 18
months was commissioned by purchase as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 60th Regiment of Foot, The Kings Royal Rifle
Corps. In 1854 he transferred again as a full Lieutenant to the 7th Royal Fusiliers.
The Royal Fusiliers saw service in the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856.
Their first action was at the Battle of the Alma on the 20th September 1854 where Henry carried the Regimental
Colours along with Lt. Coney. During this action Henry was badly wounded receiving a number of gunshot
wounds. Thirty years later when receiving dental treatment a bullet was found still lodged in his jaw.
On the 7th June 1855 during the Siege of Sevastopol Henry won the Victoria Cross. The citation reads:
“For having distinguished himself, while serving with the party which stormed and took the Quarries, before
Sebastopol, by repeatedly leading on his men to repel the continual assaults of the enemy during the night.
Although wounded early in the evening, Captain Jones remained unflinchingly at his post until after daylight the
following morning.”
Henry Mitchell Jones VC
Rank: Lieutenant (Acting Captain)
Date of Birth: 11th February 1831
Battalion: 7th Royal Fusiliers

2. However the award was not gazetted until September 1857 by which time Henry had resigned his position with the rank of Captain.
Henry was also awarded France’s highest military award the Legion d’ Honneur.
The delay in receiving confirmation of the VC may have led to his early resignation. There seems to be evidence that Henry actually applied to the War
Office himself for the VC threatening to resign if it were not awarded. Although not common practice it is known that a small number of Officers did indeed
apply for this distinguished award during the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny.
Henry re-joined the Army in late 1861 but resigned his commission within two years to join the Diplomatic service.
Later Life
From 1863 until his retirement in 1898 Henry served as Consul General in various parts of the world, including as far a field as Fiji and closer to home in
Norway. Henry died in Eastbourne, Sussex on 11th December 1916, aged 85 years.
One year later on the 4th October 1917 his only son Oliver was killed in action whilst serving with the 9th Battalion Nottingham and Derbyshire Regiment
(The Sherwood Foresters).
Henry Jones’s medals including his Victorial Cross are held by the Army Museum of New South wales, Victoria Barracks, Sydney, Australia.