Extremely rare and collectable sterling silver World War One Tribute Presentation Cigarette Case presented to Private Thomas Alfred (Todger) Jones By his Regiment, The Cheshire Regiment, in recognition of him winning the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. The engraving reads TO PTE. As a small token in recognition of HIS GALLANT CONDUCT FROM W. O’s & SERGTs. Bidston Camp, NOV 1916. The package includes the 1914 Queen Mary Gift Tin belonging to Private Jones and a number of the family press cuttings covering the award of the VC to Private Jones and obituary items. One of the cuttings shows the award of the VC to Private Jones by King George V. Cigarette Case: Weight: 143.1 gm. Dimensions: 120 mm x 75 mm x 15 mm. Hall Mark: Birmingham 1915. Maker’s Mark: Joseph Gloster Ltd. Queen Mary Tin 1914: Weight: 132.1 gm. Dimensions: 130 mm x 85 mm x 30 mm. Thomas Alfred Jones VC, DCM: (25 December 1880 – 30 January 1956). Jones was born in Runcorn, Cheshire and was a Private in the 1st Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment during WW1. He was affectionately known locally as “Todger” Jones. On 25 September 1916, during the Battle of Morval, Jones performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He was with his Company covering the advance in front of a village, when he noticed an enemy sniper 200 yards away. He left his trench on his own and crossed no-man’s land without covering fire. Near the enemy trench he saw two more Germans firing on him while simultaneously displaying a white flag. Jones shot them both. Upon reaching the enemy trench he found several occupied dug-outs and single-handedly disarmed 102 Germans. Three or four were officers and the entire trench was taken by Jones and his comrades. Jones is buried in Runcorn Cemetery and his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Cheshire Military Museum in Chester. Only two Victoria Crosses have been won by the Cheshire Regiment: Private Jones on 25 September 1916 and 2nd Lieutenant Hugh Colvin on 20 September 1917. Summary: As can be seen from the photos and history (above) this is an exceptionally rare package and a real museum piece. Tribute items presented to Victoria Cross winners are very rare and this example is of real value. The item “Silver WW1 Tribute Cigarette Case. Runcorn Victoria Cross Medal Winner TA Jones” is in sale since Wednesday, April 05, 2017. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War I (1914-1918)\Other World War I Militaria”. The seller is “old.gloryhunter” and is located in Richmond. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Australia, United States, Russian federation, Canada, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, China, Israel, Hong Kong, Norway, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Chile.
- Type: Sterling Silver Tribute Cigarette Case
- Conflict: World War I (1914-1918)
- Era: 1914-1945
- Service: Army
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Country/ Organization: Great Britain
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United Kingdom