Major Percy Arnold Lloyd Jones
DSO (1915) BA (1898) MRCS LRCP (Lond 1904) MB BS (Camb 1907)
17 Oct 1876 [Altrincham Chester] – 22 Dec 1916 [France]
RAMC Aldershot November 1904
Major Percy Arnold Lloyd Jones was the son of Mr Ebenezer Lloyd Jones schoolmaster of Brooklands, Sale Cheshire and Margaret Wood. He attended Brooklands School, Sale and the Manchester Grammar School where he matriculated in 1895. He was a student at St Bartholomew's Hospital, and took the diplomas of MRCS and LRCP London in 1904. He graduated BA Cambridge with honours in 1898, and MB and Bachelor of Surgery from Cambridge in 1907.
From 18 January 1900 to 22 January 1901, he volunteered to serve in the war in South Africa as a private soldier in the Suffolk Regiment, gaining the Queen's medal with three clasps. After qualifying in medicine, Major Percy Arnold Lloyd Jones worked as a house surgeon at Bedford County Hospital. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 30 July 1904.
In December 1908, while serving in Malta, Major Percy Arnold Lloyd Jones formed part of the medical contingent which sailed on New Year's Eve on HMS Duncan to Catona in Calabria. On 28 December 1908, at around 5 in the morning, Malta was shaken by a severe earth tremor which was followed two and a half hours later by a tidal wave. This rose to a height of 7 feet in the harbours, flooding the road at the end of Pieta Creek. In the evening news reached Malta from Sicily of the calamity that had befallen its northern neighbour.
A Field Ambulance mobilized from Malta to succour the victims of the earthquake which had totally destroyed Messina (pop. 150,000) and Reggio di Calabria (pop. 50,000). About 100,000 inhabitants were estimated to have perished in the rubble and accompanying tsunami. For his services in Sicily he was made an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy.
During the Great War, Major Percy Arnold Lloyd Jones commanded a Field Ambulance with the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was mentioned in dispatches, and received the Companion Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 23 June 1915. He died of wounds on 22 December 1916, aged 40 years and was buried at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery, Saulty Pas de Calais, France.
Service Record
30 July 1904 Appointed Lieutenant RAMC on probation.
Jan 1906 Change of Station from Bulford to Tidworth.
Feb 1906 Change of Station from Tidworth to Malta.
10 Feb 1906 Arrived at Malta.
May 1906 On duty at Ghajn Tuffieha Camp where he was temporarily relieved by Lt Frederick Emilius Roberts.
July 1906 On duty at Ghajn Tuffieha Camp.
Feb 1907 On duty at Valletta Military hospital.
1 Apr 1907 On home Leave.
30 June 1907 Returned from leave.
30 Jan 1908 Promoted Captain RAMC.
1908 On duty at Valletta Malta.
June 1908 On duty in the country in charge of camps.
28 Dec 1908 Part of a relief party sent to Sicily following an earthquake in Calabria on 28 Dec 1908.
19 Apr 1909 On home leave.
1 Aug 1909 Returned from leave; on duty at Valletta.
29 Oct 1909 Appointed Chevalier of the Crown of Italy for services at Calabria. The award was conferred at the Palace Valletta by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief on 29 October 1909.
1910 On duty at the Forrest Military Hospital St Julian's.
Sep 1910 On duty at Valletta Military Hospital.
2 Oct 1910 On home leave.
Dec 1910 Change of Station from Malta to Cork.
July 1911 Change of Station from Limerick to Nenagh Camp.
28 July 1911 Invested a Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy, by HM the King of Italy, in recognition of his services in connection with the Messina earthquake.
Sep 1911 Change of Station from Nenagh Camp to Kinsale.
Oct 1911 Change of Station from Kinsale to Royal Army Medical College.
July 1912 Change of Station from Royal Army Medical College to Aldershot.
Oct 1912 Change of Station from Aldershot to London.
26 Nov 1912–5 Feb 1913 Served in the Balkans Campaign with the British Red Cross Society.
Jan 1913 Change of Station from London to Aldershot.
1913 Specialist in Ophthalmology.
13 Aug 1914–1916 Served with the British Expeditionary Force in France, commanding 4 Field Ambulance with the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
1 July 1915 Promoted Major RAMC.
Feb 1916 Granted the rank of Temporary Lieutenant Colonel while in command of a Field Ambulance.
Mar 1916 Relinquished his temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel on re-posting.
22 Dec 1916 Died of wounds on active service in France.
Bibliography
- Entry No: 406. Drew R. 1968. Commissioned Officers in the Medical Services of the British Army 1690–1960. Vol II Roll of Officers in the Royal Army Medical Corps 1898–1960, London: Wellcome Historical Medical Library.
- Succession Books Vol XXII, Returns of statement of service of RAMC Officers.
- Casualties in the Medical Services, Br Med J (1917); 1:28 (Published 6 January 1917).