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PO.9911 PRIVATE ALFRED JONES, RMLI. SERVED IN HMS. 'KENT' AT THE BATTLE OF THE FALKLANDS
1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal 1914-19 (PO.9911 Pte. RMLI.) : (ALFRED JONES - Born 4 July 1881 in the Parish of St.George, London, a barman on 23 September 1898 when he attested for the Royal Marines. Joined the Recruit Depot, Walmer the same day and was posted to Portsmouth Division, RMLI. from 1 January 1899. Served both at sea in numerous ships and at various shore establishments and on 6 July 1905 was discharged upon payment in the amount of £4.00 and his agreement to join Portsmouth Royal Fleet Reserve. Mobilised with the outbreak of war he joined Portsmouth Division, RMLI on 8 September 1914 and moved to the Monmouth Class Armoured Cruiser, HMS. 'Kent' on 3 October 1914. He was serving in the ship when it was ordered to the South Atlantic to join the Squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Christopher Craddock, in the search for the German East Asia Squadron, but was diverted en-route to hunt for the German light cruiser, 'Karlsruhe' in the area of Cape Verde. Meanwhile Craddock's Squadron had encountered the Germans and had been completely destroyed at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November 1914 : HMS.'Kent' with the Squadron commanded by Vice-Admiral Doveton Sturdee, proceeded to the Falkland Islands where it arrived on 7 December 1914. On the morning of the following day, two German ships appeared, these being the lead ships of the German Squadron, although at about 09.20hrs. they were driven off by gun-fire from the battleship HMS.'Canopus', when they came within range : 'Kent' was sent out to keep the Germans under observation giving time for Sturdee's Squadron to raise steam. By 10.30hrs. the Squadron cleared harbour and Sturdee ordered a 'General Chase' of the German Squadron, which had scattered in all directions : 'Kent' pursued the German light-cruiser, SMS.'Nurnberg' and thus began an epic chase which was to last for several hours : Because 'Kent' was short of coal the crew threw in everything that woud burn and the ship reached a speed of 24 knots and managed to close to within 11,000 yards of 'Nurnberg' : At 17.00hrs. the German ship opened fire and shortly afterwards 'Kent' returned fire with her forward guns, but at that time neither ship scored a hit : At about 17.35hrs. two worn out boilers in the German ship burst, which reduced it's speed to around 19 knots, allowing 'Kent' to close to within 4,000 yards : The German ship turned to fight and although most of it's 4inch shells failed to damage 'Kent' one did burst inside a gun position, killing or wounding most of the gun-crew and another burst inside the wireless compartment, knocking out the radio transmitter. Shells from 'Kent' so severely battered 'Nurnberg' that by 18.25hrs. it was dead in the water, with only two guns still operational and able to fire. Ten minutes later these too were put out of action and the German ship was aflame, within half an hour it capsized and sank. 'Kent' searched for survivors until 21.00hrs. but only managed to locate a dozen men, five of whom later died. So ended an engagement which had started eleven hours earlier: 'Kent' had been hit by German shells no fewer than 37 times but none had penetrated it's armour. Four crew members had been killed with a further twelve wounded in the action : Critically short of coal 'Kent' had to steam slowly back to the Falklands and did not arrive there until the following afternoon, 9 December 1914. The recipient remained in 'Kent' and was present in the Pacific on 14 March 1915 when the ship was engaged at the Battle of Mas a Terra, during which the German cruiser SMS. 'Dresden' was sunk. : Both 'Nurnberg' and 'Dresden' had been part of the German Squadron responsibe for the destruction of Craddock's Squadron at Coronel on 1 November 1914 : The recipient remained in 'Kent' until 11 January 1917 when he was returned to Portsmouth Division : On 29 July 1917 he was serving in the SS 'Bestwood' when it was involved in a collision with SS. 'Leander', twelve miles NW of South Bishop Light House. As a result of the collision 'Bestwood' sank and the recipient was drowned. He has no known grave and is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial.) Sold with verification, copy Service Record, copy CWGC. information and other related research EF - £345