Elmer Watson Jones

L/Col Elmer W Jones DSO (with bar)

LCol E W Jones

Commanded the Battalion from May 23, 1916 to August 8, 1918

KIA Aug 8, 1918

(The following is taken from the 21st Battalion Historical Calendar)

Succeeded Brigadier-General W. St. Pierre Hughes in command of the 21st Canadian Battalion. The unit of the Canadian Active Militia in which he served was the 41st Regiment (Rifles), of Brockville, Ontario. In 1907 he transferred from his home Regiment to the Reserve of Officers, with the rank of Captain. When war broke out he was practising law at Vancouver, B.C., but came East, applied for an appointment with the 21st Canadian Battalion, and became the first Officer Commanding "A" Company. He was promoted to the rank of Major while commanding his company on the 9th of February, 1915, and was appointed Second-in-Command of the Battalion in France in January, 1916. His service with the "21st" had been continuous except for a period of convalescence in England from wounds received in the attack on Vimy Ridge on the 9th of April, 1917. During his absence the Battalion was commanded by Major (Acting Lieut.-Colonel) T. F. Elmitt, D.S.O. The late Colonel Jones returned to France and resumed command on the 6th of July, 1917. On the 8th of August, 1918, he was mortally wounded when advancing with the Battalion in the attack on Marcelcave. East of Amiens, and expired a few minutes later. The remains were interred in the Military Cemetery of Longeau.

Extract from Captain R. J. Renison's (formerly Chaplain) Story of "Battle of Amiens," in "Canada"

"The late Lieut.-Colonel Elmer W. Jones, D.S.O., was one of the most brilliant and beloved officers in the Canadian Army, a man of wide culture, born in Brockville. At the beginning of the war be came over with the Battalion early in 195. A veteran of St. Eloi, the Somme, and Vimy, he was a father to every man in the Battalion. His influence over his officers was quite extraordinary. He called them all by their Christian names, and his humorous badinage touched the spot with unerring instinct. His last con-ference with his company officers was a lesson in personality. He sat on a couch in the dug-out, with hand and leg bandaged, for he had not recovered from a painful accident of a week before. In his quiet tone he gave each his final instructions. His confidence in them and their affectionate respect for him were beautiful to behold."

Summary of Service Record


Mar 23, 1874	Born at Brockville ON
Nov 8, 1914	Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston ON Ø Next of kin given as Isobel Jones of Brockville Ø Occupation given as “Barrister at Law” Ø Previous service given as “8 years in 41^st Regiment” NOTE: The attestation papers in his service file are not the same as those posted by LAC online. It appears that someone at LAC has hand copied the version in his file. The copy online states his weight as 162 lbs, while the copy in the service file states it as 102 lbs. There are other more subtle differences as well. In addition, there is a stamp on the service file copy stating it was copied by “Archives”. This marking does not appear on the online version.
Feb 11, 1915	Promoted to Captain
Feb 12, 1915	Granted leave of absence until 8.00 am Feb 15, 1915
Mar 11, 1915	Promoted to Major effective Feb 9, 1915 – with “A” Coy.
May 6, 1915	Embarked the SS Metagama at Montreal for England
May 15, 1915	Disembarked in England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp
Sep 14, 1915	Embarked at Folkstone and disembarked at Boulogne
Oct 10, 1915	Admitted to Rest Station at St. Noir with Whooping Cough.
Oct 20, 1915	Returned to duty (whooping cough)
Jan 18, 1916	Proceeded to England on leave
Jan 26, 1916	Returned to duty from leave
Apr 23, 1916	Admitted to No 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with Nervous Debility then Transferred to Ambulance Train from No 5 Canadian Field Ambulance, then moved to No 12 Casualty Clearing Station
Apr 24, 1916	Discharged to duty
May 12, 1916	Granted leave until May 26, 1916

May 23, 1916	Promoted to L/Col and Command of 21^st Battalion, antedated from July 13, 1916
Jun 18, 1916	To 1^st Field Ambulance – sick
Jun 19, 1916	Admitted to North Midland Casualty Clearing Station with Myopia
Jun 29, 1916	Discharged to duty
Jul 13, 1916	Promoted to Lieut Col to replace Lieut Col Hughes who is proceeding to England. Promotion is antedated to May 23, 1916. London Gazette # 29832
Nov 13, 1916	Mentioned in Despatches
Nov 15, 1916	Proceeded to “Officer’s Commanding” course
Nov 20, 1916	Returned to duty from course
Dec 29, 1916	Awarded the Distinguished Service Order – London Gazette No 29886
Jan 19, 1917	Granted 30 days leave
Apr 9, 1917	Gun Shot Wound to left leg and left arm at Vimy Ridge, sent to No ? Field Ambulance.
Apr 12, 1917	It was reported to his wife that he had been wounded on Apr 9, 1917
Apr 13, 1917	Taken On Strength of General Service List then detached to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot at Brighton
Apr 14, 1917	Admitted to 1^st London General Hospital, Camberwell with gun shot wounds to left arm and left leg. Fracture of left fibula.
May 16, 1917	Wounds healed and fragments united. Discharged. Leg is swollen and walks with a limp. Declared unfit for any service for 1 month.
May 21, 1917	Transferred to Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot at Seaford
May 31, 1917	Taken on Strength Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot at Seaford

Jun 10, 1917	Struck off Strength Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot on reposting to 6^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford
Jun 18, 1917	Struck off Strength Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot on reporting to 6^th Reserve Battalion then granted leave until July 4, 1917
Jul 6, 1917	Ceases to be detached to Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot on arrival from England to rejoin unit
Jul 6, 1917	Struck off Strength 6^th Reserve Battalion having proceeded overseas to join his unit
Aug 19, 1917	In temporary command of 4^th Canadian Infantry Brigade
Aug 26, 1917	Ceases to command 4^th Infantry Brigade
Sep 14, 1917	Admitted to No 10 Canadian Field Ambulance with Eczema and Dyspepsia in legs
Sep 20, 1917	Discharged to duty
Oct 6, 1917	Granted 10 days leave of absence
Oct 20, 1917	Rejoined unit from leave
Dec 28, 1917	Mentioned In Despatches London Gazette # 39448
Jan 12, 1918	Granted 14 days leave of absence
Jan 29, 1918	In temporary command of 4^th Canadian Infantry Brigade
Feb 12, 1918	Ceases to command 4^th Infantry Brigade
Feb 23, 1918	Proceeded to Paris for instructional duties
Feb 28, 1918	Rejoined unit
Apr 8, 1918	Admitted to Casualty Clearing Station of 6^th Canadian Field Ambulance with Gastritis then moved to No 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital with Gastric Ulcer
Apr 9, 1918	Admitted to No 1 Red Cross Hospital
Apr 10, 1918	Admitted to Duchess Westminster Hospital, Le Touquet
Apr 15, 1918	Discharged to duty

May 13, 1918	Awarded Bar to DSO, London Gazette # 30681 Citation reads: BAR TO DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER The additional description is from his service record: “For marked devotion to duty and exceptional gallantry, in connection with a strong hostile operation followed by a successful raid made upon the enemy. Hostile forces, strength about 280, having entered our trenches under an intense barrage and liquid fire, he promptly, and under very heavy fire, went forward, to direct the Counter Attack which was entirely successful. His well prepared plans and promptness in action, turned the operation entirely in our favour with few casualties, and restored our line without the enemy having gained identification. Under his direction, this success was followed by a raiding party, entering the German lines, and with few casualties, bringing back prisoners, and inflicting on the enemy, severe losses, in killed, and destruction of dug-outs. This officer had displayed marked resourcefulness in action, on numerous occasions.”
May 18, 1918	Proceeded on course at Fort Mahon
May 26, 1918	Rejoined unit from course
May 28, 1918	Mentioned In Despatches London Gazette # 30706

Jun 29, 1918	Granted 14 days leave of absence
Jul 14, 1918	Rejoined unit from leave
Aug 8, 1918	Killed in Action
	Longueau British Cemetery Longueau France photo on top shows the battlefield cross erected prior to CWGC stone
Feb 19, 1921	Death Plaque and Scroll, DSO with Bar, 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal, and British War Medal, sent to widow, Mrs Isobel Stamford Jones, Devonshire Apts, Brockville ON
Jan 26, 1922	Cross of Sacrifice sent to widow and mother, both at Devonshire Apts, Brockville ON
Jun 6, 1927	Replacement of Widow’s Memorial Cross sent to Messrs McGuerin, Hayden & Ebbs, Barristers etc., Bangs Chambers, 19 Elgin Street, Ottawa.
	From the July 1935 issue of the Communiqué