The Field Officer's Army Gold Medal for St. Sebastian awarded to Major T. Jones, 4th Foot, i...

The Field Officer’s Army Gold Medal for St. Sebastian awarded to Major T. Jones, 4th Foot, in which action he succeeded to the command of not only the regiment but also of the brigade; he was severely wounded at the battle of the Nive and particularly mentioned for his exemplary conduct in command of the supports; in North America at the battle of Bladensburg he took command of the Light Company, was present at the capture of Washington, led the advance on Baltimore and the battle of Godley Wood; he was mortally wounded at New Orleans in January 1815 Field Officer’s Small Gold Medal, for St. Sebastian (Major Timothy Jones, 1st. Bn. 4th. Foot.) complete with gold riband buckle, light spotting to both obverse and reverse, otherwise about extremely fine £26,000-£30,000 --- Only the second Gold Medal for St. Sebastian to appear at auction in more than 30 years. The medal to Captain Thomas Power, 47th Foot, sold in these rooms in June 2012 (£32,000 hammer). Jones’ medal is believed to be the only one to an Officer killed at New Orleans available to collectors. Timothy Jones was first commissioned as Lieutenant in the 4th Foot on 23 October 1799; then Captain on 11 August 1808; Major in the Army on 21 September 1813; and Lieutenant-Colonel on 29 September 1814. He served in the Walcheren Expedition in 1809, and in the Peninsula from November 1810 to November 1812, and from July 1813 to April 1814. He was present at the battle of Fuentes D’Onor; the siege and storming of St. Sebastian; the crossing of the Bidassoa; and at the battles of Nivelle and Nive. Captain Jones was awarded a gold medal for St. Sebastian, on which occasion the 4th King’s Own played a ‘conspicuous and important part in storming the breach on the 31st of August’. The gallant behaviour of the King's Own on this occasion is set forth in the following copy of a letter from Major-General Robinson to the colonel of the regiment: ‘St. Sebastian, 5th September, 1813. My Lord, I feel it my duty to inform your lordship of the gallant conduct of the first battalion of the King's Own at the attack of the breach of these works on the 31st August. The first attack was the exclusive duty of the second brigade, consisting of the Fourth, forty-seventh, and fifty-ninth, with a company of Brunswick Oels sharp-shooters; or rather of a thousand men of the brigade; the remainder, to the amount of two hundred and fifty, were in the trenches and waited further orders. The Fourth led, and perhaps in the whole history of war there cannot be found a stronger instance of courage and obedience to orders, for the instructions were to make a lodgement on the breach only; there to wait support. The lodgement was effected under the most tremendous fire of grape and musquetry that can be imagined, and our loss was dreadful, that of the Fourth only is twelve officers, nineteen serjeants, and two hundred and thirty rank and file killed and wounded. The other regiments emulated the Fourth, and called forth the acclamations of the generals, and thousands who were looking on. It was not until after three hours hard fighting that the lodgement was certain, after which, by the premature springing of one of the enemy's mines, the town was soon carried. This action, so soon after that of Vittoria, requires that I should report the conduct of the regiment in the warmest manner to your lordship, and I feel it but justice to a few individuals, who from accidental causes had opportunities of doing more than others, to mention their names. Captain Williamson commanded the regiment, and was twice wounded after he had reached the top of the breach. Captain Jones succeeded, not only to the command of the regiment, but on my being obliged to quit the field, to that of the brigade, and acquitted himself most admirably. My acting aide-de-camp, Captain Wood, left me at my request, and by his judgment and example contributed materially to the success of the daring attempt. The three are excellent officers, and will ere long, I hope, prove themselves equal to the duties of a higher station.’ Jones was severely wounded at the battle of the Nive on 10 December 1813, and was mentioned in Wellington’s Nive despatch for his ‘exemplary conduct in command of the supports.’ He was afterwards present with the regiment at the investment of Bayonne in 1814. North America 1814-15 - Bladensburg and Washington The regiment was then posted to North America where it saw action at the battle of Bladensburg, 24 August; the capture of Washington, 24-25 August; the attack on Baltimore, 12-14 September 1814; and the battle of Godley Wood. Captain L. M. Bennett, of the 4th Foot, writing to his brother in Dublin, described what took place: ‘I am just returned with the Army after destroying Washington. We disembarked on the 19th August and advanced on the Mons Road to Marlborough, without meeting any opposition from that place to Bladensburg, where we found the enemy had taken up their position, which was situated at the other side of the village. As soon as our Advanced Guard, which consisted of half of our Light Company and a company of the 85th Regt., made their appearance they opened a heavy fire of artillery and musquetry which completely raked the road. We advanced with about 200 men to feel our way with Col. Thornton of the 85th, one of the bravest soldiers I ever met, he was severely wounded. In a few minutes, however, we had got on their flanks and kept up a heavy fire of musquetry from our Light Company which formed the Brigade and which Major Jones, a Captain of our regiment had got the command. In a short time the 85th Regiment, which is a Light Regiment, came into action with our Regiment. The Americans lay on top of a hill until the two Regiments advanced and then opened one of the most tremendous volleys of musquetry and artillery that can possibly be imagined. In a few minutes they gave way and ran in every direction never firing a single shot until they got beyond Washington. After our men rested themselves and interred the brave officers which fell, they advanced to Washington, and just as it got dark, the advance which I was with entered the city; there was a house standing just on the left as you entered the city which was full of men, and on our approach they fired on us, but fortunately did not do any damage, but killed the General's horse under him. We soon put them to flight and instantly set fire to the house; the advance went on with the General and set fire to all the public buildings. We remained there all the next day, as the Main Body of our Army made a movement out of the town and took up a position. We (the Light Brigade) advanced up towards St George's and the inhabitants of Washington were sure we were going to proceed to George's Town, the inhabitants of which sent in a deputation offering to give up the town if we would spare their houses, which the General made them believe until it got almost dark, and then we were to follow the Main Body which went off long before from the position outside the town of Bladensburg. The enemy had nine pieces of artillery and ten thousand men. Our loss has been trifling, eight officers wounded and one killed out of the regiment.’ Jones is mentioned in various accounts of the capture of Washington and played a prominent part in the burning of the place: ‘... Major Timothy Jones had led another British column up Pennsylvania Avenue. During the long night of burning no one had investigated the rather pedestrian brick building that housed the State, War and Navy Departments just west of the executive mansion. Now the men of the 1st Brigade, followed by some 30 blacks carrying powder and rockets, were on their way to remedy the omission... The...