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For the best account of his life, military career, and death, see www.angloboerwar.com/medals-and-awards/1...-robert-james-thomas

www.vconline.org.uk/robert-digby-jones-vc/4586516731




In St Mary's Scottish Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh.



......Extract from Gen. Sir George White's Despatch, 11th Dec. 1899. "Last night, Lt. Col. Metcalf, 2nd Rifle Brigade, with 500 men of his
......battalion, made sortie to capture Surprise Hill, and destroy the 4.7. Howitzer mounted there. They reached the
......crest of the hill undiscovered and drove off the enemy. The gun was destroyed by gun cotton successfully, by
......Lieutenant Digby Jones, Royal Engineers."
......Honours Gazette, April 19th 1901. "Memorandum, Lieutenant Robert James Thomas Digby Jones, Royal Engineers, would
......have been recommended to His Majesty for the Victoria Cross, had he survived, on account of having during the
......attack on Waggon Hill, (Ladysmith), 6th of January 1900, displayed conspicuous bravery and gallant conduct in
......leading the force which re-occupied the top of the hill, at a critical moment just as the three foremost
......attacking Boers reached it, the leader being shot by Lieutenant Jones."






At Sedbergh School. First, on the school's ABW memorial.....




On the school's memorial to its Victoria Cross winners.....



The school has a display of Victoria Crosses won by its former pupils; However, Lieutenant Digby Jones's actual cross is on display at the Royal Engineers Museum, in Kent.
www.memorialstovalour.co.uk/vc455.html



The photos relating to Sedbergh School are courtesy of the school.

His name on a memorial board at the Royal Engineers Museum - right-hand row, next-to-bottom of the list.




Digby Jones's grave in Ladysmith Cemetery.



....Lieutenant Thomas Digby Jones, of the Royal Engineers, was a son of Mr Charles Digby Jones, 12 Chester Street, Edinburgh. Twenty-three years of age, the deceased officer obtained his commission in the Royal Engineers about three years ago. He went out from Chatham in the month of July last Year as one of the officers of the 23d (Field) Company of his regiment, and proceeded straight to Ladysmith, where he remained till he ended a promising career in the fierce engagement of Saturday last. Lieutenant Jones was specially mentioned in one of General Buller's despatches as having distinguished himself in the Gun Hill affair of 8th December by destroying with explosives certain of the enemy's heavy guns. The deceased officer was a capital athlete.
The Glasgow Herald, Monday 15th January 1900


....The subaltern in charge of a working party of sappers was Lieutenant Digby Jones, a youth of 22, who had already won fame by the destruction of the howitzer on Surprise Hill. When the enemy first appeared on the crest of Wagon Hill Lieutenant Digby Jones engaged the storming party from a sangar on the west front. Driven from that position, he had been conspicuous throughout the engagement for an act of heroism that attracted the notice of Colonel Hamilton, who had decided to recommend him for the Victoria Cross. Collecting a mixed company of Rifles and Highlanders he led them against the new position held by the enemy. As they dashed up the narrow path the Boers, never imagining that men could display such reckless courage, called upon them to throw up their hands. Bullet and bayonet convinced them of their error, and the position was ours.
....But fate was holding the shears over the thread of this historic lieutenant. An hour or two afterwards, when we had at great sacrifice reconquered the western limit of the hill, Lieutenant Digby Jones was in the grim emplacement with Major Miller Wallnutt and one or two men. The enemy had been driven back, yet maintained a searching fire, and having received strong reinforcements rushed for another advance. Suddenly three or four great dark shadows were cast over the parapet for which there were no loopholes. Von Wyk, leader of the Harrismith Commando, Field Cornet De Villiers, and another great Boer, were making their last desperate charge. Major Miller Wallnutt shot his man, and fell himself from a bullet aimed at the back of his head. A corporal of the sappers slew De Villiers, whose bandolier was almost filled with explosive bullets. Lieutenant Digby Jones, running out of the emplacement, shot the Commandant Von Wyk before he himself ended a short yet heroic career with a Mauser bullet though the throat. His young and brave comrade, Lieutenant Dennis, R.E., fell soon afterwards while going to the aid of the wounded. There remained a small yet heroic band of Boers, who either would not or could not retire. They were hidden among some rocks about thirty yards from the brow of the hill. Their fire was deadly in its searching accuracy. One man alone is credited with having shot no fewer than five officers. Colonel Hamilton asked Colonel Park whether anything could be done to remove them. "A charge," suggested the commander of the Devons. The order was given, and the three companies went forward with a cheer across the open, shot-swept ground. The enemy did not wait to receive the cold steel, but threw themselves over the hill in headlong flight, trusting to speed and the flooding sheet of rain. The battle was over. For sixteen hours it had raged, and the very heavens had been shaken with the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry. Ladysmith had not fallen.
The Dundee Courier, Tuesday 13th February 1900


....Lieutenant R. Digby Jones, R.E., and Trooper H. Albrecht, Imperial Light Horse, would have been recommended to His Majesty for the Victoria Cross had they survived, on account of their having during the attack on Waggon Hill, Ladysmith, 6th January 1900, displayed conspicuous bravery in leading the force which reoccupied the top of the hill at a critical moment, just as the three foremost attacking Boers reached it, the leader being shot by Lieutenant Jones and the two others by Trooper Albrecht.
Dundee Evening Telegraph, Saturday 20th April 1901


Other memorials to Lieutenant Digby Jones include a brass plaque at St John's Church, Alnmouth, Northumberland, which seems to be "in store," and an inscription on his parents' gravestone in Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.

Here's Digby Jones' memorial on Wagon Point [the western tip of wagon Hill], as it looks these days.
It is on the spot where he fell - a beautiful and peaceful place.

Thanks, Rob.

I have the QSA clasps Talana & Defence of Ladysmith to 21027 Sgt. Charles Jackson posthumously MID by Sir George White 2 December 1900.

David

David, here is a higher res image of the memorial, showng Sgt Jackson's name a bit clearer.
Rob