MANSEL-JONES, CONWYN,
Captain, was born at Beidington, Surrey, on 14 June, 1871, youngest son of
Herbert Riversdale Mansel-Jones, Judge of County Courts, and Emilia,
daughter of John Davis, of Cranbrook Park, Essex. He was educated at
Haileybury and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and obtained his
commission in The Prince of Wales's Own West Yorkshire Regiment 8 October
1890. He served with his regiment in the Ashanti Expedition of 1895-90, and
in British Central Africa in 1898-99, and he took part in the Expedition
against Quamba in August and September 1809, under the Foreign Office. He
became Captain 20 March, 1899. On the outbreak of the South African War he
rejoined his regiment in Natal, and was awarded the Victoria Cross [London
Gazette, 27 July, 1900]: "Conwyn Mansel-Jones, Captain, West Yorkshire
Regiment. On the 27th February 1000, during the assault on Terrace
Hill, north of the Tugela, in Natal, the companies of the West Yorkshire
Regiment on the northern slope of the hill met with a severe shell,
Vickers-Maxim and rifle fire, and their advance was for a few minutes
checked. Captain C Mansel-Jones, however, by his strong initiative,
restored confidence, and in spite of his falling very seriously wounded, the
men took the whole ridge without further check; this officer's
self-sacrificing devotion to duty at a critical moment having averted what
might have proved a serious check to the whole assault". He was DAAG for
Recruiting at Headquarters from 1901 to 1906; Recruiting Staff Officer, London Area, 1908 to 1910,
and was placed on retired pay on account of ill-health, caused by wounds, 9
March, 1910. In 1913 he married Marion, daughter of William Barton-Wright
and Janet, daughter of General Forlonge, and he was called to the Bar of
Lincoln's Inn in 1914. On the outbreak of the Great War he was mobilized
and proceeded with the Expeditionary Force to France as DAAG at General
Headquarters (3rd Echelon), becoming AAG and temporary Lieutenant Colonel in
the Army in December 1915. He served throughout the war in France. He was
created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order on 3 June, 1915. In
1917 he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel by brevet; and created Officier
de la Legion d'Honneur by the President of the French Republic. In 1918 he
was awarded the CMG, and he was six times mentioned in Despatches.
