A PETERSFIELD naval officer who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his courage during the Battle of Jutland will be honoured with a commemorative stone in the town.

Commander Loftus Jones, who lived in what is now Moreton House, on The Spain, was awarded the prestigious medal for his conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the great First World War sea battle on May 31, 1916.

While leading an attack, Commander Jones’ torpedo boat destroyer HMS Shark was damaged and disabled. He refused to leave his ship, continuing to issue orders even after losing a leg as enemy fire rained down on him and his crew.

One hundred years on, a stone to mark Commander Jones’ actions is to be laid outside St Peter’s Church in a ceremony on May 27, at 11am.

Julie Butler, East Hampshire District Council’s portfolio holder for customer relations, said: “Commander Loftus Jones’ story is one of incredible bravery and self-sacrifice and he is a worthy recipient of the Victoria Cross.

“It is important we remember the heroes of the First World War. The courage these men displayed against impossible odds should serve as an inspiration to us all.”

And she added: “Petersfield has a strong naval tradition and many former and current servicemen live here today so it is fitting that Commander Jones’ story of heroism will be marked by this stone. It will serve as a reminder to future generations of the sacrifices made by these brave people to preserve the security and way of life we enjoy today.”

The stone is laid as part of a national scheme to honour herores up and down the country.

Communities minister Baroness Williams of Trafford said: “The stone laid in honour of Loftus Jones provides a lasting legacy to his bravery and will enable Petersfield residents to gain a greater understanding of how a local hero played a key role in the history of the First World War.

“Loftus carried out astonishing acts of valour in service of his country and we all owe a huge debt to the brave heroes who served and lived through the First World War.

“They are just as inspirational now as they were a century ago.”

Margaret Jones, the widow of Loftus Jones, was invested with her husband’s Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on March 13, 1917.

Commander Jones’ medal citation reads: “On the afternoon of May 31, 1916, during the battle of Jutland, Commander Jones, in HMS Shark torpedo boat destroyer, led a division of destroyers to attack the enemy battle cruiser squadron. In the course of this attack a shell hit the Shark bridge, putting the steering gear out of order, and very shortly afterwards another shell disabled the main engines, leaving the vessel helpless.

“The commanding officer of another destroyer, seeing the Shark’s plight, came between her and the enemy and offered assistance, but was warned by Commander Jones not to run the risk of being almost certainly sunk in trying to help him.

“Commander Jones, though wounded in the leg, went aft to help connect and man the after wheel. Meanwhile, the forecastle gun with its crew had been blown away, and the same fate soon afterward befell the after gun and crew. Commander Jones then went to the midship and only remaining gun, and personally assisted in keeping it in action. All this time the Shark was subjected to very heavy fire from enemy light cruisers and destroyers at short range.

“The gun’s crew of the midship gun was reduced to three, of which an able seaman was soon badly wounded in the leg. A few minutes later Commander Jones was hit by a shell, which took off his leg above the knee, but he continued to give orders to his gun’s crew, while a chief stoker improvised a tourniquet round his thigh.

“Noticing that the ensign was not properly hoisted, he gave orders for another to be hoisted. Soon afterward, seeing that the ship could not survive much longer, and as a German destroyer was closing, he gave orders for the surviving members of the crew to put on lifebelts. Almost immediately after this order had been given, the Shark was struck by a torpedo and sank. Commander Jones was unfortunately not among the few survivors from the Shark who were picked up by a neutral vessel in the night.”