Frederick Caverhill Jones

Frederick Caverhill Jones (Saint John, N.B. 21 May 1869-28 July 1917 Baltimore, Maryland) was the son of Simeon Jones, brewer and mayor of Saint John from 1881 to 1884. After gaining military experience as a member of the 3rd New Brunswick Regiment Canadian Artillery based in Saint John, Jones joined ‘G’ Company on 27 October 1899 and was sent to South Africa as lieutenant of the 3rd Regiment Canadian Artillery. At the Battle of Paardeberg in February 1900, he received the first white flag of surrender of Boer General Pieter Arnoldus Cronje, an object he kept as a souvenir for many years. From April to July of that year Jones acted as Captain of ‘G’ Company during the illness of Captain Archibald Hayes Macdonell (1868-1939). Jones’ service in Africa lasted almost exactly one year, ending on 30 October 1900. Back in Saint John a year later, on 17 October 1901, he received a sword of honour for his service in the South African War, presented to him by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York during their visit to the city. His 1907 donation of 23 South African artefacts, mostly armaments, includes pieces of interest and quality, unfortunately with no accompanying documentation about their origins or how Jones acquired them.

In 1916 Jones went on to serve in the First World War, enlisting in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force, 115th Battalion, of which he was second in command. Having become ill in England, Jones was sent to Baltimore, where he died.