Todger

When presenting the Victoria Cross to Private Thomas 'Todger' Jones, a bemused King George V asked him, 'How the dickens did you do it, Jones?' It is little wonder the King felt obliged to ask the question. On 25 September 1916 in a fit of rage, 'Todger' had gone over the top alone during the Battle of Morval on the Somme. He was last seen by his friends leaping into an enemy trench and it was assumed that he was dead. But, to the astonishment of his comrades, Todger returned with over 100 prisoners. He had captured them single-handed. 'Todger' arrived in France with the Cheshire Regiment in January 1915. As a marksman, scout and skilled bomber, 'Todger' had many extraordinary encounters and in addition to his VC, also earned the DCM for a further act of remarkable gallantry. This fast-paced, exciting and sometimes humorous narrative chronicles the remarkable life of this modest hero from the small Cheshire town of Runcorn.