Jones was 21 years old, serving as a private in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers), British Army in the Anglo-Zulu War.

When Robert Jones returned to take Maxfield to safety by force, he found him in his bed being stabbed by Zulus.

[2] Robert Jones suffered four assegai spear wounds, was struck by a bullet, and had minor burns.

After the battle, General Sir Garnet Wolseley awarded Robert and William Jones the VC at Utrecht, Transvaal.

The coroner heard that he was plagued by recurring nightmares arising from his desperate hand-to-hand combat with Zulus.

Instead of being carried through the church gates into the graveyard, his coffin was taken over the wall due to the stigma of the time in regards to suicide.