The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals 56


Three: Private G. Mills, 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, who was reported missing, presumed dead following heavy bombardments and massed enemy infantry attacks between Gheluvelt and Zandvoorde on 31 October 1914


1914 Star (6940 Pte. G. Mills R. War. R.); British War and Victory Medals (6940 Pte. G. Mills. R. War. R.) good very fine (3)


£200-£240


George Mills was born at Birmingham and resided at Newbold-on-Avon, Warwickshire. He attested for the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1899 or 1900 and served with the 2nd Battalion as part of the 22nd Brigade during the Great War on the Western Front from 16 October 1914.


Mills was reported missing, presumed dead, on 31 October 1914 following the desperate clashes with the advancing Germans south east of Ypres between Gheluvelt and Zandvoorde: ‘Took part in counter-attack (29th) - held up by heavy fire and forced to dig in. Held positions under heavy bombardment. Forced to withdraw (31st) and ordered to hold new line at all costs. Charles Lethbridge Kingsford records that part of the battalion was surrounded and cut off. Battalion strength in the evening being just over 100. Trenches were under constant attacks - servants, cooks etc. being put into the line.’ (British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914 by Ray Westlake refers.)


The War Diary of the 22nd Brigade gives a broader context: ‘31st October 1914 - Hard fighting. The enemy’s guns opened fire about 7am and increased in intensity up until 2pm against the trenches of the 22nd Brigade and the Battalions in position in rear. many trenches became untenable for infantry, some of whom were withdrawn into the reserve trenches. About 2pm numbers of enemy infantry were seen advancing from the east, south of Gheluvelt and also in masses through the woods north of Zandvoorde. 2nd Brigade on the right of 22nd Brigade withdrew, thus uncovering the right of the 1st South Staffords who were already heavily attacked in front, the enemy worked around in rear of the South Staffords who were therefore obliged to withdraw having heavy casualties as also did the 2nd Warwicks who withdrew at the same time. 21st Brigade also retreating, a new line was occupied about 200 yards east of the Veldhoek cross roads through the G of Gheluvelt and R of Basherville River, 400 yards westwards and thence towards Kleinzillebeke.’ (22nd Brigade War Diary refers).


Private George Mills was the husband of Mary Elizabeth Mills of 71 Sycomre Road, Aston, Birmingham and having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.


57


Three: Sergeant A. J. Ellesmere, 1/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Territorial Force), who was shot dead by a sniper whilst observing from trenches at Douve, Flanders on 29 May 1915


1914-15 Star (2835 L. Sjt. A. J. Ellesmere. R. War: R.); British War and Victory Medals (2835 Sjt. A. J. Ellesmere. R. War. R.) with named Record Office transmittal letter; Memorial Plaque (Arthur John Ellesmere) in card envelope, extremely fine (4)


£140-£180


Arthur John Ellesmere was born at Rugeley, Staffordshire in 1880 and was a Motorman with Birmingham Corporation Tramways by civilian occupation. Following the outbreak of the Great War, he attested for the 1/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Territorial Force) at Birmingham and served with them on the Western Front as part of the 143rd Infantry Brigade of the 48th Division from 22 March 1915. Serving with ‘E’ Company he was, ‘shot dead by a sniper in France on the 29 May 1915 only the day after he had received promotion to full Sergeant for meritorious services. His promotion had been extremely rapid owing to his great bravery and other splendid soldierly qualities, and his readiness to volunteer for any dangerous enterprise.’ (Birmingham Weekly Post, 17 July 1915 refers).


He was the husband of Edith Ellesmere, of 13, Park Grove, Wordsworth Road, Small Heath, Birmingham and is buried in La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, Belgium.


Sold together with a hand written letter to the recipient’s widow from Captain Stratford Ludlow, 1/8 Royal Warwicks., dated 29 May 1915, containing the following further detail:


‘Sergeant Ellesmere was killed this afternoon at 2.45pm by a sniper whilst observing and his death was absolutely instantaneous and painless. He was an excellent soldier and an awfully popular N.C.O. and his loss to my Company will be the greatest it could have been. He had earned rapid promotion and was made full Sergeant on the day before his death. He was a man who would always volunteer for any risky job and he did not know what fear was.’


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