Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Private J. Ellis, Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Military Medal, G.V.R. (23063 Pte., 8/R. Dub. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (23063 Pte., R.D. Fus.) good very fine (3) £550-650

M.M. London Gazette 11 May 1917.

Sold with ‘Irish Brigade’ Certificate, signed by ‘W. B. Hickie’, Major-General, Commanding 16th Irish Division, reading, ‘23063 L/C J. Ellis, 8th Royal Dublin Fusiliers. I have read with much pleasure the reports of your regimental commander and brigade commander regarding your gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on March 8th 1917 and have ordered your name and deed to be entered in the record of the Irish Division’.

Also with a letter to his mother from the A.D.C. to the G.O.C. 16th (Irish) Division B.E.F., giving the citation, ‘In the front line trenches at Vierstraat on the 8th March 1917, showed great coolness and devotion to duty under an intense enemy bombardment. When communications had been cut, he continued to carry out the work of repair until he succeeded in establishing communications’.

James Ellis was born in Beamish, Co. Durham in 1896. A Coal Miner by occupation, he attested for service with the Army at Newcastle-on-Tyne on 21 August 1915, aged 19 years, 11 months. Posted initially to the 5th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, he was transferred to the 8th Battalion in September 1916. Serving in France/Flanders with them, he was awarded the M.M. for his bravery in action at Yorkhouse on 8 March 1917. Ellis received a gunshot wound to his left fore-arm on 30 March 1918. He was discharged as no longer physically fit on 22 October 1918 having been awarded two wound stripes.

Sold with above ‘The Irish Brigade’ Certificate and letter; Discharge Certificate; a quantity of copied service papers; gazette, war diary extracts and roll extracts and m.i.c.