Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An emotive family group to the Case brothers, Elliot and Harry, both Lieutenants serving with the Royal Engineers, who were killed by German snipers within days of each other at Armentières in July and August 1915

1914-15 Star (2. Lt. E. D. Case R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. E. D. Case) in their damaged named card boxes of issue, together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Elliott Dryden Case)

1914-15 Star (2. Lt. H. E. Case. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. H. E. Case) in their damaged named card boxes of issue, together with Bronze Memorial Plaque (Harry Ernest Case) extremely fine (8) £600-800

Elliot Dryden Case was born on 20 February 1891, the elder og the two sons of Harry E. Close, of Wood Green, London. He was educated at the Royal Masonic School for Boys, Wood Green, passing the Senior Cambridge Examination. He decided on a career in Civil Engineering and served his apprenticeship with the firm of Balfour & Sons, Civil Engineers, Newcastle, and was admitted as a student to the Institute of Civil Engineers in March 1909.

On the outbreak of war, he volunteered immediately and was granted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, in September 1914. Joining the 2nd Northumbrian Field Company, he was sent to the front near Armentières, where he was engaged in the layout and construction of trenches at the front line. On 27 July 1915, whilst organizing the repair of a front line trench, he was killed by a German sniper.

Harry Ernest Case was born on 17 April 1896, and, like his elder brother, was educated at the Royal Masonic School for Boys, Wood Green, passed the Senior Cambridge Examination, determined on a career in Civil Engineering, also becoming an apprentice with the firm of Balfour & Sons in Newcastle. He was admitted as a student to the Institute of Civil Engineers in November 1914.

On 29 December 1915, he enlisted as a Sapper and a fortnight later his Colonel offered him a commission, which he took in February 1915. Posted to the 1st Field Company, he left for France on 20 June and went straight to Armentières, where he joined his elder brother on 21 July. Three weeks later, on 14 August 1915, while he also was repairing the front line trenches, he was killed by a German sniper in the same was as his brother, by whose side he was buried in Bon Jean Cemetery, Armentières.

Captain Stowell wrote: ‘Although he was with us only such a short time we got very fond of him, and the men showed their appreciation of him by the whole company volunteering to go to his funeral.’

These two brothers are buried close to each other in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentières, and are both commemorated by name on the Institute of Civil Engineers War Memorial.