Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain T. Ansell, 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, killed in action, 23 October 1916

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek 6427Pte., Scot. Rifles); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (6427 Corpl., Scot. Rifles); 1914 Star, with clasp (6427 C.S. Mjr, 1/Sco. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.) first two with contact marks, nearly very fine; others extremely fine (5) £550-650

Thomas Ansell was born in Devington, Stafford. Employed as a Shoe Operative and serving as a member of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, he enlisted into the Scottish Rifles at Stafford on 24 January 1899, aged 21 years 6 months. With the regiment he served in South Africa, February 1900-January 1904, for which he was awarded the Queen’s medal with two clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. He then served in India, January 1904-December 1909 and again in South Africa, December 1909-March 1912.

He was promoted to C.S.M. in October 1913 and as Company Sergeant-Major with the 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 15 August 1914. Promoted in the Field, he gained the rank of Regimental Sergeant-Major in October 1914 and was granted a commission on 13 March 1915. 2nd Lieutenant Ansell was wounded in the thigh on 23 April 1915 and was invalided to England. Rejoining his battalion, he was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1916 and Acting Captain in August 1916.

The War Diary records that on 23 October 1916, the 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles assaulted the German trench known as ‘Zenith Trench’, opposite Le Transloy. Their objective was achieved at a cost of 240 casualties. Amongst those killed in action was Captain Ansell. Having no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He was the husband of Eleanor Sylvester Ansell, ‘Ivy Cottage’, Stowe-by-Chortley, Stafford.

With a quantity of copied O.R. and Officer service papers; m.i.c. and other research, including a copied photograph.