Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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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.’