The Wartime Memories Project - The Great War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with E.

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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

211897

Pte. Bartlett Cecil Elmes

British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Sussex Regiment

(d.12th Nov 1914)

On the trail of a long lost soldier, Bartlett Elmes is my great grandfather who served in the First War with the Royal Sussex Regiment. His two brothers also fell during the Great War and I am researching the three brothers. I have found one of them, William Francis Elmes, L/6512 also of the Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Bn who died on the 9th may 1915, however the third brother is missing from all records, we think he would have joined the same regiment but can find no further information




217549

Capt. King Elmes

British Army att. 2/16th London Regiment Royal Army Medical Corps

from:Robinstown, Co Wexford, Ireland

(d.30th Sep 1918)

As children, we heard that my grandmother's brother, King Elmes, a RAMC doctor, had been with his regiment in 'Arabia' with Lawrence. We were told that when 'all went quiet' in 'Arabia' he moved to the Western Front, and was killed on 30th September 1918, hit by a shell. He is buried in Kandahar Farm. King would have been one of a generation of young Irish doctors who would have been prevented from getting the usual entry level job at home on qualification, by a bar on employing doctors of an age to serve in the army in the Poor Law medical services. There was a history of military service as medical doctors in the family, a south Wexford farming family. His uncle Robert had served with the RAMC in the Crimea, and two other doctor brothers, Sam and Euseby, served in the Navy, Euseby being on a merchant ship in the Pacific when the ship was annexed. I'd love to know more about what King's regiment was up to in Egypt, Salonika and Palestine, and also on the western front - I gather they were advancing when King was hit.




211898

Pte. William Francis Elmes

Britsh Army 2nd Btn Royal Sussex Regiment

(d.9th May 1915)

One of three brothers who fell during the Great War, William Elmes was a saddle tree maker who had already served in the Boer war, serving at the Siege of Ladysmith.




772

Thomas Elms

British Army 12th Battalion The Rifle Brigade "Prince Consort's Own"

(d.21st September 1917)

Thomas Elms of the Rifle Brigade-"Prince Consort's Own"-12th Battalion was killed in action at Langemark in the Ypres Salient on the 21st September 1917. I am looking for any information relating to the battle that took place over 21-23 September 1917, particularly around a fortified German bunker known as "Cement House."




239381

Cpl. Edward Harry Elner

British Army 173 Brigade, D  Bty. Royal Field Artillery

(d.4th August 1917)

Corporal Edward Elner is buried in Lijssenhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium, Grave XVII.G.4A.




1696

Lt.Col. A. P.A. Elphingstone

British Army 22nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers




1972

Lt.Col. A. P.A. Elphingstone

British Army 22nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers




244311

Cpl. Robert Elphinstone

British Army 203rd Field Company Royal Engineers

from:Fraserburgh

As a child I remember my grandfather, Robert Elphinstone telling me stories of his time in the trenches, I believe in northern France. I recall one funny story of the crossing of a river on a felled tree when the bagpiper slipped off and my grandfather saw his kilt floating on top of the water as he walked above him, looking down and laughing, he looked like a mushroom! Another story was of being terrified on guard duty in a wet and muddy trench late one evening. He heard slow footsteps in water at the trench bottom coming towards him. After what seemed like forever, a mangy, skinny, scared German Shepherd dog appeared.

I also recall that he was proud of the fact that, as a Royal Engineer, he built more things than he destroyed during the war. He was wounded near Shrapnel Corner on 20th of September 1918 and returned to duty. He was wounded much more seriously on 28th of September 1918 during Final Advance on Flanders. I just begun researching his service and was surprised to learn he was wounded twice. As a child I recalled him telling me about him getting wounded in thigh. I believe he told me he was assisting artillery when he started feeling dizzy and looked down to see shell casing or something in his leg. At that point he knew he'd been hit. On that day he was one of 7 who were wounded and 3 were killed or died of wounds.

He emigrated to the U.S. in 1923 and worked at GE. His best friend there was a German who, after years of knowing each other, found out they were in same general area opposing each other during the war!

I would love to learn more about his unit's involvement after 1916.




1327

Pte. William Elsdon

British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers

(d.7th May 1915)




250799

Sgt. Herbert Harry Else

British Army 40th Battery Royal Field Artillery

from:Birmingham

Herbert Else earned the Star and Bar, British War and Victory Medals.




243728

L/Bomb. James Arthur Elshaw

British Army 45th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

from:Sheffield

(d.12th Feb 1919)




226439

Lt.Col. Otto William Alexander Elsner MID, DSO.

British Army 27th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps

Otto Elsner was born in Ireland on 4th June 1871. He was educated at Galway Grammar School and studied at the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1897 he was employed as the Medical Officer for the building of the Ibadan to Ilorin railway in Nigeria. In 1899 he joined the RAMC and served throughout the South African war. He was awarded the Queen's Medal with 5 clasps. Between 1902 and 1905 he served in India, then returned to South Africa in 1910 returning to Britain at the outbreak of war in 1914.

Otto went to France with the British Expeditionary Force in September 1914, and served with the 6th Cavalry Field Ambulance in Belgium during the First Battle of Ypres. In early 1915 he took over command of 27th Field Ambulance. In 1917, he was appointed Assistant Director Medical Services of 9th (Scottish) Division. He was mentioned five times in despatches, awarded the DSO in 1917 and appointed CBE in 1919. He retired from the Army in 1926 and died in 1953.




1823

Pte. Arthur Elson

British Army 1st Btn. Border Regiment

from:Kendal

(d.27th Jan 1917)




234279

Pte. Frank Elson

British Army 10th Battalion Cheshire Regiment

from:Nantwich, Cheshire,




260269

Pte. Frank Elson

British Army 10th Btn. Cheshire Regiment

from:Cuckoo Lane, Acton, Nantwich, Cheshire

(d.1st Jan 1917)

Frank Elson was killed in the 10th Chesshire Battalion HQ at Despierre Farm.




246600

Bmdr. John Elson

British Army Royal Field Artillery

John Elson's service record or pension record do not survive, likely his records were among those destroyed during the Second World War. Per his Medal Rolls Index Card, he entered the French theatre on 22nd of August 1915. Curiously, according to his second (1920-dated) Service Medal and Award Roll, Bombardier Elson "reverted own request to Gunner". In any event, according to his Medal Rolls Index Card, Elson's rank is listed as Bombardier. For his service in the Great War, John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.




300789

Pte. James Edward Elstob

British Army 18th Btn. Durham Light Infantry




1206526

Lt Col. Wilfrith Elstob VC, DSO, MC

British Army 16th Btn. Manchester Regiment

from:Chelford, Cheshire

(d.21st March 1918)

Wilfrith Elstob died on 21st March 1918, ages 29 and is commemorated on on the Pozieres Memorial in the Pozieres British cemetery in France. He was the son of the Rev. Canon J. G. Elstob and Frances Alice Elstob, of Fanshawe, Chelford, Cheshire.

An extract from the London Gazette, dated 6th June, 1919, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery, devotion to duty and self-sacrifice during operations at Manchester Redoubt, near St. Quentin, on the 21st March, 1918. During the preliminary bombardment he encouraged his men in the posts in the Redoubt by frequent visits, and when repeated attacks developed controlled the defence at the points threatened, giving personal support with revolver, rifle and bombs. Single-handed he repulsed one bombing assault driving back the enemy and inflicting severe casualties. Later, when ammunition was required, he made several journeys under severe fire in order to replenish the supply. Throughout the day Lieutenant-Colonel Elstob, although twice wounded, showed the most fearless disregard of his own safety, and by his encouragement and noble example inspired his command to the fullest degree. The Manchester Redoubt was surrounded in the first wave of the enemy attack, but by means of the buried cable Lieutenant-Colonel Elstob was able to assure his Brigade Commander that "The Manchester Regiment will defend Manchester Hill to the last." Sometime after this post was overcome by vastly superior forces, and this very gallant officer was killed in the final assault, having maintained to the end the duty which he had impressed on his men - namely, 'Here we fight, and here we die.' He set throughout the highest example of valour, determination, endurance and fine soldierly bearing."




1356

Pte. Ernest Edgar Elsworth

British Army 2nd Btn. Northumberland Fusiliers

(d.8th May 1915)




257904

Pte. William Claude Elsworth

Canadian Expeditionary Force 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles

from:Woking

William Elsworth was my grandfather. I have been researching his WW1 records and we visited the sites where he fought in Belgium last year. I have an army issue canvas wallet containing all of his letters to my grandmother whilst he was a PoW in Dulmen camp. He was wounded but thankfully survived the war and returned home.




226157

2nd Lt. Laurence Elvidge

British Army 5th Btn. Connaught Rangers

from:Rathgar, Dublin

(d.9th Aug 1916)

2nd Lt. Laurence Elvidge gave his life for the empire at Ypres on the 9th of August 1916, aged 19 years.




254463

Pte. Thomas Elvin

British Army Kings Royal Rifles Corps

from:Brandsby, York

Thomas Elvin who served with the Kings Royal Rifles Corps was my grandfather.




226737

Pte. W. Elvin

British Army 4th Btn. Royal Fusiliers

Private Elvin was a prisoner at Gustrow POW Camp.




235388

A/Cpl. Sidney A. Elwell

British Army 237th Field Coy. Royal Engineers

from:Wordsley, Stourbridge

My maternal grandfather, Sidney Elwell, trained in Reading in November 1915 as a driver. I have a digitised copy of his diary, but part of it is missing. It begins in October 1916 and then jumps to May 1917. It mentions places: Poperinghe, Vermozeele, Booserenge, Hill 60, Pheasant Wood, St. Eloi and many more.

He survived the war and returned to work at Stuarts Crystal Glassworks in Wordsley. He was foreman of the glass cutting shop and took me around the factory many times.




210562

Pte. William Moses Elwick

British Army 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry

from:Middlesborough, Yorkshire

(d.4th Apr 1918)

I have just rediscovered my great uncle after many decades. He was only living within our extended family for a short time. He and my Great Aunt Grace Benson were married in the last quarter of 1917. His name was William Moses Elwick. He was born in 1879 in Lythe, a small Yorkshire village. Later he moved to Middlesbrough. On December 10th 1915, age 36, he joined the British Army, was mobilised and posted - probably to France - on March 22nd, 1916. He was in the 1st and 5th Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry, in the 150th Brigade of the 50th Northumbrian Division. On April 4th 1918, somewhere close to the French/Belgium border in that brutal trench warfare of WW1, William died. His body was never found. He is commemorated on Panels 8/9 of the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium.

I do not know how long Grace and William had known each other, but I do know that she never recovered from his death. She carried a torch for him for the rest of her life. The sepia photograph of a WW1 soldier on a shelf was all we children knew of him. I gave no thought to him until now. Rediscovering my Great Uncle has made me reflect on war - on this war in particular - and, upon the thousands and thousands whose lives were similarly ripped apart by death and loss. Each one deserves to be named, and remembered with gratitude. It is never too late. I now call out the name of William Moses Elwick. It will be Remembrance Day in 11 days.




223218

Pte. Alfred Terah Elwood

Australian Imperial Force 2nd Btn.

(d.17th May 1915)

Alfred Elwood died on the 17th of May 1915 and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial in the Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.




211762

Private Charles Ernest Elworthy

British Army 2nd Btn Royal Sussex Regiment

from:Aylmer, Ontario, Canada

(d.14th Oct 1915)

Charles Ernest Elworthy was born October 9th 1891 in a small rural village in Surrey Claygate, he was the son of a farm labourer Joseph Elworthy and Elizabeth nee´ Mutimer. He was one of six children, both his parents had died by the time he was 15 and he stayed in the village for a while working at the farm of one of his fathers relatives, Slough Farm, his job was delivering the milk. Two fields north of where he was staying there lived a family called Scott: they were some of his many, many cousins in the village. He started "walking out" with one of them, Beatrice Alice Scott and eventually she was expecting a baby, sadly her mother would not them them marry because they were second cousins although the law stated then (1909) that they could legally have done so the exceedingly strict mother forced her daughter to leave the village and have the baby elsewhere. She also warned non of her other children to have any contact with her! Beatrice went up to London and bore a son Alfred Cecil Scott on Oct 4th 1909.

Charles Ernest stayed in the Kingston area working but some time after 1911 he decided to move to Canada and landed up working in agriculture in Ontario: he attended Trinity Anglican Church near Aylmer and from there he came back to England to join up for the war. He joined up in Hammersmith - The Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Btn and the training was in Woking Surrey.

He was sent out to France on the 29th Sept 1915 and sent up to the front with a group of 392 men to join the battalion on October 4th. They were sent to Noux Les Mines. Two days later the Btn left Noux les Mines and moved to Mazingarbe (Near Loos) where they moved forward into the old german front system of trenches. The next morning (Oct 7) Between then and the 12th they dug (by night) forwards: forming new trench systems as near as they could to the german front. They were under sniper fire from the germans with one or two caualties and deaths each day.

On the 13th Oct 1915 they came under the orders of the G.O.C. 1st Bde. At 1pm the gas and smoke discharge took place and the attack over the top was scheduled for one hour later. The Battalion was ordered to send one company forward as a Strong Patrol to help the 1st Bde. capture the German Front Line Trenches (Along the line of the road H13 a42 leading into Hulluch) and then a second Company would be sent one half hour later to establish themselves in the german trenches immediately west of Hulluch. The remainder of the Btn (minus one company) was to closely support this enterprise. A Co. was sent as Strong Patrol and C Co. sent as support and B co. to support C.

The 1st Bde delivered their assault at 2pm and at 2.19 A Co. Royal Sussex advanced over the open. At 2,30 Lieut Col E F Villiers D.S.O heard that the Camerons attack had failed so the C co. was sent forward to gain the german trenches. The telegraph lines had been cut by shell fire and so orderlies were sent running with messages for the B co. to go forwards to support C co. In the end the 1 Bde did not make any inroads on the german trenches and the remains of the B and C co´s were brought back to the support line to await eventualities. At 5.30 the following morning they were sent out again to support the Northamptonshire rgt.in another run over the top, but by the time they had started it was already become light and the action was called off.

In the right hand column of the war Diary there is the notation for October 13th: Killed 9 OR Wounded 71 OR Missing 36 OR... The Captains and Lieutenants are all named, as either missing or casualties but somehere among the 116 "Other Ranks" lost that day was Charles Ernest Elworthy. He had turned 23 four days before he died.

Back in Walthamstow (North west London) Beatrice Alice Scott heard from a friend in Claygate that he was missing in Action and for a month she hunted for him in the military convalescent centers around London until the real tragic news came through. Although Beatty had nothing but one faded picture of him as a young man she still had a round faced little boy who one day would start a family of his own and one day one of the grandchildren would ask "What did Great Grand´Daddy do in the War? At last now I know.




1206515

Pte. Charles Ernest Elworthy

British Army 2nd Btn. Royal Sussex Regiment

from:Claygate, Surrey

(d.14th October 1915)

Charles Elworthy died 14th October 1915, aged 23 and is buried in the Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery in France. He was the son of the late Joseph and Elizabeth Elworthy. Native of Claygate, Surrey

Charles Ernest Elworthy was born (October 9th 1891) in Claygate, a small rural village in Surrey. He was the son of a farm labourer Joseph Elworthy and Elizabeth (nee Mutimer). One of six children, both his parents had died by the time he was 15 and he stayed in the village for a while working at the farm of one of his father's relatives: "Slough Farm" his job was delivering the milk. Two fields north of where he was staying lived a family called Scott, the family were just some of his many, many cousins in the village. He started "walking out" with one of them, Beatrice Alice Scott and eventually she was expecting a baby, sadly her mother would not let them marry because they were second cousins (although the law stated then (1909) that they could legally have done so).

Her exceedingly strict mother forced her daughter to leave the village and have the baby elsewhere... she also warned all of her other children to have no contact with her! Beatrice went up to London and bore a son Alfred Cecil Scott on Oct 4th 1909. Charles Ernest stayed in the Kingston area working but some time after 1911 he decided to move to Canada and ended up working in agriculture in Ontario, he attended Trinity Anglican Church near Aylmer and from there he came back to England to join up for the war. He joined up in Hammersmith - The Royal Sussex Regiment 2nd Bn. and trained in Woking, Surrey.

His service number was G/5349 and he was sent out to France on the 29th Sept 1915 and sent up to the front with a group of 392 men to join the battalion on October 4th. They were sent to Noeux-les-Mines. Two days later the battalion left Noeux-les-Mines and moved to Mazingarbe (near Loos) where they moved forward into the old German front line trenches. on October 7th. Between then and the 12th they dug towards the enemy, forming new trench systems as near as they could to the German front. They were under sniper fire from the Germans which caused casualties and deaths each day.

On the 13th October, 1915 they came under the orders of the G.O.C. 1st Bde. At 1pm the gas and smoke discharge took place and the attack over the top was scheduled for one hour later. The Battalion was ordered to send one company forward as a strong patrol to help the 1st Bde. capture the German front line trenches (Along the line of the road H13-A42 leading into Hulluch) and then a second company would be sent one half hour later to establish themselves in the German trenches immediately west of Hulluch. The remainder of the battalion, minus one company was to closely support this enterprise. A company was sent as strong patrol and C company sent as support, while B company was to support C. The 1st Brigade commenced their assault at 2pm and at 2.19 A company of the Royal Sussex advanced over the open ground. By 2.30 Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Villiers D.S.O heard that the Camerons' attack had failed so C company was sent forward to try and take the German trenches. The telegraph lines had been cut by shell fire and so orderlies were sent running with messages for B company to advance and support C company.

In the end the 1st Bde. did not make any inroads on the German trenches and the remains of the B and C companies were brought back to the support line to await their next orders. At 5.30 the following morning they were sent out again to support the Northamptonshire regiment in another attack, but by the time they had started it was already become light and the action was called off. In the right hand column of the war Diary there is the notation for October 13th: Killed 9, OR Wounded 71, OR Missing 36, The Captains and Lieutenants are all named, as either missing or casualties but somewhere among the 116 "Other Ranks" lost that day was Charles Ernest Elworthy. He had turned 23 four days before he died.

Back in Walthamstow, Beatrice Alice Scott heard from a friend in Claygate that he was missing in action and for a month she searched for him in the military convalescent centres around London until the tragic news of his death came through. Although Beatty had nothing but one faded picture of him as a young man she still had a round faced little boy who one day would start a family of his own.... and one day one of the grandchildren would ask "What did Great Granddaddy do in the War?




227382

Sgt. Adam el_Hashim

British Army 1/3 Btn. Kings African Rifles

from:Africa

On 21st of October 1917, while defending Lukeledi Mission against a German assault, Sergeant Adam el Hashim of 1/3rd Kings African Rifles was sent at the head of a small detachment of soldiers into Lukeledi village to outflank the enemy. El Hashim's men stumbled on a whole company of Germans, and were driven back. Finding himself surrounded and cut off on his own, el Hashim drew his revolver, shot three officers who were trying to capture him, and managed to rejoin his men.




258417

Rfn Alfred William Embery

British Army 1st/21st Btn London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles)

from:Nunhead

(d.24th Aug 1918)







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