{"product_id":"bedfordshire-regiment-kia-1918-ww1-british-medal-trio-pte-ellis-from-hertfordshire","title":"Bedfordshire Regiment KIA 1918 WW1 British Medal Trio Pte. Ellis from Hertfordshire","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eFirst World War Medal Trio – Private William Ellis, 6\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e1914-15 Star – \u003cb\u003e15706 PTE W. ELLIS. BEDF:R. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eBritish War Medal – \u003cb\u003e15706 PTE. W. ELLIS. BEDF. R.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eVictory Medal – \u003cb\u003e15706 PTE. W. ELLIS. BEDF. R.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eWilliam Ellis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was born in \u003cb\u003e1893\u003c\/b\u003e at \u003cb\u003eWelwyn, Hertfordshire\u003c\/b\u003e, and was raised in a rural agricultural setting. By the time of the \u003cb\u003e1911 Census\u003c\/b\u003e, he was a \u003cb\u003e16-year-old farm labourer\u003c\/b\u003e, living at \u003cb\u003eBurnham Green, Hertfordshire\u003c\/b\u003e, in the household of his \u003cb\u003eAunt Mary\u003c\/b\u003e, together with several cousins. The family had moved there from \u003cb\u003eWater End Farm, Sandridge\u003c\/b\u003e, where William was born. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eEllis enlisted at \u003cb\u003eHertford\u003c\/b\u003e, joining the \u003cb\u003eBedfordshire Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e, and was posted to the \u003cb\u003e6th Battalion\u003c\/b\u003e, receiving \u003cb\u003eregimental number 15706\u003c\/b\u003e. He embarked for \u003cb\u003eFrance on 30 August 1915\u003c\/b\u003e, entering the Western Front during the period of expansion and consolidation following the heavy fighting of that year. His overseas service qualified him for the \u003cb\u003e1914–15 Star\u003c\/b\u003e, marking him as an early volunteer rather than a later conscript.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eThe \u003cb\u003e6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment\u003c\/b\u003e served extensively on the Western Front, seeing prolonged trench service and heavy casualties during successive operations. By \u003cb\u003e1918\u003c\/b\u003e, the battalion was engaged in operations in northern France during the closing stages of the war, a period marked by constant movement, counter-attacks and severe local fighting as the German Spring Offensive was checked and Allied forces began to regain the initiative.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePrivate William Ellis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e was \u003cb\u003ekilled in action on 6 April 1918\u003c\/b\u003e, aged \u003cb\u003e25\u003c\/b\u003e, during fighting in the \u003cb\u003eArras sector\u003c\/b\u003e. His death occurred during a phase of intense operations in the region, where British units were holding and strengthening positions following the German offensives of March 1918. The circumstances reflect the continuing high casualty rates suffered by infantry battalions even in the final year of the war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eEllis is \u003cb\u003eburied at Gommecourt British Cemetery No. 2, Hebuterne\u003c\/b\u003e, France, \u003cb\u003eGrave V.H.15\u003c\/b\u003e. His headstone bears the regimental badge of the Bedfordshire Regiment and includes the personal inscription \u003cb\u003e“IN LOVING MEMORY DEAR MOTHER”\u003c\/b\u003e, providing a moving personal detail. The cemetery itself contains the graves of men who fell in some of the hardest-fought fighting in the Arras area.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003ePLEASE NOTE: All research will be sent to the buyer via email. I am unable to provide printed copies, as I do not have access to a printer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003eAJMS Medals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AJMS Medals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53149159260506,"sku":null,"price":155.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0958\/9850\/1466\/files\/20251219_122420.png?v=1766157558","url":"https:\/\/ajms-medals.com\/products\/bedfordshire-regiment-kia-1918-ww1-british-medal-trio-pte-ellis-from-hertfordshire","provider":"AJMS Medals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}