Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 14001 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 32

Family Group:
A Good Great War 1917 'Western Front' M.M. Group of Three to Private W. Ebbs, Post Office Rifles, London Regiment, Who Distinguished Himself at the Battle of Menin Road Ridge, Ypres, 20.9.1917; Sergeant A.J. Knight, of Ebbs' Battalion, was Awarded the Victoria Cross For This Action
a) Military Medal, G.V.R. (373116 Pte. W. Ebbs. 2/8 Lond: R.), unit partially officially corrected
b) British War and Victory Medals (6113 Pte. W. Ebbs. 8-Lond. R.), nearly extremely fine, with the following documents &c.:
- 58th (London) Division Certificate of Gallant Conduct, named to No. 373116 Rfn. W. Ebbs, London Regiment, and dated '20th Sept. 1917 near St. Julien'
- The recipient's travel Pass for Recruits
- The recipient's Certificate of Transfer to the Reserve
- The recipient's Certificate of Employment during the War
- Two of the recipient's 1918 Christmas Greetings Cards, signed 'Rfn. W. Ebbs M.M., 8th London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), B.E.F.'; and a quantity of other Post Office Rifles 1918 Christmas Greetings Cards

Victory Medal (2) (45553 Pte. W. Ebbs. The Queen's R.; G-31456. Pte. P.C. Ebbs. R.W. Kent R.), very fine, with the latter recipient's Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Percy Charles Ebbs) (5)

M.M. London Gazette 12.12.1917 373116 Pte. W. Ebbs, Lond. R. (Wood Green).

373116 Private William Ebbs, born Wood Green, London, January 1898, the son of Private William Ebbs, Royal West Surrey Regiment; enlisted in the 8th Battalion (Post Office Rifles), London Regiment, 18.2.1916; served during the Great War on the Western Front as part of the 58th (London) Division; noted for his gallant conduct, 20.9.1917, on which date the Battalion, as part of 174th Brigade, was involved in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge, Ypres: 'The 174th Brigade delivered the main thrust between St. Julien and Langemarke with three London Battalions following one another on a battalion frontage. The strong points immediately ahead, in front of Vancouver Farm and Keerselaere, were overrun, the only resistance coming from Hubner Farm at the edge of the spur where the garrison, including over seventy fit men, surrendered to an enveloping attack. The two rear battalions then passed through, swinging half right up the rise of the spur. Keeping to the high ground, they took in reverse the several strong points along the spur and reached the dominating area about Wurst Farm, their objective, close behind the barrage. A definite objective, pillbox, or emplacement, had been allotted to each platoon or section to clear and occupy; and once outflanked a strongpoint was as good as captured. Six Officers and 285 men were taken prisoner, as well as 50 machine guns. The success of this difficult operation, carried out by the 2/8th (Post Office Rifles), 2/5th (London Rifle Brigade), and 2/6th (Rifles), London Regiment, in that order, was mainly due to the thoroughness of the preliminary training.' (Official History of the Great War refers).

For his gallantry that day Sergeant Alfred Knight, 2/8th (Post Office Rifles), was awarded the Victoria Cross for single-handedly rushing and capturing an enemy machine gun post when his platoon had come under heavy fire; it is probable that Ebbs' Military Medal was awarded for the same action. Transferred to the reserve, 25.9.1919, Ebbs took up civilian employment as a Postman; he died at home in Wood Green, London, 3.1.1981.

45553 Private William Ebbs, born 1877; married Elizabeth Maude Mary Dowler, August 1897; served during the Great War in the Royal West Surrey Regiment; died, 28.12.1930

G-31456 Private Percy Charles Ebbs, born Notting Hill, London, 1900, the son of Private William Ebbs, Royal West Surrey Regiment, and the brother of Private William Ebbs, M.M., London Regiment; enlisted in the Royal West Kent Regiment and served with the 7th Battalion during the Great War; killed in action on the Western Front, 27.8.1918, and is buried in Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, France.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£600