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Auction: 22002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 81

A poignant Great War group of three awarded to Lieutenant R. W. 'Elley' Ellis Royal Flying Corps, late Royal Garrison Artillery, who was killed in action on 18 June 1917, becoming the 53rd Aerial Victory of Manfred Von Richthofen, 'The Red Baron'

His RE8 was shot down by the Captain of Jasta 11, who were out looking for prey when they came across Ellis on a photo reconnaissance Op behind the German lines; Von Richthofen attacked from 8000ft and poured in some 200 rounds - Ellis was killed in his seat and their aircraft came to earth with both occupants expired

1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. W. Ellis. R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. R. W. Ellis.), nearly extremely fine, housed within an attractive period silver-edged frame (3)

[Zanzibar, Order of Alliyah, 3rd Class], conferred by the Sultan for service as ADC, confirmed in WO/374/22578, when the recipient states 'Third Class "Alli"'.

Ralph Walter Elley Ellis was born at Bombay in 1878. His family origins were in Somerset and he was baptised at St Mary’s Bathwick in September 1878. Ellis hailed from a Military family, his father was Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Treslove Ellis, 48th Regiment, whilst his mother was Emily Elizabeth Pearse, the daughter of Major-General James Langford Pearse. His mother died at Hong Kong in 1888.

Prior to the outbreak of the Great War Ellis was working a Mining Engineer and he was also employed by the Foreign Office as an ADC to the Sultan of Zanzibar for some seven months, for which he earned his decoration. Joined the Royal Fusiliers on 9 September 1914, by this time living at Surbiton, but was swiftly commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery and served in Egypt from 23 August 1915.

He learned to fly at his own expense and took Aero Certificate No. 4243 on 21 February 1917. He was soon posted to No. 9 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. The Squadron was re-equipped with Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8s in May 1917, using them for artillery spotting and contact patrols during the Battle of Passchendaele, during which it suffered
57 casualties.

Ellis did not have to wait long before he was to meet his fate with Von Richthofen, who takes up the story in Red Knight of Germany:

'Richthofen's first victim after his return to the front was not one of the British new spring model planes. It was another piece of the same "cold meat" that had boosted his string of victories so high in the month of April. The German ace had listened well to what had been told him of the performances of the new English machines, and his plans for successfully combating them were far from complete. But he knew how to handle the old planes, and he jumped the first one he spotted alone. It happened to be an old R.E. 8 two-seater, slow, comfortable, and easy-going, and engaged at the time on a photographic reconnaissance behind the German lines. It was one of several of its type that failed to return on that day, and the English casualty records indicate that it was most probably piloted by Lieutenant R. W. Ellis with Lieutenant H. C. Barlow operating the camera in the observer's cockpit. It carried Lewis and Vickers guns fore and aft. Richthofen's report of the fight reads as follows:

'Requesting Acknowledgment of My 53d Victory
Date: June 18, 1917.
Time: 1:15 P.M.
Place: Struywe House, Square V. 42. This side of line.
Plane: R.E. 8.
Occupants: Both killed.

Accompanied by my Staffel, I attacked at an altitude of 8,000 feet north of Ypres on this side of the line an English artillery flyer of the R.E. type. From the shortest distance I fired some two hundred shots into the body of the plane and then zoomed over it. As I passed above it, I could see that both pilot and observer were flying dead in their cockpits. Without falling immediately, the plane went down in uncontrolled curves to the ground. Driven by the wind, it fell into Struywes's farm, where it began to burn. (Signed) Baron von Richthofen.'

The Germans later reported the death of Ellis, but apparently Barlow's body was too badly burned to be identified. A sister of Ellis, Mrs. A. Robinson, was notified at her home at Cromdale, Surbiton, England, but surviving comrades of Ellis are unable to locate his sister today. In the case of Barlow the Air Ministry lacked data, and there was no one to notify. The first kill after his vacation brought some of the old-time thrill back to Richthofen, but not much consolation, and it did not succeed in overcoming the sombre thoughts of deaths and funerals, losses and wounds that had been ever present with him since his return. Back in the airdrome, he filled out his report and then sat down to write the following letter to his mother:

In the field, June 18, 1917.

Liebe Mamma:

Here I am back again and working at top speed. Just now I brought down my number fifty three. On my return from the hinterland, I stopped at Kreuznach, where I again was invited to lunch with His Majesty, and where I met the King of Bulgaria, who decorated me with the first order of the Cross of Valour. It is worn like the Iron Cross and looks very nice. I was introduced to the Chancellor, Count Dohna, and some other ministers.

As regards Oscar, I have only been able to ascertain that he is dead, because he either fell or jumped out of his plane at a height of 1,500 feet. He came down close to the front but on the other side. By dropping queries over the British lines, I have endeavoured to find out whether his body was recovered. In this respect, the Royal Flying Corps is extremely noble.

I attended Schaefer's funeral.

I made the trip from Krefeld to Berlin in three hours in a plane, whereas the train takes eight hours. I took Von Salzmann with me. He was very enthusiastic about his first flight.

Yesterday, Zeumer was killed in air combat. It was perhaps the best that could have happened to him. He knew he had not much longer to live. Such an excellent and noble fellow. How he would have hated to have to drag himself on toward the inevitable end. For him it would have been tragic. As it is, he died a heroic death before the enemy. During the next few days, his body will be brought home.

I visited Lothar (at the hospital) and arrived just in time to see him before his removal. He looked tanned and very well, stretched out full length on a divan. He was fully dressed and wore the Pour le Mérite around his neck. He is already able to stand and will fully recover. He will be able to walk and ride a horse again, but must have a good long rest. Manfred.'

His Medals were claimed by his sister.


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Sold for
£3,800

Starting price
£3200