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Auction: 23003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 100

A well-documented Great War campaign group of three awarded to Miss R. E. E. Battersby, No. 34 (County of Dublin) Voluntary Aid Detachment

British War and Victory Medals (R. E. Battersby.); France, Third Republic; Médaille de la Société Française de Secours aux Blessés Militaire, silver, unnamed; complete with contemporary photograph album including portrait of recipient, good very fine (3)

Rita Eleanor Eileen Battersby was born at Rawal Pindi, India, on 11 February 1895, the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Battersby Royal Army Medical Corps (1856-1919) and Frances Eliza Byrne. She is recorded in the 1901 Census of Ireland - aged 6 years- residing with her grandparents, John and Sarah Byrne, at Leeson Street Lower, Mansion House, Dublin. Again recorded in the 1911 Census- she was now aged 16 years- residing with her parents at Mullaghmore, Omagh Rural, County Tyrone.

Home educated, her governess, Miss Amelie Neuman, was Austrian by birth, so it is quite probable that Miss Battersby had been tutored in languages. Battersby lost her only brother, Captain J. W. Battersby 53rd Battery Royal Field Artillery on 24 October 1916, a year prior to her decision to serve in France. It is highly likely that this had important effect on her decision to do so.

The British Red Cross Society Archives confirm that Battersby volunteered for service with the Voluntary Aid Detachment, County Dublin, No. 34 Branch on 20 July 1917, the same day she is confirmed as having embarked for France. On enrolment she gave her address as Knock-na-Moe, Omagh, and declared her age as 23 years. Allotted the rank of 'Nurse', she was posted to a military hospital in France, and returned home on 16 August 1918.

Returning to India after the war Battersby married Robert Hawkes Ellis at Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1920. She had four children with him, returning to Ireland where she lived at Rash House, Omagh, County Tyrone. Battersby died in Omagh in 1972.

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Sold for
£240

Starting price
£160