Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Civil Division’ O.B.E. pair awarded to Surgeon Major-General P. M. Ellis, Royal Army Medical Corps

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1918; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (Surgeon P. M. Ellis Medical Staff) very fine (2) £400-£500

O.B.E. London Gazette 8 January 1919: Major-General Philip Mackay Ellis, County Director, Auxiliary Hospitals and V.A.D.s, Carnarvonshire.’

Philip Mackay Ellis was born on the island of Madeira on 30 January 1855 and having graduated from medical school in 1876 was commissioned Surgeon on 5 August 1877. Posted to India, he served in the Third Burmese War, and spent a large portion of his career station in India - at the time that the Medical Department's roll for the Burmese Expedition was compiled (13 September 1887) he was posted with No. 5 British Field Hospital in Bombay. He was promoted Surgeon-Major on 5 August 1889; Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel on 5 August 1897; Surgeon Colonel on 13 August 1904; and Surgeon Major-General on 31 December 1908. He transferred to the Retired List on 23 April 1910. He was created an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in for his services during the Great War as County Director, Auxiliary Hospitals and Voluntary Aid Detachments, Carnarvonshire, and died at Pwllheli, Caenarvonshire, on 16 May 1919.