Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant E. Twigg, Royal Fusiliers, late Army Service Corps, a former Prison Warder who swapped the challenging environments of Wormwood Scrubs for the mud and attrition of France and Flanders, and was killed in action on 18 September 1918 when the Germans launched a major counter-offensive using gas shells and swarms of infantry to plug a hole in the Hindenburg Line

1914-15 Star (D.M2/075941 Pte. E. Twigg. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. E. Twigg.) with flattened named card boxes of issue, extremely fine (3) £200-£240

Ellis Twigg was born in the small Peak District village of Bamford, Derbyshire, on 7 May 1881. Educated at the Duke of York School, Dover, he is recorded in 1911 as living with his wife Hannah at No. 9, Officer’s Quarters, H.M. Prison, Brixton. According to the Prison Service Roll of Honour, he later transferred as Warder to Wormwood Scrubs, before attesting at London on 31 May 1915 for the Mechanical Transport Section, Army Service Corps.

Sent to Romford for training, Twigg served in the ranks on the Western Front from 20 August 1915 to 5 August 1917. Returned home on leave, it was at around this time that he pursued a temporary commission in the Regular Army, the Assistant Secretary at the Prison Commission offering a complimentary reference:

‘Sir, with reference to your letter of the 17th. instant, I am directed by the Prison Commissioners to inform you that the Governor under whom Warder Twigg last served reports that he is very well educated and of good moral character, and that he was an efficient Prison Officer. While in the Prison Service Warder Twigg incurred several reports caused, as the Governor says, through foolishness, but it is only right to say that the Governor adds that Twigg is a very decent class of man...’

Having received a similar response from the Adjutant of “H” Corps Supply Column, Twigg was appointed to a commission with the 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, attached 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers from 26 February 1918. He returned to France the following day and soon found himself in the thick of the fighting whilst attempting to repel the German Spring Offensive. Moved from Beugny to Havrincourt, the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, relieved the 2/5th King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on 15 September 1918 and were soon facing the full might of the German artillery. The Battalion War Diary, adds:

‘At 3.30pm enemy began shelling of our battery area using a large proportion of gas. At 4.15pm an intense barrage was put down on our front and support lines and Bn. Hqrs. was especially dealt with - the enemy attacked at 5pm and penetrated our lines in three places, namely along the railway and sunken road leading into Havrincourt, and long CT on our left flank. Capt. A. J. Lord, D.S.O., M.C. (right front), and Captain Mabbott, M.C. (left front), counter attacked, drove out the enemy and re-established our original front line. Captain D. Smith (support) and Captain H. R. Howard (reserve) combined and drove the enemy back from our exposed left flank. 5 enemy M.G. were captured and 70 prisoners. Casualties: 2/Lieut Twigg killed - OR casualties, 19 killed, 49 wounded including 1 gassed, 3 wounded nerves, 2 sprained ankles.’

Twigg has no known grave and is commemorated upon the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.