A Small Collection of Medals to the Irish Guards

Three: Private J. Elliott, Irish Guards

1914-15 Star (5623 Pte., I. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (5623 Pte., Ir. Gds.) good very fine (3) £170-190

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals to the Irish Guards.

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James Elliott was born in Belfast, Co. Antrim and originally enlisted in the Coldstream Guards in April 1899, aged 24 years, but was quickly transferred to the newly formed Irish Guards and allocated regimental number 288. His first period of engagement with the regiment was an unhappy one, however, the period 1900-02 witnessing him being confined on several occasions for absence without leave. He was discharged to the Army Reserve.

Re-enlisting in his old regiment in September 1914, Elliott went to France that November, and was severely wounded in the spine near Halluch on 2 October 1915, suffering ‘immediate paralysis’. Evacuated home in the following month, he died at No. 2 Eastern General Hospital, Brighton on 27 March 1916.