WORLD WAR ONE NORTHAMPTON INDEPENDENT SOLDIER NEWSPAPER ARTICLES   

     CORPL. J. ELLINGHAM of the 5th Rifle Brigade, Mar 1916

                            Corpl. J. Ellingham won the Distinguished Conduct Medal.  His modest account is copied below.

                                “You all want to know what I done to receive the card (of recommendation) for bravery.  All I did

                            was to stick to my post and get wounded men under the best cover we could find while we were being

                            heavily shelled.  One of my mates had his left leg blown off above the knee.  I went to him and held

                            him from falling into the water, and while waiting for assistance another shell blew my hat clean off my

                            head without scratching me.  I had a big bruise, however, between my shoulders which gave me ‘beans’

                            for a fortnight.  Later I had a narrower escape – a shell took a piece out of the seat of my trousers without

                            hurting me, but wounded the man next to me in the back.  It is a nerve shaking experience to be under heavy

                            shell fire for nine successive days, with four days rest, and then another dose for five days, but I think the

                            Germans are getting the worst of it.”

                            Corporal Ellingham was subsequently wounded, and is now in hospital at Shoreham.