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Elwes, John Hargraves

Date of birth:
June 11th, 1906
Date of death:
March 18th, 1943
Buried on:
Commonwealth Memorial of the Missing Medjez-el-Bab
Service number:
34710
Nationality:
British

Biography

In 1940 Major Elwes was in the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in Norway to protect a number of Norwegian ports from German attack. The troops were evacuated from Normay end May/early June 1940.
By 1943. he was in the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards in North Africa where they took part in the defensive Battle of Medenine, after the Germans had counter-attacked the Allies.
He was killed on the 18 March 1943.

Promotions:
4 February, 1926: 2nd Lieutenant
4 February, 1939: Lieutenant
1 May, 1930: granted the local rank of Capt., whilst empld. with the Trans Jordan
Fron. Force
21 January, 1934: Captain
4 February, 1943: Major

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Major
Unit:
1st Battalion Scots Guards
Awarded on:
August 6th, 1940
Citation
"This officer brought up his company in front of Lindunget to cover the withdrawal of the Scots Guards from Dalsklubben on 18th May 1940. This duty was carried out, but when a further withdrawal was ordered, the message failed to reach him, with the result that his company was cut off from the rest of the battalion. After a continuous fight with the enemy, this officer managed to extricate the whole company and led them with great skill and daring for more than twenty miles over the mountains. After many adventures, including crossing a large river over which all the bridges had been blown, Major Elwes managed to gain contact with his battalion and rejoined on the early morning of the 19th May 1940.

By the skill and enterprise of this officer the whole company was able to join up with the battalion with the minimum of loss."
Military Cross (MC)

Sources

Photo