Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Memorial Plaque to Lieutenant E. W. Ruse, 128th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who was killed during an accidental explosion, when eight charges went off at a stores depot which backed on to an Advanced Dressing Station, 31 December 1915. A number of casualties were suffered amongst the Sappers, the Field Ambulance Unit, and a nearby works party from the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment

Memorial Plaque (Edward Wallace Ruse) in card envelope of issue, with Buckingham Palace enclosure; with National Rifle Association, Cadet Trophy Prize Medal, bronze, by G.G. Adams for Elkington & Co, ancient bowman and rifle volunteer standing side by side, rev. wreath, reverse engraved ‘Sapper E. W. Ruse Elizabeth College Guernsey O.T.C. 1910’ , 57mm, in original blue fitted case, extremely fine (2) £100-£140

Edward Wallace Ruse was the son of Captain F. Ruse of 25 Wentworth Avenue, Bournemouth. He was educated at Elisabeth College, Guernsey, and served as a Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers during the Great War on the Western Front from August 1914. Lieutenant Ruse was accidentally killed by the explosion of gun cotton, 31 December 1915, whilst preparing material for the accompaniment to a raid. The circumstances surrounding his death are as follows:

‘Lieut. Ruse, two N.C.O.s and seven Sappers were told off to accompany a raiding party into the German lines. The party was struck off all other duties and trained with the remainder of the troops, told off for the raid, in the duties which would be required of them.

The R.E. were required to take over explosives and destroy any machine gun emplacements, mine shafts and as much of the parapet as possible and also to block the two flanks of a certain portion of the enemy’s line.

It was decided to make up and take over eight charges of gun cotton of 20lbs each. Three similar charges were fired against a parapet similar to that which it was intended to attack during the training of the detachment.

Lieut. Ruse selected one Corporal and three Sappers and specially trained them in making up of the charges. On the afternoon of 31.12.15 the charges were apparently made up by the above party and about 6pm they were working, apparently on the cases containing them in the advanced store of the 128th Field Coy. R.E. where the explosion occurred.

Lieut. Ruse, the Corporal and three Sappers were all killed and four Sappers who were loading stores in the yard as well as a number of Infantry and R.A.M.C. who were also in the yard were injured.

From the appearance of the locality I am of the opinion that the whole of the eight charges were fired. There is no direct evidence as to what the party was actually doing at the time.

Lieut. Ruse was a very efficient officer and had a knowledge of explosives and the handling of them much above the average. He was very cool headed and was not likely to have been nervous or excited.’ (Report of Lieutenant Colonel A. G. Bremner, R.E., C.R.E. 23rd Division refers)

The above took place at the brasserie at Chappelle D’Armentiers, where the field company had a stores depot, and the building was shared with the 70th Field Ambulance Advanced Dressing Station. Ruse was killed along with Sappers R. Brown, F. Churchill, J. F. Fleming and W. C. Howes, with 4 others members of 128th Field Company being wounded. A further man was killed and 10 wounded at the dressing station, whilst a work party from the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment also suffered one man killed and 8 wounded.

Lieutenant Ruse is buried in Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension, France.

For the medals awarded to Sapper W. C. Howes, see Lot 192.