British Army Officers Crimson Red Sash, attributed to MC Winner
An officer's red sash with tassels, embroidered neatly to the inside with the owners name, E.W.N. Wade M.C. In good overall condition.
Lt-Col E.W.N. Wade, M.C. won his Military Cross with the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment in WW1. He was also the husband of a famous wife. Read more below!
Eric Wade started his military career in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, surrendering his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 5th (Militia) Battalion in 1905. With the outbreak of the Great War, as a reservist, he was recalled to the colours and appointed to the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment as a Lieutenant.
The War diary for September 1914 confirms Lieutenant Wade’s arrival with the 3rd reinforcement to the 1st Battalion then in France as part of 11th Brigade of the 4th Division. His MIC confirms his entitlement to a Mons Star with clasp and also the Military Cross, which was earned as Lieutenant with the 1st Hants. After a stint at Staff College in Sept - Oct 1916, he was appointed Brigade Major to 131st Brigade. He continued his career with the Army post war, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in command of the East Yorkshire Regiment. He retired from the Army on age grounds in October 1941. He died in 1956 and was survived by his Wife, Mollie (Nee Ellis), They had one son, Peter Wade, born in 1931, who also served in the Army.
However, his marriage to Mollie Ellis in 1930 following their meeting in Lucknow, is perhaps the most fascinating part of his story. Mollie was taken captive in 1923 at the age of 17 on the North West Frontier of India, following the murder of her mother, and her capture and subsequent ransom was to hit the headlines around the world. Her release 10 days later by the Pathans who took her, following the daring intercession of a nurse Starr is a stirring story in itsself and was told to the BBC in 1979 (see the link which contains this interview - https://m.facebook.com/watch/?v=1049805551818990&_rd
Mollie revisited the site of her mother’s grave in 1983 at the age of 77. There is a hint that she fell in love with one of her captors, perhaps an early case of Stockholm syndrome! Anyway, she went on to a adopt the role of the model Colonel’s wife. There is a picture of them both on the front cover of the October 1935 Edition of “The Snapper” – The Regimental Journal of the East Yorkshire Regiment (photocopy to be provided along with copies of newspaper extracts, MIC, London Gazette entries and general information on Mollie's exploits as well as Eric's military career).
Comm TeMo
Code: 63770