An Australian First War Group to the 10th Light Horse Regiment

An Australian First War Group to the 10th Light Horse Regiment - 1914-15 Star (1682 Pte E.S. WELLS. 10/L.H.RGT A.I.F.); British War Medal (1682 A/BDR. E.S. WELLS. 10 L.H.R. A.I.F.); and Victory Medal (1682 A/BDR. E.S. WELLS. 10 L.H.R. A.I.F.). Naming is officially impressed. All three medals sewn together on a linen strip, in reverse medal order, the British War Medal backwards, original ribbons, with a 1918 Australian Shilling coin soldered to an inscribed ribbon banner frame, suspended from the centre of the linen strip, obverse engraved "Welcome Home to Kukkup." and reverse engraved "CPL. E.S. WELLS." Light contact, very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Attestation Paper, Service Records, two Notices from the Australian Imperial Force Base Records Office - Victoria Barracks in Melbourne, along with confirmation of his qualification for the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.   Footnote: Edward Stanley Wells was born in London, England in 1883. He signed his Attestation Paper on July 28, 1915, at the age of 32, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Emily Wells of Bairnsdale, Victoria, stating that he was a Naturalized British Subject, that he had no previous military service, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Farmer. He was assigned to the 19th Depot for two months before joining the 3rd Depot Squadron of the 10th/12th Light Horse Regiment on November 4, 1915. The 10th Light Horse Regiment was a light cavalry regiment of the Australian Imperial Force and was the only Light Horse unit raised in Western Australia. Early in the new year, he left for overseas service and while in Egypt, fell sick on February 17, 1916 and was admitted to hospital in Cairo, with a case of Influenza. After eleven days treatment, he was discharged on the 28th. He was subsequently transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Reserve on March 5th. He was transferred to the 4th Division Ammunition Column as a Gunner on April 7, 1916 and promoted to Acting Bombardier on April 24th, then reverted back to the rank of Gunner on May 15th. Wells proceeded to France to join the British Expeditionary Force, aboard the HMT Oriana from Alexandria, Egypt on June 6th, disembarking in Marseilles, France on the 13th. He was briefly in hospital "sick" in mid-June. He was posted to the Trench Mortar School at Butherm, then placed with the 4th Division Ammunition Column as a Driver. He returned to hospital, this time at Boulogne, from mid-September and into October, again with Influenza. He briefly returned to the field but was stricken with sickness again on October 23rd, developing a case of Scarlet Fever. He was hospitalized at Boulogne, then invalided to England and admitted to 3rd London General Hospital on November 3rd. After recovering from his illness, Wells proceeded overseas to France for "Invicta" on February 28, 1917, rejoining his unit, the 4th Division Ammunition Column, on March 15th. He was transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade on June 17, 1917, where he managed to avoid injury or sickness for three and a half months. However, he was wounded in action on October 1, 1917, suffering gun shot wounds to the left leg, treated in the field and then admitted to No. 38 Stationary Hospital at Wimereux on October 8th. He was transferred to Le Havre for additional treatment on the 21st. He continued to be treated at various locations while in France, including No. 4 Convalescent Depot in Le Havre beginning on December 11th and at the Australian General Base Depot at Rouelles beginning on January 15, 1918. Five weeks later, he rejoined the Brigade from "wounded" on February 18, 1918. Wells again contracted Influenza and was admitted "sick" to hospital while on furlough in England on July 1, 1918, then convalesced at Sutton and Hytesbury through August. Early in the new year, he was deemed healthy enough to travel. Wells departed Liverpool, England for Australia on February 23, 1919, aboard the S.S. Anchises, disembarking in Kilban on April 7th. He was discharged from active service on June 13, 1919 at 5th Military District in Western Australia. For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.