213202 Gnr. Eli Hills British Army A Battery, 82 Brigade Royal Field Artillery from:Stoke Newington At the commencement of Kaiserschlacht on the 21st of March 1918, my Grandfather Eli Hils was serving as a Gunner with 'A' Battery, LXXX11 Brigade, R.F.A.
This Battery was located 1,000 yards west of Fort Vendeuil and it fought valiantly throughout the day until it was finally overun by about 5.00pm. The Battery suffered many casualties during the day and Eli himself was initially reported killed in action. In fact his wife was actually sent the bronze memorial plaque and memorial scroll which were awarded to the next of kin of servicemen killed in action.
Fortunately, however, Eli had survived and spent the rest of the War as a P.O.W. Interestingly The Index to War Deaths 1914-1921 Army (Other Ranks) still erroneously lists Eli as having died in 1918.
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