Eight: Lieutenant Colonel E. H. Montresor, (Commanding) 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, killed in action at the Battle of The Aisne, 14 September 1914

Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, 1 clasp, The Nile 1884-85 (Lieut., 1/Rl. Suss. R.); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Hazara 1888 (Lt., 2d. Bn., R. Suss. R.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt., Rl. --- Rgt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Lt. Col., R. Suss. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col.); Coronation 1911; Khedive’s Star 1884-6, first three with some contact wear and edge bruising, otherwise generally nearly very fine or better, the Q.S.A. with pitting from star obliterating part of unit detail, other medals generally nearly extremely fine and probably a unique group to a Great War officer casualty (8) £1800-2200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars.

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See Colour Plate III

Ernest Henry Montresor was born on 20 November 1863, at Burdwan, Bengal, India. He was educated at Haileybury College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; joined the Royal Sussex Regiment as a Lieutenant in February 1884; becoming Captain in August 1894. He served in the Soudan Expedition, the Nile 1884-5, receiving the medal with clasp and the Khedive’s Star; and in the Hazara Expedition 1888, receiving the medal with clasp. From December 1895 to December 1900 he was Adjutant of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Lieut. Col. Montresor also served in the South African War, being present at operations in the Orange River and Cape Colonies from March 1901 to January 1902, and in the Transvaal from March to May 1902 (Mentioned in Despatches London Gazette 29 July 1902); promoted Brevet Major in August 1902; and received the Queen’s medal with five clasps. He was promoted Substantive Major in October 1902, and succeeded to command of the 2nd Battalion of his regiment in February 1911.

He was killed in action on 14 September 1914 when in command of his battalion at the Battle of the Aisne, and is commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial. His son in law, Lieutenant Geoffrey Russell Fenton was killed in action 6 days later during the same battle, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers.

The following is extracted from a letter written by a Private in the Royal Sussex Regiment who witnessed Lieutenant Colonel Montresor’s death, published in the Sussex Daily News on 19 September 1914: ‘Colonel Montresor had been galloping up and down the lines shouting orders when a field gun shell killed his charger. The Colonel was injured but continued his duties, when he was struck in the forehead just above the nose by a bullet from a quick-firer, killing him instantly.’