Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Ayres family group:

A Great War M.M. group of four awarded to Private W. A. Ayres, 8th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, who died of disease on 22 July 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (14328 Pte., 8/R. Berks. R.); 1914-15 Star (14328 Pte., R. Berks. R.); British War and Victory Medals (14328 Pte., R. Berks. R.); Memorial Plaque (William Arthur Ayres)

Three: Able Seaman J. Ayres, Royal Navy

British War and Victory Medals (J.36953 A.B. R.N.); Royal Fleet Reserve L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J.36953 (Dev. B. 14124) L.S. R.F.R.) pair with contact marks

Pair: Sapper W. R. Ayres, Inland Water Transport Corps, Royal Engineers

British War and Victory Medals (161985 Spr., R.E.) nearly very fine and better (10) £500-600

William Arthur Ayres was born c.1898 at Weybridge, Surrey, the son of William Reynolds and Minnie Ayres. On enlistment, his father was living at 9 St. Edward’s Road, Wokingham Road, Reading. Employed as a Brass Finisher, he enlisted at Reading on 7 September 1914, aged 19 years. Serving with the 8th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 7 August 1915. He was awarded the M.M. for his actions at Contalmaison on 10 July during the battle of Albert, (1-13 July 1916) (London Gazette 1 September 1916). He was returned to Englad and admitted to St. George’s Hospital, London, S.W. for appendicitis, 17 November-20 December 1916. On 17 February 1917 Ayres was transferred to the Royal Engineers serving with the Inland Water Transport Corps as Sapper 243961. He died from meningitis at No. 54 Casualty Clearing Station on 22 July 1917 and was buried in the Merville Communal Cemetery Extension.

John Ayres was born in Reading on 3 March 1899, the younger brother of William Arthur Ayres (above). Employed as a Book Binders Apprentice, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 13 April 1915. Serving on the battleship H.M.S. Revenge from February 1916, as a Boy 1st Class he was present at the battle of Jutland, 31 May/1 June 1916. On the same ship he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman in September 1916 and Able Seaman in July 1917. He attained the rank of Leading Seaman in October 1921. He joined the R.F.R. in 1929.

William Reynolds Ayres, the father of the above, was born in Slough c.1872. A Carpenter by trade. He served with the Inland Water Transport Corps R.E.; serving in France, May 1916-February 1919. With copied research, mostly relating to W. A. Ayres.