Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant A. C. Ionides, 9th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action by a sniper on 16 October 1915

1914-15 Star (Lieut. A. C. Ionides, K.R. Rif. C.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. A. C. Ionides.); Memorial Plaque (Ambrose Constantine Ionides) all mounted in a contemporary metal display frame, lacking glass, extremely fine (3) £300-£400

Ambrose Constantine Ionides was born in 1878, the second son of Alexander Ionides, Consul-General for Greece, and was educated at Dunchurch School and at Eton 1892-95. After leaving school he became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1900. On the outbreak of war he joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. and obtained his commission in the following January in the 15th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. He went to the Front in August 1915 and was drafted to the 9th Battalion of his regiment. He was killed in action on 16 October 1915, between Ypres and Hooge. He had volunteered to go with a party to erect wire in front of the trench in the early morning. There was a thick mist at the time, which later lifted suddenly. He at once ordered his men to lie down, but before he could do so himself, he was seen and shot by the enemy. He has no known grave and is commemorated by name on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. He married at the Greek Church, Kensington, 29 July 1911, Euphrosyne (Effie), daughter of the late Demetrius Michael Spartali and left a young son and daughter.