Law, Eli George

Eli George (known as George) was the second son of William John and Rose (nee Elliott) Law, born at Litlington, Cambridgeshire in the first quarter 1891. He was a pupil of the Merchant Taylor School in Ashwell, Hertfordshire.

George enlisted with the 1^st Bedfordshire Regiment in 1908, Regimental Number 9448. His battalion was stationed at Aldershot Barracks at the outbreak of War and was one of the first to land in France. He saw active service on the Western Front, France and Flanders where in 1915, for gallantry and distinguished service, was awarded two Cross of the Order of St George (Class 3 and Class 4), presented by the Czar of Russia. He was also presented with a cheque for £5 for ‘gallant conduct in the field’, which he sent home to his parents. In 1916 George suffered shell shock, for which he was eligible for a wound stripe, but after a period of recovery he returned to Flanders and took part in the Battles of the Somme. George survived the War.

He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Russian Cross of St George 3^rd Class and 4^th Class.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

George was an expert shot and won many trophies in competitions around England.

George married Emma M Watson in 1919. They had three children, Frederic W G born 1919, James A born 1920 and Charles W B born 1928.

The 1939 census shows them living in Hitchin with George a night watchman.

It is not known when George died.

George’s brother Ernest Frederick also served in the War and survived.

The Cross of Saint George (or Георгиевский крест in Russian) is a state decoration of the Russian Federation initially established by Imperial Russia between 1807 and 1913.

The award was intended as a reward for “undaunted courage” by the lower ranks (soldiers, sailors and NCOs) of the military. There was only a single class with no restriction as to the number of awards per person. The first soldier to be awarded the Cross of Saint George was a cavalry non-commissioned officer named Yegor Ivanovich Mitrokhin. He received the award for distinction in the battle against the French at Friedland on 2 June 1807.

Over two million Saint George Crosses were distributed during the Great War and before the abdication of the tsar. They went to soldiers, nurses and members of the Red Cross. An enlisted man or NCO could be awarded the 4th class cross for his first brave act. A second notable act could then bring him the 3rd class cross, etc.