Eli Maiden, Age 22

Private, 3/33455 8th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.

Cheshire Regiment Cap Badge.

Within three months more devastating news arrived that a second son Eli had died of wounds on the 15th May. Eli had been serving with the Cheshire Regt in Mesopotamia when he was wounded, whilst in hospital he dictated a series of letters to his family through the nurses on his ward in Amara Hospital.

The first sent by Sister C M Bottomley just stated that Eli had been admitted to the hospital badly wounded but was comfortable and that he sometimes sings Hymns which she much liked. A second letter followed on April 28th 1917

Dear Sister and Brother,
I am writing hoping this will find you in the best of heart, no doubt you have heard that I am in hospital now having been wounded, I came to this hospital on the 22nd April and are feeling a little better now, as it is cooler than coming down the river, I trust you are both having a good time at home and things are going well with you, so cheer up and look on the bright side and ask God to help us to better days, so I think this is all this time, will conclude now with a brothers best love to you both and God bless you.
Your loving brother, Eli.

Eli took a turn for the worse and on the 9th May 1917 a further letter arrived with some bad news,
“Your son is still very ill, we are anxious about him, poor little lad, he is so good too, I wish we could bring him home, everything possible is been done for Eli,”
Signed by the Ward Matron

Eli passed away on the 15th of May and lies buried in the Amara War Cemetery XIII.G.6

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Amara War Cemetery

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Victory Medal	British War Medal