Eli Townend Archer was a patriotic and thoughtful young man who gave his life in service to his country at just 23 years of age. As one of only two commissioned officers from the Yorkshire town of Ossett to die in the First World War, his death had a profound impact on the local community.

Eli was born on 16 March 1893 at Calder Villa in Ossett, the son of David Hanson Archer and Emma Townend. He came from a prominent local family with deep roots in Ossett, a town in West Yorkshire. Historically, Ossett was mentioned in the 1806 Domesday Book as “Osleset” and is possibly the site where King Osbhert was killed in battle against the Vikings on 21 March 867.

In the 19th century, Ossett gained renown for the milling and weaving of kersey, a coarse woollen cloth. On the banks of the River Calder, Healey Low Mill and Healey New Mill were constructed between 1815 and 1830. These steam-powered mills were co-operative ventures, established by local cloth families who hoped to harness the Industrial Revolution to improve efficiency and productivity.

Eli’s maternal grandfather, Eli Townend, for whom he was named, rose from abject poverty to become one of the town’s most remarkable figures. Eli Sr. purchased Healey Low Mill in the late 19th century and founded a business producing mungo and shoddy—textiles made from recycled yarn—with his partner John William Smith.

Born in 1846, Eli Sr. remained illiterate throughout his life. He began work at the age of eight, sorting rags for Messrs. C and R Phillips, later working as a logger and selling hot pies in the streets to supplement his income. His dedication and keen business sense eventually allowed him to form his own enterprise. After dissolving his early partnership, he ran Healey Low Mill as Eli Townend Ltd, establishing it as a major business in the region.

Upon his death on 23 July 1910, the Wakefield Express published a lengthy obituary that described him as a man of humble origins and great influence—rough in appearance and speech, but generous and respected. He served on several public bodies, including the Local Board, Dewsbury Board of Guardians, and the County Council. His funeral was said to be the largest ever seen in Ossett, with the Mayor, town councillors, and people from all over the West Riding attending. The Town Hall flew its flag at half-mast, bells tolled, blinds were drawn along the funeral route, and thirty-eight carriages followed the cortege, two filled with wreaths.

Into this aspirational environment, Eli Jr. was born. His father, David Archer, served as a town councillor, and both his grandfather and great-uncle Walter Townend were prominent figures on various community boards. In 1900, his sister Mary was born. By the 1901 Census, the Archer family resided at 9 School Street, Ossett. David was still working as a butcher, and the family was affluent enough to employ a live-in maid.

In 1902, Eli’s younger brother Jack Townend Archer was born, continuing the family tradition of preserving maternal surnames in given names. It was clear that both boys were being raised to carry forward the legacy of community service and upward mobility established by their forebears.

With their inheritance and social standing, the Archers wisely chose to secure their children’s future through education. Eli began his schooling at Ossett Grammar School, a historic institution founded in 1735 to provide broader education to the town’s youth, particularly those from working families. The school, initially associated with the Chapel of Ease, offered a classical curriculum including French and Latin (the latter for an additional fee), preparing students for university entrance.

By 1906, Ossett was reclassified as a borough of Wakefield and required a new town hall. The original grammar school was demolished to make way for it, and at this time Eli likely transferred to Silcoates School, about 5 kilometres away, to continue his education.

The Silcoates School was founded in 1820 as the Northern Congregational School at Silcoates House for the education of the sons of Nonconformist clergymen. Silcoates School was a boarding school, and Eli attended until his graduation to Leeds University.

Eli led a varied life as a young man. He played cricket for Dewsbury and Savile Town, being mentioned several times in local newspapers recording scores from weekend matches. He played football for Ossett Temperance Football Club, an offshoot of the Ossett Temperance Institute, which Eli and several of his family were members of. Eli is pictured in a group photograph of the 1910-1911 season in the center of the middle row. Sadly, two other men in this photograph were killed during the Great War, including George Gawthorpe, standing second from the right in the back row of Image 2, and Archer Townend, Eli’s maternal first cousin, sitting on the middle row on the extreme left.

During his university years, Eli joined the Leeds University Contingent Senior Division Officer Training Corps (OTC) of Leeds University. With the world sliding toward conflict, Eli may have been cognizant of the emerging necessity of military training. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the OTC on 15 June 1915 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the 1/4th Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) on 2 July 1915.

By the 1911 Census, Eli is listed as living with his family at 10 Runting Grange in Ossett. Jack, Mary, David, and Emma lived together, with both of the men providing for the family. Eli had followed his maternal ancestors’ professions as a rag merchant. By 1915, Eli had moved out to rent in Dearden Street nearby, still in Runting Grange. At this time, the Great War had broken out while Eli and the 1/4th KOYLI were on their annual summer training exercise. It is likely that he was second-in-command of D Company, which drew its recruits from Ossett. The unit utilized The Drill Hall in Ossett on the corner of Station Road and Fairfield Terrace.

Although Eli was registered to vote in Ossett, his unit was moved to Doncaster in August 1914, Gainsborough in November 1914, and York in February 1915. The excitement would have been palpable among the men. After all, Eli had more patriotism than most. In 1901, his father, grandfather, and great-uncle had all been instrumental in raising volunteers to serve with the 1st KOYLI in the Second Anglo-Boer War. The Townend and Archer families gave speeches at both the sending-off and returning parades for G Company, 1st KOYLI at the local train station. This must have had a profound effect on Eli, possibly even motivating him to take up arms with his OTC in the first place.

On 25 May 1916, Eli’s Medal Card Index indicates his entry into France via Boulogne. At the time, the War Diary lists the 1/4th KOYLI as billeted at Talmas, northeast of Amiens. The battalion moved to Bois D’Aveluy to furnish working parties for the 32nd Division on 22 June 1916. During this period, the 1/4th KOYLI were undergoing a nervous period of training before moving to trenches near Aveluy Wood. Eli was trained as one of the battalion bombers, employed to use grenades in both offensive and defensive maneuvers. It is likely that his pre-war athleticism, including his cricketing, stood him in good stead for this role. He was placed in ‘X’ Company in charge of a platoon, and it was during this period that he became familiar with his men in their billets.

On 30 June 1916, the battalion moved into trenches outside Aveluy Wood and Northumberland Avenue. The offensive of 1 July 1916 at Thiepval involved a disastrous set of piecemeal attacks at great cost. The 1/4th KOYLI were being worked up to join the attack but were recalled on 1 July 1916, sparing them the horrendous casualties of the battalions ahead of them. Nonetheless, the War Diary mentions that the battalion heard the thunderous days of continuous drumfire leading up to the assault as Eli’s first sounds of conflict.

Eli and the 1/4th KOYLI moved to Thiepval Wood on 2 July 1916, taking over the stretch of the front line. They were almost immediately gassed with lachrymatory shells and shrapnel, causing light casualties. A more concerted gas attack was thought to be making its way from the German lines in the morning of 3 July 1916, and Eli stood at arms with his men. Thankfully again, this turned out not to be the case.

On 4 July 1916, the German front line renewed its efforts at an aggressive defense, opening an intense bombardment on the 1/4th KOYLI, followed by rapid rifle fire. This was particularly directed towards parties carrying wounded and dead soldiers back to the British lines. Operating with the 5th KOYLI, W Company of the 1/4th KOYLI attacked the German front line but was forced to withdraw in the face of heavy opposition. The day was spent consolidating existing positions. It rained continuously during these operations, and the War Diary notes that the trenches were waterlogged on both sides.

The 148th Brigade War Diary for 4 July 1916 summarized the movements: The night had been fairly quiet. A sharp burst of German rifle fire was explained by Col. Rendall as caused by the enemy seeing our parties collecting wounded in ‘No Man’s Land’… ‘D’ Coy entering by A.18, preceded by bombing squads to move towards A.10 and A.20 and consolidate strong points at A.19… All communication trenches leading into this area to be blocked and guarded by bombers. In addition to bombs already stored in ‘A’ trenches, 900 bombs would be taken forward by the relieving Coys, and before daylight, a further supply carried up to A.18. As already mentioned, this relief was complete by 4 pm… At 7.30, a party of Germans in steel helmets was seen going from B.19 along Comm. Trench towards A.17 – perhaps to relieve a bombing post. At 8.20, the enemy started registering on our new communications trenches and the SUNKEN Road, evidently intending to prevent further work there later. At 10 am, he opened a very sharp bombardment with lachrymatory shells on the new communications trenches and right down THIEPVAL Wood. The trench, especially where it crosses the Sunken Road, was much knocked about, the enemy’s intention being to make the completion of a good trench impossible. There was also some shelling of the crossings of the ANCRE below the Wood. At times during the day, the enemy shelled his old line where held by us. The 5th KOYLI reported their bombing squads at A.17 engaged with bombing squads of the enemy all morning and maintained superiority. Heavy rain fell in the early afternoon, under cover of which the enemy began a counterattack and gained a footing in our positions in ‘A’ line. Two platoons of ‘Z’ Coy, 4th KOYLI were moved up from THIEPVAL WOOD, and ‘W’ Company, 4th KOYLI, was ordered to counterattack under Capt. Muirhead, being led to its objective by 2/Lt. Wilson, 4th Y&L. The enemy had, however, been repulsed, though heavy shelling and some sniping and bombing were proceeding.

The 1/4th KOYLI War Diary wrote of the day: 9 am – Germans bombarded our front line and the Marsh. 2 pm – Enemy opened rapid rifle fire on our right and commenced an intense bombardment on our front. Information was received from 5th KOYLI that the enemy were attacking our position in the ‘A’ Line under cover of a heavy thunderstorm and that artillery support had been called for… it was decided to send Capt. Barber… and send two platoons of ‘Z’ Company to take over the position vacated by Capt. Barber. ‘W’ Company was ordered to counterattack under Capt. & Adjt. J.I. Muirhead, this party being directed to their objective by 2/Lt. Wilson… On arrival at the ‘A’ line, the 5th KOYLI were found to be still in possession, the enemy having been driven off. Heavy shelling and some sniping and bombing were proceeding.

Though held in reserve during this action, this was Eli’s first taste of combat. With 46 casualties on 4 July 1916 alone, there is no doubt that Eli would have heard the anguished cries of the wounded among the chatter of small arms fire and the thudding of artillery shells finding their mark. Given that the British had occupied many of the existing German front-line trenches in their series of harrying raids, it did not take long for the German marksmen and artillery to dial in the range on their sights. It was with much relief that the 5th KOYLI were found to have stood their ground in the old German line, as the 1/4th KOYLI would have been sent to relieve them in force, likely with more casualties.

The next day, 5 July 1916, Eli himself entered the fray in support of an attack made by the 5th KOYLI. Seeking to broaden the Thiepval front, the 5th KOYLI were ordered to take the German front line to the west towards the Ancre River and stretch the front line towards Martinsart Wood.

The 148th Brigade War Diary detailed this attack with mixed success. As mentioned above, two platoons of the 4th KOYLI supported the successful bombing attack of the 5th KOYLI at 4 am, and ‘W’ Company, under Capt. Plackett, with two squads from the Battalion bombing platoon, helped the 5th KOYLI eject the German counterattack. Arrangements were made by ‘A’ Company, supported by ‘D’ Company, to seize and consolidate points in the ‘A’ system towards the River Ancre. The first surprise attack at 2 am failed at its inception, the Germans apparently being fully prepared. The second assault was to be delivered at 3:10 am after 10 minutes of intense bombardment, but it was postponed until 4:10 am. The assault was delivered with great resolution but immediately met with a heavy barrage, and the leading platoon was almost annihilated. The supporting platoons captured A.10 and worked their way about 200 yards towards A.20 before being driven back by the enemy, who were now reinforced by bombers supporting their snipers. Their bombers appeared to outrange ours. The support given to them by their snipers was very effective, with bombs seemingly supplied by throwing them forward to their bombers. After a short resistance, we lost A.19, and the enemy again pierced our trenches but was driven out with the help of the 4th KOYLI bombers.

From the OP, at first, little could be seen in the bad light, but from 8 am onward, much bomb fighting was visible, though it was confused and difficult to follow. About 9 am, Major Littledale ordered Battery A/153 to fire on enemy parties in A.19, while the enemy shelled A.17. It appeared that the enemy had retired from A.17, but we could not hold it, as the communication trench from B.19 held a part of enemy bombers. Targets were indicated from the OP to the artillery with good results. A forward party of 40 Germans was cut off from supply and finally ran back up the communication trench (which was blown at points). Several casualties were observed. The artillery fire was directed to enable our bombers to consolidate A.17. By 11 am, our bombers had not appeared on the A.19 side of A.17, and the action seemed over. At 6:30 am, an artillery OP had reported large parties of Germans in their second line, apparently prepared to advance. At 12:30 pm, from our OP, we saw a red flare burn and a black disc waved (the arranged signals) at A.18. The enemy were seen at A.19 and shelled. At 1:25 pm, a very encouraging report came of French progress south of the Somme. A total of 4,300 prisoners had been taken by the British.

During the afternoon, there was heavy fire on the Marsh and Mesnil. At 3:30 pm, shelling was reported for the first time in Aveluy Wood. Perhaps the enemy had received information from prisoners or from a map they had taken, as they began to shell ‘C’ trenches. By 4:30 pm, the 5th KOYLI was relieved by the 4th and returned to assembly trenches in Thiepval Wood. Under orders received from the 4th Army, Lieut. Peck, who had reconnoitered on the previous day, and four men of the 5th KOYLI occupied the Divion Mill for sniping purposes. The 5th Y&L had one company in McMahon’s Post and three in the Thiepval Wood assembly trenches. The 4th Y&L reported trenches in parts were 18 inches deep in water, and men's feet were beginning to give trouble. At night, ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies relieved ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies in the front line.

The 1/4th KOYLI War Diary from the day adds further detail: 4 am – two platoons of ‘Z’ Company supported a bombing attack made by the 5th KOYLI on the enemy’s trenches. The attack was unsuccessful, with casualties being slight. The enemy attacked the position held by the 5th KOYLI and gained entry to the front line but were rejected by two squads from the Battalion Bombing Platoon and ‘W’ Company under Capt. H. Plackett. Casualties: 2/Lt. T.H. Riordan and 2/Lt. E.T. Archer wounded; three other ranks killed and 20 wounded.

It appears that Eli was wounded during this action as he led his platoon of battalion bombers to the rescue of the beleaguered 5th KOYLI under severe counterattack. One can only imagine the terror and adrenaline that coursed through Eli in equal measure as he brought his bombers up to the firing line. Eli would have been under rifle, machine gun, artillery, and mortar fire while hurling grenades at the German advance, not to mention the Germans’ grenadiers who seemed to outrange the British. Given that Eli’s wound did not prevent him from continuing to fight with his battalion, it is probable that he received a shrapnel wound, possibly from an enemy grenade during this action.

The next day, 6 July 1916, the 1/4th KOYLI stood at arms to withstand a counterattack. Again, bombing parties were sent to the advanced saps to bomb the German line under intense enemy grenade attack. Successfully, they advanced the line some 70 yards that day. On 7 July 1916, the German bombing raids intensified, as did their artillery. The War Diary continued: Enemy bombers advanced down the trench towards A.18 and A.16 and across the open to A.17. A furious fight with bombs ensued, lasting until 6:30 am. Numerous casualties were incurred both from bombs and enemy snipers, who were lying out in the open and shot down our men as they fired and threw bombs out of the trench. Major H. Moorhouse, DSO, in command of the sector, was wounded in the arm by a sniper about 4 am but remained in command until 5:30 am when he was forced, through loss of blood, to go to the Dressing Station. Capt. W.M. Williamson, commanding ‘Z’ Company, and 2/Lts. Carter, Massie, Mackay, De Jonquet, and Huntington were also wounded. Capt. H.G. Fraser took command and continued to fight until 6:30 am when he ran out of bombs and was forced to retire down the communication trench to the original British front line, which he held along with the 4th and 5th Y&L Regt already there, with 35 men remaining out of the two companies until 9:30 am, when he was ordered to return to the assembly trenches in Thiepval Wood.

Casualties: Other ranks, 20 killed, 180 wounded. Eli would have been receiving medical attention at one of the field hospitals behind the line while this battle raged.

The 1/4th KOYLI War Diary for 8 July 1916 records Eli’s return. 2/Lts. Archer and Butler arrived to replace casualties. On this day, the battalion was relieved by the 5th West Riding Regiment and departed the front line westwards to Martinsart Wood. The desperation to break the static warfare that characterized July 1916 on the Somme is evident in these few days that the 1/4th KOYLI spent in combat. The battalion had 8 officers and 361 other ranks as casualties during these seven days of fighting. As a testament to the courage displayed by the 1/4th KOYLI during this time, a special Division Routine Order (DRO) was issued. The Army Commander considered that the defense of the trenches in R.19.c by the 49th Division on 7 July was "well and gallantly conducted" and reflected great credit on all concerned.

After several days' rest at Martinsart Wood, Eli and ‘X’ Company moved to the Leipzig Salient, relieving the 4th York and Lancaster Regiment in the front line on 22 July 1916. The Leipzig Salient was a German defensive position constructed in 1915 opposite the village of Authuille, northeast of their position at Aveluy Wood. On 1 July 1916, just 21 days prior to the 1/4th KOYLI occupying the position, the 1/17th Highland Light Infantry had successfully surprised the Germans in their front line and took both the Salient and Redoubt on the reverse slope to the northeast. Several attempts had been made to force the Germans further beyond Leipzig Redoubt but had been cut down with significant casualties.

The British defenders had repelled several strong counterattacks, including a flamethrower and gas attack on 15 July 1916 that resulted in extensive casualties with little strategic gain for either the Germans or the British. The 1/4th KOYLI had been brought into the front line for the first day of the Battle of Pozieres. This offensive was a combined operation between the British Fourth Army and the French Sixth Army to capture the village of Pozieres, following up on the gains made in the area on 1 July 1916. Capturing Pozieres was a key step in bringing the British closer to breaking through the second line of German trenches.

The 1/4th KOYLI was tasked with attacking the Leipzig Salient to extend the German line as a diversion for the Australian attack on Pozieres. The 148th Brigade War Diary detailed the operation: Early on the morning of 22 July, the 4th Y&L made a bombing attack and found the German trenches heavily manned. They could make no progress as most of the trained bombers became casualties. The enemy retaliated with heavy trench mortars. The 4th KOYLI relieved them and repeated the attack early on 23 July, but were driven out by a strong enemy counterattack. They returned with a further attack, but this too was repulsed.

This relatively brief appendix, scrawled on paper by hand, is supplemented by the 1/4th KOYLI War Diary, which reads:

22.7.16, 11 am: Battalion relieved the 4th Y&L Regiment in the front line. ‘W’ Company was in the crater, ‘X’, ‘Y’, and ‘Z’ Companies in the front line.
10 pm: Bombardment opened on our right and spread along the whole front. Orders were received to attack at 2:30 am. ‘X’ Company was ordered to attack the German lines on the east of the Salient to extend the Salient and keep the enemy occupied.
23.7.16, 2:30 am: The attack was met by rifle fire and a barrage of shrapnel. The attacking party suffered heavy casualties while crossing No-Man’s-Land. On arrival at the German lines, the enemy were found to be in force, and due to casualties sustained, the party was too weak to put up a fight and had to withdraw, leaving 2/Lts. Plews and Mountain wounded in the enemy’s trenches and 2/Lts. Archer and Jubb missing. The enemy bombers counterattacked up trenches leading to our lines but were driven off by our bombers, assisted by bombing squads lent by the 5th KOYLI, 4th and 5th Y&L Regiments.
Casualties: Other ranks, 6 killed; 60 wounded.

Through the 1/4th KOYLI’s actions in July 1916, the gallantry of their bombing parties cannot be overstated. Carrying the No. 5 Mark 1 ‘Mills Bomb,’ these men advanced through saps or behind cover on open ground, to within 15 meters of the enemy to hurl their grenades. Generally considered deadly to all those within 10 meters of the blast, the fragments had an effective range of 200 meters in open country. The confined space of trench fighting meant that this range was significantly decreased, although the concussion was amplified within the walls of the trenches. With a delay of five seconds, bombers would often ‘cook’ their grenades by holding them in their hands until about to explode, then throwing them at the enemy to reduce the chances of them being thrown back. This was not without danger, as if the thrower was wounded or distracted with the grenade in his hand, he would surely meet death after those five seconds elapsed.

On 23 July 1916, Eli once again advanced to within several yards of the German trenches, ducking between shell craters in no-man’s-land. He did not have the benefit of a sap extending to the German lines, nor did he have firsthand knowledge of the terrain, having only arrived in his position several hours beforehand. Eli undertook his mission with four other officers, all from West Yorkshire: Second Lieutenant Allen Mountain, whose father was a bank manager in Wakefield; Second Lieutenant John Christopher Plews, whose father was a clerk to the Wakefield City Justices; and Second Lieutenant James Jubb, who lived in Batley. Eli was accompanied by his batman that day, who later sent a letter detailing Eli’s demise.

Eli was wounded in both legs, and the party was forced to leave him in a shell hole while retreating, with the intention of going back when the fire subsided to retrieve him.

A strong German patrol was seen in the vicinity of the shell hole where Eli lay, and it was hoped that he, along with Plews, had been taken prisoner. However, a search party sent out to find Eli was unsuccessful, and his body was never recovered.

Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Bond’s regimental history, The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in The Great War, recounted the fighting in July 1916, including Eli’s wounding and death. The 4/K.O.Y.L.I. arrived in their assembly trenches in Aveluy Wood at 3 a.m. on the morning of 1 July. The 49th Division, being in reserve that day, did not participate in the first great advance, but at 6 p.m. orders were received which placed the 4th and 5th Battalions K.O.Y.L.I. at the disposal of the 96th Infantry Brigade for their attack on Thiepval. By 8:15 the next morning, they were holding trenches in Thiepval Wood, a position which had been won within the first line of the enemy trenches (known as the A line) on the previous day. They were shelled heavily in this position until 5 a.m. the next morning.

During the night, ‘X’ and ‘Y’ Companies of the 4/K.O.Y.L.I. were sent forward to relieve the 5/Y.&L.; ‘W’ and ‘Z’ Companies remained in support. On 4 July, there was a bombardment, followed at 2 p.m. by rapid fire. Under cover of a thunderstorm, the enemy launched an attack on the defenders of the A trench line, with the 5/K.O.Y.L.I. being chiefly involved. However, the defenders remained in possession of the trenches, and the attack was driven off. The 4/K.O.Y.L.I. had Capt. H.C. Fraser and 45 other ranks wounded.

The 5th of July was occupied in bombing attacks on both sides. After one of their attacks, Capt. C.H. Plackett, who had been leading, was reported missing. 2/Lts. T.H. Riordan and E.T. Archer were wounded; 3 other ranks were killed, and 20 were wounded. ‘W’ and ‘Z’ Companies were employed in carrying bombs and ammunition up to the men in the A line.

Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France, ordered the second concentrated effort by the Fourth Army in the morning of 14 July 1916, along the line from the Leipzig Salient in the north to the point of junction with the French forces in the south. The high ground of the ridge to the east of the Bazentin villages and to the southeast of them was the objective. The hold on the Leipzig Salient was to be extended, and Thiepval was to be threatened, but this northern end of the ridge was too strongly fortified to be carried by direct attack for the present.

The 4th and 5th Battalions of KOYLI had undergone re-organization while in huts at Martinsart Woods, and they returned to the trenches on 21 July 1916. On 23 July at 2:30 a.m., part of the 4/K.O.Y.L.I. was ordered to attack with a view to extending the position in the Salient. Heavy casualties were suffered when crossing No Man's Land, and the enemy was found to be in force in their lines. The attackers were too weakened to put up a fight and were forced to withdraw, having Lt. J.C. Plews wounded and 2/Lts. A.J. Mountain, E.T. Archer, and J.C. Jubb killed. The enemy bombers counter-attacked up the trenches leading to our lines but were beaten back by the 4th Battalion bombers, assisted by those of the 5/K.O.Y.L.I. and of the 4th and 5th Battalions Y & L.

In addition to the officers mentioned, there were 66 casualties in other ranks, of whom 6 were killed. Lt.-Col. H.J. Haslegrave was wounded the following day.

The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer on 31 July 1916 published Eli’s status as missing in action:

"SEC.-LIEUT ELI TOWNEND ARCHER, aged 23, son of Councillor and Mrs. David H. Archer, of Ossett, who has been missing since 22nd July, along with three other officers of the K.O.Y.L.I., had not been heard of up to yesterday. He was educated at Silcoates and trained with the Leeds O.T.C., receiving his commission in June of last year. Prior to joining the Forces, he was in business as a rag merchant at Ossett."

The Ossett Observer, on 5 August 1916, printed a more detailed account mentioning Eli’s batman:

"As reported in our last issue, Lieut. Archer and other officers went out with a bombing party and did not return. A letter has been received this week from his servant, in which he states that he left the officer, who had been wounded, in a shell-hole in ‘No Man’s Land’. Information from another source says that a search party was sent out but failed to find him. It was reported that a strong German patrol had been seen in the vicinity and in all probability, they had picked him up."

A later issue of the Ossett Observer on 29 September 1916 lamented:

"Lieut. E.T. Archer of Ossett, Missing Failed to Return from a Bombing Expedition. We regret to state that Second-Lieutenant Eli Townend Archer, of the K.O.Y.L.I., the elder son of Councillor and Mrs. D.H. Archer, has been missing since Saturday. He was one of four young officers who on Saturday went out with a bombing party and failed to return. No news of their fate has yet been received. The other missing officers are Second-Lieutenant Allen H. Mountain, whose father, Mr. T.H. Mountain, is a bank manager at Wakefield, and one of the secretaries of the Wakefield Paxton Society; Second-Lieutenant J. Plews, son of the late clerk to the Wakefield city justices; and Second-Lieutenant J.C. Jubb, of Batley. Lieut. Archer trained with the Officers’ Training Corps at Leeds University until he got his commission. He has been out in France for several months."

The Yorkshire Evening Post, on 23 March 1917, published further biographical information about Eli:

"Yorkshire Casualties. Fate of Some Soldiers in the Recent Fighting. Second-Lieutenant Eli Townend ARCHER, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. D.H. Archer of Runting Grange, Ossett, reported missing on July 23 last year, is now presumed to be dead. Educated at Silcoates, he joined the Leeds University Officers’ Training Corps in March, 1915, and received his commission in June of that year. In business, he was a rag merchant at Ossett."

The Yorkshire Evening Post, on 24 March 1917, announced Eli’s death again:

"Yorkshiremen Who Have Fallen. Losses Notified Today. Second-Lieutenant Eli Townend ARCHER, K.O.Y.L.I., elder son of Councillor and Mrs. D.H. Archer of Runting Grange, Ossett, who was reported missing on 23rd July 1916, is now presumed to have died on that date. He joined the Leeds University O.T.C. in March 1915 and received his commission in June of that year. He was a playing member of the Dewsbury and Savile Cricket Club, and prior to joining the Army, he was in business as a rag merchant at Ossett. He was in his 24th year."

Eli’s actions, while not earning him a gallantry medal per se, were nonetheless heroic. Still recovering from his wounds less than three weeks prior, Eli continued to lead his squad of bombers undaunted, eventually costing him his life. He had no dependents, being only 23 years old, and left his estate to his father. Eli was one of four cousins to serve in the British Army during the Great War. His cousins Archer and Gerald Townend were both killed in action, and his other cousin Frank Townend suffered from severe shell-shock. According to family lore, Frank was tied to a tree during heavy shelling to remedy his ‘moral fibre’. This barbaric treatment evidently had the opposite effect, and Frank subsequently developed a stammer.

Eli is memorialized at St. John’s Methodist Chapel in a family obelisk, as well as at Silcoates School’s chapel. With no known grave, he is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial in France. For his service in the Great War, Eli was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal. His Memorial Plaque was sent to his father. Eli’s story is characteristic of many men who served in the Great War, whose dedication to the protection of what they felt was right resulted in them paying the ultimate sacrifice for their country.