Last World War One widow Dorothy Ellis whose husband inspired War Horse dies aged 96
Wilfred Ellis was shot, gassed and left for dead on the front line in 1918
DOROTHY Ellis, the last surviving World War One widow whose husband inspired the novel War Horse, has died aged 96.
Wilfred Ellis was shot, gassed and left for dead on the front line in 1918.
Niece Pauline Smith confirmed Mrs Ellis passed away in a nursing home on Wednesday.
She was the widow of veteran Wilfred Ellis, who was shot, gassed and left for dead on the front line in 1918.
His memories of the conflict helped shape the novel and theatre production War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, whom he befriended in later life.
Paying tribute to her late aunt on Thursday, Ms Smith, 63, said: "It feels very strange because we were brought up with her being our aunt up the road and then you find out all this history.
His memories formed the basis of the novel and play War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, later a Hollywood film.
Wilfred died in 1980 aged 82 at the couple’s home in Iddesleigh, Devon.
Friend and Royal British Legion fundraiser Carole Arnold said: "Dorothy was a very special lady, she had this museum in her house about Wilfred, her husband, she kept everything because she was so proud of him.
MOST READ IN NEWS
"She was so knowledgeable, so aware of what was going on because it is so important to remember World War One, to remember these veterans - and she remembered them."
She was such a supporter of the military, such a supporter of the legion, she was so, so proud of being part of the history."