Final First World War widow Dorothy Ellis

Dorothy Ellis, the final First World War widow whose late husband inspired the novel War Horse, has died aged 96, her family said.

Niece Pauline Smith confirmed Mrs Ellis passed away in a nursing home.

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, Ms Smith, 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.

“She took a great interest in all the family, she didn’t have any children, but in her nieces and nephews and then later on in life her great nieces and nephews, of which she had quite a few.”

Mrs Ellis had been bound to the war since the start of her life – despite not witnessing it – as she was born on Armistice Day in 1921.

She married her husband in 1942 and served in the women’s home guard auxiliary during the Second World War.

A 20-year age gap meant she outlived Mr Ellis by more than three decades and remained in the home they shared together for more than 70 years.

Her later years were defined by an indefatigable commitment to the memory of Britain’s war dead, friend and Royal British Legion fundraiser Carole Arnold said.

She told the Press Association: “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.

“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.”

The Royal British Legion had helped organise travel for Mrs Ellis to visit the National Armed Forces Memorial in Staffordshire for Armistice Day in 2013, where she was guest of honour.

She considered it one of the best days of her later life, Mrs Arnold said.

Mrs Ellis: A “special lady” who was so proud of her husband.