Samuel Ellis
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Samuel John Thomas was the son of Thomas Murden Ellis and Harriet Ellis (nee Straw). Thomas and Harriet were married in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on 23 July 1882. According to the information Thomas gave on the 1911 Census, they had ten children of whom only nine were still living at the time of the census. Nine children were named on the census between 1891 and 1911: Elizabeth Ann, John Thomas, Sarah Alice, William, Ethel, Samuel, Lottie, Joseph and Rose. Thomas was a tinsmith and on each census Harriet was working as a lace hand. In 1891 Thomas (32) and Harriet (30) were living in the parish of St Mary, Nottingham, with their four children; Elizabeth (6), John (4), Sarah (3) and William (1). Also in the household were Thomas' brother, George (24) and a niece, Kate Bangley (9). Thomas and Harriet had five more children by 1901; Ethel (8), Samuel (7), Lottie (4), Joseph (4) and Rose (1 month). In 1911 they were living at 6 King's Place, Barker Gate, Nottingham, but only the five youngest children were still at home: Thomas Murden 51 yrs, a tinsmith, his wife Harriett 49 yrs, Ethel 19 yrs a lace hand, Samuel 17 yrs a lithographer, Lottie 14 yrs, Joseph 12 yrs and Rose 10 yrs. Another family was boarding with them: Charles Shaw (23), his wife Alice (23) and their daughter Elizabeth (10 months). Samuel married Sarah Ann Ward (born 28th September 1896) in 1915 in Nottingham and they had a son Thomas William born 6th May 1915, they lived at 26 Crown Street, Blue Bell Hill, Nottingham. Commencing 26th March 1917 his wiodw was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 9 pence a week.
Corporal Samuel Ellis enlisted in Nottingham and served with 17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire) Regiment (Welbeck Rangers). Samuel was killed in action on 3rd September 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
His brother, Stoker First Class John Thomas Elllis, died when his ship, HMS Cressy, was sunk on 22 September 1914. John is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 September 1916: ‘Ellis. Killed in action, September 3rd 1916, Corporal Sam Ellis, Sherwood Foresters, the dearly-beloved husband of Sarah Ellis. His heart was true, his spirit brave, his resting place a soldier’s grave. Sadly missed by his sorrowing wife and baby (Tommy).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 25 September 1916: ‘Ellis. Killed in action, September 3rd 1916, Corporal Sam Ellis, Sherwood Foresters, beloved son of Harriet, and brother to the late Stoker Tom Ellis, aged 22. Deeply mourned by his sorrowing mother, sisters, and brothers.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 'In memoriam', 3rd September 1918:- ELLIS. – In loving memory of my dear husband Samuel, who fell in action September 3rd, 1916; also my dear brother, Jack Ward, who fell in action August 25th, 1917. Life's journeys o'er. – From sorrowing wife and baby Tommy. “ELLIS. – In loving memory of my sons, Samuel, who was killed September 3rd, 1916; John Thomas, drowned on H.M.S. Cressy, September 22nd, 1914. Too dearly loved to be forgotten. – Mother, sisters, brothers.” Above notices courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.
