Lewis Stephen Ellis
- Family History
- Military History
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Lewis Stephen Ellis was born in Nottingham in 1889 (J/A/S Nottingham) and lived at 18 Royal Oak Hill, Carlton Road, Nottingham. He married Mary Ann Hallam (b. 6th August 1893) in 1912 (O/N/D) at Nottingham. They went on to have at least two children: May b. 22nd May 1913 and Bertha b. 20th September 1915 who died on 6th May 1917. His widow married Charles Long (b. 11 August 1890) in 1939 (J/A/S Nottingham). Later that year when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living on Finton Road, Nottingham, with Mary Ann's surviving daughter by her first marriage, May a scalloper (lace industry), and her two other children, George Ellis b. 24 January 1920 (J/F/M Nottingham, mother's maiden name Ellis) a van driver and Doreen Ellis b. 11 November 1926 (O/N/D Nottingham, mother's maiden name Hallam). Also in the household were Brian Peck b. 21 May 1936 (A/M/J Nottingham, mother's maiden name Hallam) and Fred Bamford b. 23 September 1890 a paper seller. Mary Ann Long died on 20 September 1948. Her daughter May married Henry Hallam in 1939 (O/N/D Nottingham). She died on 21 January 1941 aged 27.
Lewis Ellis served in the 1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), service number 2851/265706. He enlisted in Nottingham and served in France from 28 June 1915. Lewis was killed in action during the attack on Gommecourt Wood on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He is buried in Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery, Foncquevillers, France (grave ref. Plot 1, Row D, Grave 5). Lewis qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC: Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery (extract) - 'Foncquevillers was in British hands in 1915 and 1916. On 1 July 1916, Gommecourt Wood was attacked by the 46th (North Midland) Division, and the Southern part of the village by the 56th (London) Division. The attack met with temporary success, but could not be sustained; and Gommecourt remained a salient in the German line until 27 February 1917, when it was evacuated. It was never retaken by the Germans; at the end of their offensive of March 1918, it was just within the British lines ... Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of July 1916, March 1917, and March, April and August 1918, and from certain smaller burial grounds.'
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Mary Ann Ellis was his sole legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Card: dependants widow Mary Ann Ellis b. 6 Aug 1893 and two children Mary b. 25 May 1913 and Bertha b. 20 September 1915 His widow Mary Ann was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 6 pence a week which commenced on 20th February 1917. Her youngest daughter Bertha died later that year on 6 May 1917 and her pension would then have been reduced. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 24 January 1941: ‘Hallam, On 21st, 160 Denewood-crescent, May, beloved daughter of Mrs Ellis. RIP. Peace after pain. Broken-hearted mam, pop [Charles Long] sister Doreen, brother George. Funeral Carlton, 1.30, Saturday.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Acknowledgements’, 27 January 1941 ‘Mr Hallam wishes to thank Messrs Thomas Adams also friends, relatives and neighbours for kindness and sympathy in his great loss.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 23 September 1948: ‘Long. On September 20th, Mary Ann (Ellis), beloved wife of Charles, mother of George and Doreen, grandma of David. Funeral Carlton Friday, 3pm.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
