Edward Ellis
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Edward was the son of John Ellis and his second wife Rose Emma (nee Edeson). His father John was born in Althorpe, Lincolnshire, in about 1855 (bap. Althorpe 30 December 1855 , the son of George and Hannah Ellis. John married his first wife, Harriet Davidson, in Leeds in 1877. They had at least three children who were born in Leeds: Harry b. 1879, Amy birth registered 1881 (J/F/M) and Elizabeth b. 1882. In 1881 John (25), a joiner, and Harriet (27 b. Rawcliffe Bridge), were living on Reuben Street, Leeds, with their two children Harry and Amy. Elizabeth was born the following year. Harriet died in 1888 (reg. East Retford, Nottinghamshire). John married Rose Emma Edeson at Sutton cum Lound St Bartholomew on 16 October 1889. Rose Emma was born in Peterborough in 1862 the daughter of Charles and Mary Edeson. However, by 1871 the family was living in Ordsall, East Retford, but in 1881 Rose (18) was probably a waitress living and working at the White Hart, Bridgegate, East Retford. John and Rose had five children who were all born in Sutton cum Lound and baptised at St Bartholomew parish church, but only Edward survived childhood: Charles b. 1890 (J/A/S) bap. 7 September 1890 d. 1891 (J/A/S); Edith b. 1891 (O/N/D) bap. 18 October 1891 d. 1894 (reg. J/F/M); Annie b. 1893 (A/M/J) bap. 16 April 1893 d. 1893 (J/A/S); Edward b. 1894 bap. 14 October 1894 and Emma b. 1896 (O/N/D) bap. 25 October 1896 d. 1897 (O/N/D). In 1891 John, a joiner and wheelwright, and Rose (28) were living in Colgraves Yard, Sutton Street, Sutton cum Lound, with John's three children by his first marriage - Harry, Amy and Elizabeth (8) - and Charles (under 1 year) who died a few months later. Edith was born later that year and died in 1894 and Annie two years later in 1893 and died the same year. Edward was born in 1894. Rose Emma died in 1896 (O/N/D), the same period in which her fifth child, Emma, was born. Emma died the following year. In 1901 John was living on Sutton Street with his son Edward. His three older children had left home and Amy, a dressmaker's assistant, and Elizabeth, also in work, were living in Doncaster where they were boarders in the household of Joseph and Emma Colton. However, by 1911 Amy, a dressmaker, had returned to live in Sutton with her father and half-brother Edward who was an apprentice joiner. The later CWGC record gives John Ellis' address as Station View, Sutton, near Retford. Amy married Thomas Charles Smith in Nottingham on 31 August 1912. Thomas was a widower with two daughtesr Ida Maria b. 1899 and Gladys Mabel b. 1902. He and Amy had a son John Edward b. 1915 Amy died on 1 September 1918 of pulmonary tuberculosis and exhaustion. Thomas attested on 20 May 1915 at the age of 40 and served in the Royal Engineers (297073 Sapper); he survived the war.
9th Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Edward served in France from 13 October 1915. He was awarded the Military Medal in 1916 for bringing in a wounded comrade under heavy fire. Edward was reported missing after the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916. According to a newspaper report in January 1918, 'The only information that could be gleaned was that he was seen making his way towards the rear badly wounded in the head.' He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 11 C and 12 A). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC Additional information: 'Son of John Ellis, of Station View, Sutton, Retford, Notts.' Sgt Edward Ellis M.M. Retford Times 4th January 1918 'Mr John Ellis of Sutton has just received the Military Medal awarded to his son, the late Sergt Edward Ellis who was reported missing after the Battle of the Somme and is now given up by the War Office as dead. “Tel”, as his friends familiarly called him, was educated at the village school and was one of its most successful scholars. He had been a member of the church choir from early boyhood, had developed a fine bass voice and was keenly interested in music, occasionally officiating at the church organ. Persevering and upright to a degree, his prospects were the brightest. He had learnt the art of “joinery” from his father and a fine pine screen to the belfry in Sutton church stands as a mark of his workmanship. When war broke out he was one of the first to answer Kitchener’s call, Joining the KOYLI although only just 19 years of age. In a few months he was full sergeant and was soon in France. Early in 1916 he was awarded the Military Medal for bringing in a wounded comrade under heavy fire, one bullet ripping off his stripes and another striking his helmet. This was not made public at the time, Sergt Ellis requesting his family not to mention it, modestly remarking that scores of men did it every day. Then came the advance on the Somme when his regiment was badly cut up and this gallant soldier was reported missing. The only information that could be gleaned was that he was seen making his way towards the rear badly wounded in the head. The people of Sutton will ever remember Sergt E Ellis as one of its heroes who fell in the great fight for Right against “Prussianism”. They join with his parents and family in mourning his loss.' The above report was also published in the Retford and Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 8 January 1918. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His father John Ellis was his sole legatee. Original research by Colin Dannatt
