The AIF Project

Arthur Henry ELLIS

Regimental number3125
Place of birthArmley, Leeds, Yorkshire, England
SchoolCastleton Board School, England
Age on arrival in Australia18
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFactory hand
AddressPoint Nepean, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 6.5"
Weight127 lbs
Next of kinFather, D Ellis, Point Nepean, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date16 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll16 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name5th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/22/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board RMS Osterley on 29 September 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll58th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingSomme Sector, France
Age at death20
Age at death from cemetery records20
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 14), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
165
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Darcy and Elizabeth ELLIS, 35 Stanley Street, South Warrnambool, Victoria. Native of New Wortley, Yorks, England
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength of 57th Bn, Serapeum, 17 February 1916; 58th Bn, 15 March 1916.

Appointed Lance Corporal, Ferry Post, 11 May 1916.

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, 23 June 1916.

Killed in action, France, 19 July 1916.

Note, Red Cross File No 1010206: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.'

Statement, 1905 Pte R.I.R. CARLSON, 58th Bn, 28 November 1917: 'Casualty was killed by H.E. shell at Fleurbaix on the 19th July, 1916, according to Cpl. Bennett (still with unit in France). At the time of his death, Casualty was engaged in digging a communication trench in No Man's Land.'

Second statement, Captain T.A. FAIRFAX, 58th Bn, 20 July 1917: 'Ellis was placed by me in charge of 5 men on Fromelles Ridge during the attack on July 19th 1916. They were engaged digging a sap when a shell landed amongst them and Ellis and some of the others with him were killed instantly. I saw the shell burst and took note of the men that returned. Ellis was clearly amongst those killed, but his body could not be recovered for identification or burial as it is (sic) actually blown to fragments. The ground was not held and and remains of those killed were left behind in No Man's Land.'

Third statement, 1748 Corporal A.T. GRAY, D Company, 58th Bn (patient, No 9 General Hospital, Rouen), 11 June 1917: 'We were out in No Man's Land at Fleurbaix digging a sap when he was killed by a shell. I was quite close to him at the time, only 10 or 12 yds. away. The shell broke him up very badly and death was instantaneous. This happened during an advance and as we had to go on I cannot say what became of his body.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, ELLIS Arthur Henry
Red Cross file 1010206

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