Name
Percy Ernest Ellis
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/11/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
769920
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)Infantry
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, St. Lawrence Church Memorial, Abbots Langley
Biography
Percy Ellis was one of several local men that emigrated to Canada in the years before the Great War. He was born in the spring of 1889 at Abbots Langley, one of four sons and one daughter born to John and Janette Ellis. The family lived in Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley. John worked as a House Painter and Janette was a Launderer’s Wash.
It is not known when Percy left Abbots Langley, or when he arrived in Canada, however he enlisted at Beamsville, Ontario ((25 miles west of Niagara Falls) on 4th January 1916, giving his occupation as a Farmer. His original unit overseas was the 124th Canadian Infantry Battalion, and he subsequently joined the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) on 6th January 1917. The PPCLI fought at Vimy Ridge, Arleux and Hill 70 during the Arras Campaign between 9th April and 4th May,1917.
The PPCLI arrived at Ypres by train from Le Peuplier (near Hazebrouck) on 24th October 1917. In heavy rain and being bombed from the air, working parties were despatched at Ypres. On 28th October the PPCI moved up to the Front Line at Gravenstafel, before taking over a stretch of the Line at Meetcheele.
At 5.50am on 30th October, the PPCLI advanced 628 strong, and established a line in advance of Meetcheele, but suffered heavy casualties. A total of 354 casualties were incurred including dead, wounded, gassed, shell shocked and/or missing. The unit was relieved the next day, 31st Ocober 1917.
Percy Ellis was killed in action on 30th October 1917 at Passchendaele. The December 1917 edition of Abbots Langley Parish Magazine reported
“Percy Ellis was killed in action on October 30th. He was one of three lads who went out from here to Canada to the same farm. All of them returned to take their part in the Great War, and all three have been killed. The other two were Thomas Clark and William Muskett. His officer wrote of him ‘ He was shot through the head by a sniper when he had got to about 150 yards in front of the jumping off trench. His platoon officer had been killed and Cpl Ellis was at the head of his section when killed. He was a most gallant and faithful soldier and was liked and respected by all his men’. "
Percy Ellis was commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres and on the Abbots Langley War Memorial.
Additional Information
Formerly 124th Canadian Infantry Battalion
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
