Name
Thomas William Ellis
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
17264
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MOEUVRES COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
I. A. 39.
France
Headstone Inscription
Until the day break and the shadows fly away
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Stained Glass Window, Hitchin Boys Grammar School, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Letchworth Town Memorial, Willian Village Memorial, Not on the Walsworth memorial
Pre War
He was born at in the second quarter of 1893 in Hitchin although the 1901 census records Willian, the son of Samuel Aubrey and Emily Susan Ellis. Baptised 9 June 1893.
In 1901 the family were living at The Green, Willian, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Samuel Aubrey (34) and Emily Susan (34), with Samuel working as a carpenter and builder and was an employer. Their children were: Emily Bertha (10), Thomas William (8), Annie (5) and Mildred (3).
Thomas attended the Hitchin Grammar School. In the Lower 4th Form in the Spring of 1906 and left in the Spring of 1907 while in the Upper 4th Form.
By 1911 the family were still living at The Green, Willian, Hitchin. Present were both parents, Samuel now recorded as Aubrey in the census and a builder and employer. The census recorded they had been married for 30 years with 5 children all living. Of the children Thomas William is now listed as just William and, at 19, working as a carpenter for his father. Midred was also present, and they had new sibling, Kathleen (7).
Before joining up he Lived at The Firs, Willian and had been employed by P.H. Barker & Son in Hitchin.
Officially Thomas William was recorded as born in Hitchin and living in Walsworth when he enlisted in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
He was recruited at Walsworth and was given the Regimental Number 17264 and at first was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion. Due to his physical capabilities he was trained as a P.T. Instructor. He was also trained as a Grenade and Bayonet Instructor. He assisted his Company, in winning the Northern Command championship and he was well known as an all-round sportsman.
He repeatedly asked to go on overseas service but this was refused due to the good work he was doing. Eventually he persuaded the authorities to let him go and he was posted to France on the 27th August 1918. Four weeks later he was killed in action in France or Flanders with the 4th Battalion. This Battalion was in the l 90th Brigade of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division of XVII Corps in the 3rd Army. At the time of his death the Division had moved in the dark on the morning of the 27th September 1918 to the west bank of the Canal du Nord between Moeuvres and Sains-les-Marquion about six miles west of Cambrai. In the half-light of dawn they stormed over the canal and didn't stop until they had occupied Graincourt late in the day. As usual the casualties were heavy.
Additional Information
Mrs E B (probably E S and his mother) Thomas, of School House, Willian, Letchworth ordered his headstone inscription: “UNTIL THE DAY BREAK AND THE SHADOWS FLEE AWAY”.
After his death £4 13s 0d was authorised to go to his father on 14 January 1919. Later, another £21 17s 0d was also awarded to him.
There is little detail on the pension cards found other than his next of kin was Emily J Ellis who was living at 3 Ripley Cottages, Walsworth, near Hitchin.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Adrian Dunne, Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
