Name
Albert Leonard Ellison
15 July 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/05/1915
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14632
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Albert Leonard Ellison (known as Leonard or Len) was born on 15 July 1890 in Hampstead, Middlesex, the son of Henry and Emily Ellison, and baptised on 26 October 1890 at St Cuthbert, Hampstead, Hampstead, Camden. He was one of ten children and at the time of his birth the family were living at 1 Loveridge Road, Camden and his father's occupation was Gardener. They remained there on the 1891 Census.
They had moved to Willesden, Middlesex by 1901, living at The Lodge, Roundwood House, and his father was a working as a Gardener domestic. His employer was George Furness a well known Victorian construction engineer and benefactor, who died in January 1900, aged 79 and his widow died soon after in May 1902 in a boating accident in Ireland.
By 1911 the family had moved to Hemel Hempstead and his father was working as a Gardener at 'Orchard House' on Bury Hill. Len was working as a Groom for Mr Gregory Hast at Adeyfield Farm, Hemel Hempstead. Len had enlisted in December 1908 in the Territorial Force as a means of supplementing his wage. He joined No. 2 Battery, Hertfordshire Royal Artillery and attended annual training camps and regular local meetings. His four year term ended in December 1912.
The family later lived in Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead and his parents lived at Byfield Cottage, Claverdon, Warwick on CWGC records.
Wartime Service
Len re-enlisted on the outbreak of war in August 1914 in Hemel Hempstead and joined the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. After training in Harwich, he was sent to France on 17 March 1915.
He died on 16 May 1915 during the Battle of Festubert, when he was shot in the back of the neck whilst attacking German trenches. He has no known grave but his name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £2 18s 8d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.