WILLIAM ELLIS
Born: 1890, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.
Died: 3rd January 1917; age: 26; William was guarding a German PoW who asked for a drink of water. William turned his back to get it and the German took William’s rifle and shot him in the back.
Employed: with Ransomes Sims & Jefferies, Orwell Works, Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 25th July 1915 – France.
Rank: Lance Corporal; Service Number: 14967.
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 12th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Pier & Face 1C & 2A.
France.
CENSUS
1891 133, Uxbridge Street, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire.
William was a year old and living with his parents & sisters.
George Ellis, 35, a General Labourer, born Loddon, Suffolk.
Sarah Ellis (nee Barker), 29, born Middleton, Suffolk.
Esther Ellis, 7, born Burton upon Trent.
Mary Ellis, 4, born Burton upon Trent.
2 boarders.
1901 Middleton Moor, Suffolk.
William was 10 years old and living with his maternal uncle, aunt, cousins and aunt’s widowed mother.
James Barker, 39, an Agricultural Horseman, born Middleton.
Laura Elizabeth Barker (nee Winter (1st marriage Howard)), 38, born Knoddishall, Suffolk.
Ernest Winter Howard, 19, born Leiston, Suffolk.
George Henry Barker, 11, born Saxmundham, Suffolk.
Alice Barker, 7, born Middleton.
James Henry Barker, 5, born Middleton Moor.
Aseneth Ruth Barker, 3, born Leiston.
Eliza Winter, 82, born Sizewell, Suffolk.
1911 The Hall Cottages, Leiston, Suffolk.
William was 21 years old, a Milk Man on Farm. He was living with his maternal uncle, aunt & cousins.
James, 51, a Horse Driver – Farm.
Laura, 50.
George, 21, a Drilling Machine Labourer – Engineering Works.
James, 15, a Cow Boy – Farm.
Asenrth, 12.
Felix Orlando Barker, 8, born Leiston.
William’s mother, Sarah Ellis died 1894, Burton upon Trent. His father, George Ellis died 1896, Burton upon Trent.
William and his sisters were taken in to live with their aunts & uncles and kept out of the workhouse.
In 1915, Suffolk, William married Daisy Harriet Barber, born February 1894, Middleton, Suffolk – daughter of Frederick Barber, a horseman on a farm & Mary Ann Barber (nee Crane).
Soldiers’ Effects to Daisy H. Ellis – widow.
William is also remembered on the Orwell Works Memorial, for Ransomes Sims & Jefferies, Ipswich.
Extra help and information courtesy of Carol.
Suffolk Regiment, 12th Battalion
One Comment
William Ellis was the cousin of my grandmother Alice Barker, a daughter of his uncle and aunt James and Laura Barker. She told me that he was guarding a German POW who asked for a drink of water. William turned his back to get it and the German took William’s rifle and shot him in the back.
William left a widow Daisy Harriet Ellis.