John Edward Ellis was born in Bagillt, Flintshire during 1896.
The 1911 Census states that the family lived in Naylors Row, Bagillt. The head of the family was William Edward Ellis aged 43, who was employed as a Lead Smelter in the Gadlys Lead Smelting Works, Bagillt. His wife Martha Ellis aged 44 and their three children – John Edward Ellis aged 14, who was employed as a Cotton Bobbin Carrier in the Welsh Flannel Mill, Greenfield Road, Holywell. Edith Ellen Ellis aged 10 and Hilda Sarah Ellis aged 6 years. Also living with them at that time was Martha’s father Thomas Jones aged 76 and her brother Thomas Hinson Jones aged 28 years.
Before enlistment at Flint with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers John was employed at the Hawarden Bridge Iron Works.
John Edward Ellis arrived in the Balkans with the Battalion on Sunday 8th August 1915. He was severely wounded in the spine during the Gallipoli Campaign and was taken to the Base Hospital where he received treatment and then repatriated to England and conveyed to the Beaufort Ward Hospital, Bristol. Unfortunately septic poisoning developed in the wound and he later died on the 16th January 1916. He was aged 20.
County Herald Newspaper dated Friday 21 January 1916. Death of a Brave Bagillt Soldier. It is with extreme regret that we have to announce the death of Private John Ellis who was a member of the 1st/5th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers and whose home was at Naylor’s Row, Bagillt, Flintshire. During the heavy engagement and desperate encounter with the Turks, Ellis was seriously wounded in the spine. He was carried to the Base Hospital and later removed to England, where he died.
He is also remembered on the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.
There is no Flintshire Roll of Honour Card for John Edward Ellis at the County Archives Office, Hawarden. Details of his medals were obtained from ancestry.co.uk