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Ellis, Robert Thomas

Robert Thomas Ellis was born in 1896.

The census of 1901 records a Robert Thomas Ellis living with his family in Powells Terrace, Bagillt. The head of the Household was Thomas Ellis, aged 49. He was born in Holywell and he worked as a Collier.  His wife was Sarah Ellis aged 41 who, according to the census was also  born in Holywell. Five children were listed and their places of birth tell us that this family had moved about in the previous few years. Sarah E was 16 and had been born in Bagillt. Mary A was 13 and had been born in Wingate Durham. John Edward was 10 and had been born in South Walton Durham. Robert Thomas was 5 and had been born in Westhoughton, Lancashire as had Emily who was 4.  It would seem that the family had lived in a few coal mining areas before returning to their roots in Flintshire.

The census of 1911 records a Robert Thomas Ellis living at the home of an Uncle – one Charles Brace. The address was Woodman’s Cottage, Pwllmelyn (?)  Holywell.  He was a 53 year old Collier. His wife was Hannah and they had three grown up children who were listed on the census. Robert Thomas Ellis was listed as a nephew. He was 15 and was a Farm Labourer. This census says he was born in Bagillt.

UK Soldiers who Died in The Great war 1914 -19 accessible on Ancestry.co.uk  tells us that he enlisted in Flint and that he died of wounds in France on the 7th May 1917.  It confirms the regimental details listed on the left of this page.

Robert Thomas Ellis’s Attestation papers have survived in army records also on Ancestry  but they are in a poor state and difficult to read but we can piece together some of his story. He was 21 years and 2 months old when he enlisted. The form records that he was a Labourer and that he had previously served in the Territorial Force of the 3/5th Royal Welsh Fusiliers.   He named his Mother Mrs S Ellis as his next of kin. She lived at Penllongly (?) Cottage, Dolphin, Holywell. He served ‘at home’ (in Britain)  from March 1916 until May 1916. He was sent to France on the 7th May 1916 and he died of wounds exactly one year later – to the day.

There is inter army correspondence in the records stating that his personal effects and medals should be sent to his Mother. It looks as if she received a small separation allowance from the army whilst he was serving. After he  died she received a total of £18 .. 10sh .. 9d  in two separate payments – being money that was owed to Robert.

(I believe that the mother was widowed at some point between 1901 and 1911).


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