William was born in Prestatyn on 1st January 1886 and baptised on 16th February of the same year. His parents were William Ellis and Ann Davies.

William’s baptism 16th February 1886

By 1901 the family was living in Castle View, Prestatyn. William aged 56, a general labourer, Ann aged 58 and William aged 15, a grocer’s assistant.

In 1911 they were still living in Castle View, Prestatyn. Young William was 25 and a Postman. Living with them was William Benjamin Davies, a grandson aged 5, who was born in Liverpool.

William’s military records have not been found. However, there is a record card for William in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at the County Archive Office in Hawarden, which tells us that he served for 2.5 years.

William died of his wounds on 17th November 1917 and was buried at Zuydcoote Military Cemetery. Zuydcoote is a village in France about 10 kilometres north-east of Dunkirk. In the autumn of 1917, while the XV Corps was holding the Nieuport section, the 34th and 36th Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Zuydcoote. The Military Cemetery contains, for the most part, the graves of officers and men who died in these hospitals.