Pte 16899 Thomas William Ellis

• Age: 26
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 3rd July 1916
• Commemorated at: Peronne Rd Cem Maricourt
  Panel Ref: II.E.18

Thomas William was born 1889 at 12 Benedict Street, Bootle, the son of Thomas William Ellis, a master mariner and his third wife Hannah (nee Dodd) the second of their 7 children. His father was born 5/5/1841 in Bombay, India. His parents were married 18/9/1881 at Christ Church, Edge Hill, Liverpool. Thomas William Ellis was previously a widower.

The 1891 Census shows the family are living at 12 Benedict Street, Bootle. His father, Thomas W., is a 46 master mariner, born in India, whilst his mother, Hannah, is aged 36 and was born in Liverpool. They live with their children, listed as;  George H. 8 b.Liverpool, Edith E. 6 b.Bootle, John H. 5 b.Bootle, Walter F. 3 b.Bootle, Thomas W. 1 b.Bootle, and George Dodd 71 (Hannah's father) b.Barton, Cheshire.

The family suffered a double tragedy in 1892 when Walter Francis died in the September quarter aged 4, and his sister Edith Emily died in the December quarter aged 8.  

His father Thomas William died in 1899. He was buried at St Marys Church, Bootle  on 16th November 1899.

The 1901 Census finds the family still living at 12 Benedict Street, Bootle. Thomas' mother, Hannah, is a 46 year old widow living with her children listed as; George H. 18 cotton sampler, John H. 15 cotton sampler, Ernest 6, Arthur P. 5 and Frank 3.

At the time of the 1911 Census the family are still living at 12 Benedict Street, Bootle. His mother Hannah is now 56. She advised that she had ten children of whom seven 7 have survived. Her children listed at the property are; John Henry 24 cotton clerk, Thomas William 21 is a sugar refiner working for the Sankey Sugar Company, Frederick is a shipping clerk, Ernest 19 general produce brokers clerk, Arthur Percy 15 meat clerk and Frank 13 at school. 

Thomas William Ellis’s service records show that he enlisted 02nd Septembr 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool, joining the 18th Battalion as Private 16899. He was aged 24 years 302 days and was a Clerk. He was described as being  5’7½” tall. weighed 132lbs with a 36½” chest, fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair and his religion was Church of England.His next of kin  was given as his mother, then living at 217 Bedford Road, Bootle. 

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Thomas sailed for France on 16th December 1915 with the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment and after an initial period at Etaples Base Camp was on 31st December 1915 was posted to 2nd Entrenching Battalion before being transferred to 17th Battalion, KLR on 11th  February 1916. 

He was killed in action on 3rd July 1916 on the Somme.

He now rests at Peronne Road British Cemetery, Section II Row E Grave 18 and his effects were sent to his mother who received them on 27th November 1916.

Maricourt was, at the beginning of the Battles of the Somme 1916, the point of junction of the British and French forces, and within a very short distance of the front line; it was lost in the German advance of March 1918, and recaptured at the end of the following August.

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds.

There are now 1348, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 366 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 26 soldiers from the United Kingdom known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of three soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found.

The cemetery covers an area of 3,787 square metres and is enclosed on three sides by a low red brick wall.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 20th July 1916

"Private T. W. Ellis, who has been killed, was an Old Seamen's Orphanage boy prior to the outbreak of war. He was for a number of years with the Sankey Sugar Company. His mother lives in Strand Street, Bootle".

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post 24th July 1916

MORE "KING'S" MEN

The following or casualties in certain battalions of the King's Liverpool Regiment:-

Thomas William Ellis, third son of Mrs H. Ellis, 217 Bedford Road Bootle

Thomas was awarded his three medals (BWM, VM and 1915 Star).

Soldiers Effects to mother Hannah at request of brother Percy, also Pension to mother, 217 Bedford Rd, Bootle.

On 25th April 1919 his mother provided a sworn declaration listing his immediate family as herself and his five brothers – Frederick (27), John (34), Ernest (24), Frank (21) and Percy (23 years). All were living at 217 Bedford Road except for Percy, who was said to be in France. In the 1911 Census one of Thomas’s brothers is named as Arthur Percy Ellis aged 15 years, a clerk in the meat trade. 

Thomas William Ellis is commemorated on the following local memorials

Bootle Civic Memorial

Bedford Road Council School, Bootle.

We currently have no further information on Thomas William Ellis. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.