Pte 17575 Frank Harper Ellison

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Guillemont Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: III.N.6

Frank Harper Ellison was born in Liverpool on the 02nd December 1894 and was the eldest son of Frank Ellison and his wife Nellie Elizabeth (nee Harper) who married on the 3rd March 1894 at St Augustine, Everton. Father Frank was a 27 year old book keeper of Egremont, father Richard, whilst Nellie was aged 21 of 51 Islington, father George deceased. Both born in Liverpool, his parents had three children. Frank had younger twin brothers George James and Reginald, born in 1897. Frank was baptised on 27th January 1895 in St. Clement's Church, Toxteth Park, the family living at that time at 97 Asbridge Street, and his father's occupation given as book keeper

At the time of the 1901 Census the family were living at 19 Noel Street, Liverpool. Frank senior was 34, and a commission agent’s clerk, his wife Nellie was 28. The couple had three children in the household; Frank junior aged 6, and twins George and Reginald aged 3. Nellie’s 23 year old brother George Harper was living with the family as was a 23 year old domestic servant called Hannah Dutton.

Sadly little George was only 7 when he died in 1905.

His father, Frank senior, died in 1909 at the age of 44.

Frank’s brother Reginald, then aged 13, was a boarder at the Bluecoat School, Wavertree at the time of the 1911 census, Frank had also been educated there and was also a member of the Church choir at St Mary’s Edge-Hill, Liverpool.

Prior to enlistment Frank was employed as a Clerk in the County Court at Liverpool.

His mother, Nellie remarried to William Moore on the 15th January 1915 at St Cyprian, Edge Hill. Bachelor William was a 37 year old shipwright, father William a provisions merchant, whilst widow Nellie was aged 38, both of 22 Stamford St, father George deceased, a licensed victualler. 

Frank enlisted on the 11th September 1914 at St George's Hall, Liverpool, joining the 19th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 17575. He  gave his age as 19 years and nine months. He was described as being five feet five and half inches tall, weighed 132 lbs, 37” chest, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and gave his mother as next of kin at 31 Paddington, Liverpool. After her marriage, this was changed to Mrs. Nellie Moore, 99 Granton Road, Anfield, Liverpool. 

Formed on the 7th September 1914 the 19th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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.

His service papers show:

07.11.15: Embarked from Folkestone for France with his battalion.

16.02.16: Sick to 98th Field Ambulance.

17.02.16: Admitted to 98th (CP.) F.A. with I.C.J. to foot. (injury to connective tissue of joint) 

21.02.16: Admitted to 3 Amb. Flotilla (barges located along the Somme at Chipilly) with I.C.J. to foot. 

02.3.16: Rejoined battalion and reported sick to 98th Field Ambulance. 

06.3.16: Admitted to 3 Amb. Flotilla with I.C.J. to heel. 

09.3.16: Rejoined battalion.

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

19th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment;

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo

commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned.

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks"

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July.

Casualties in the 19th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

Frank was buried close to where he fell and after the war, when graves were concentrated, his body was removed and reinterred in Guillemont Road Cemetery where he now rests. 

Guillemont was an important point in the German defences at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. It was taken by the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on 30 July but the battalion was obliged to fall back, and it was again entered for a short time by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division on 8 August. On 18 August, the village was reached by the 2nd Division, and on 3 September (in the Battle of Guillemont) it was captured and cleared by the 20th (Light) and part of the 16th (Irish) Divisions. It was lost in March 1918 during the German advance, but retaken on 29 August by the 18th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions.

The cemetery was begun by fighting units (mainly of the Guards Division) and field ambulances after the Battle of Guillemont, and was closed in March 1917, when it contained 121 burials. It was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves (almost all of July-September 1916) were brought in from the battlefields immediately surrounding the village and certain smaller cemeteries, including:-

HARDECOURT FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY. The village of Hardecourt-au-Bois was captured by French troops on the 8th July 1916, and again by the 58th (London) and 12th (Eastern) Divisions on 28 August 1918. Five British Artillerymen were buried by their unit in the French Military Cemetery, in the middle of the village, in September 1916; and in 1918 the 12th Division buried in the same cemetery 14 men of the 9th Royal Fusiliers and two of the 7th Royal Sussex.

Guillemont Road Cemetery now contains 2,263 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 1,523 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to eight casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

He earned his three medals.

He was reported as killed in the Liverpool Evening Express on 09th September 1916 as Private H. Ellison. 

Private H. Ellison (21), K.L.R. of 99 Granton-road, Liverpool, killed in action. 

His outstanding Army pay went to his mother and brother Reg in November 1916. After his mother's death the War Gratuity of £8-10s was shared between his brother and stepfather.

No pension card has been found, perhaps because his mother died before it could be disbursed. 

On 22nd March 1922 Infantry Records wrote to his mother (apparently not knowing that she had died) - 

"Dear Madam,

I beg to go inform you that an official report has now been received that the late soldier is buried at Guillemont Road Military Cemetery, 6 and a half miles south-south-west of Bapaume and 2 miles west of Combles."

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, Frank's family paid tribute to him:

“In ever-loving memory of Frank Harper Ellison (Pals) the dearly beloved son of the late Frank Ellison, killed in action July 30, 1916. (Deeply mourned by Mother and Brother.)”

“In loving memory of Frank Harper Ellison (3rd Pals) killed in action July 30, 1916. (Too dearly loved ever to be forgotten by his loving Grandma Harper, Auntie Florrie, and Ivy.) – 60 Aubrey Street.”

“In sad and loving memory of Frank Harper Ellison, K.L.R. (Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916. - From Uncle, Aunt, and Cousins (Jack in Salonika), 2a, Cambridge Street.”

His mother died in late 1917, aged 41.

Frank was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918: 

"In loving memory of my dear brother, Frank Harper Ellison, dearly-beloved son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ellson, killed at the Battle of Guillemont, July 30 1916. - Reg."

Frank’s brother Reginald enlisted on the 30th November 1917 and served in the Inland Waterways and Docks section of the Royal Engineers. He attested (perhaps conscripted) in November 1917 when he was 20 years old. He gave as next of kin his mother Elizabeth Moore, 99 Granton Road. Reg served in the Balkans, and was demobilised in August 1919.with a 30% disability pension (neurasthenia and distended stomach attributable to his military service). Reginald married, had a family, and lived into his 70s.

Infantry records in 1920 asked Liverpool Police to help them track down Frank’s next of kin in order to give them his service medals, as their post to his mothers address was coming back marked ‘gone away’. Eventually Reginald wrote to them in 1921, informing them that he was the only surviving family member.

Frank is also remembered on the following Memorials:

Bluecoat School, Wavertree, Liverpool

St Cuthbert’s Church memorial which is now housed in St George’s Church, Everton, Liverpool.

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 2.  

Grateful thanks are extended to Joe Devereux for his permission to use the photograph now shown on this site.

We currently have no further information on Frank Harper Ellison, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.