Sgt. J.R. Ellis

FIRST NAMES: John R. UNIT: 4th Yorkshire Regiment NUMBER: 200028 STATUS: Killed in Action DATE OF DEATH: 23rd April 1917 CEMETERY OR MEMORIAL: The Arras Memorial, France AGE: 26

Sergeant Ellis was born in Stockton on Tees. He was married, but his wife appears to have re-married after his death as she is listed as Mrs. E. Wood (formerly Ellis) of Morningside, Quaker Lane, Northallerton, in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records. He had two sons, William and John.

Before the War, he worked for the North Eastern Railway as a Joiner in the Engineers Department at Northallerton. He was also a member of the local Territorial Battalion before the outbreak of War and sailed with them to France in April 1915. He was wounded at some point and invalided home. He recovered from his injuries and returned to France only a couple of months before the fateful attack which was to claim his life.

John Ellis was killed at the Battle of Arras, aged 26, during the 4th Yorkshire's attack at Wancourt which cost the lives of several other local men. None of their bodies were recovered and all are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at Arras.