No.5/16512, Rifleman, Bertram ELY
Aged 40
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Born on 1st Febrauary 1876 at 3 Prospect Row, Bury St.Edmunds (1st qtr 4a:566) son of Alfred and Mary Ann ELY (née REGENT). Baptised at St James Bury St.Edmunds on 16th May 1877.
1881 census...Aged 5, he was at 31 Ely and Struman Cottages, Out Eastgate, Bury St.Edmunds with his father Alfred ELY [33] carpenter; his mother Mary Ann [30] born Great Saxham; brother Edwin C [6]; sisters Ada [11], Laura [9], Alice [3] and Edith K [1]; aunt Esther MORPHEW [48] and cousin William R MORPHEW [22]. Except his mother, all were born in Bury St.Edmunds 1891 census...Aged 15, he was a waiter at The Griffin Hotel, Bury St.Edmunds. At 21 Eastgate Street, Bury St.Edmunds were his parents; sisters Laura, Alice, Edith and Jessie [9]; brothers Walter [7], Oliver [4],Thomas [2] and Harvey [7 months]; uncle Thomas SADLER [42] and aunt Isabella SADLER [38]. 1901 census...Aged 22, he was a barman at the Pinepple, Hercules Road, Lambeth. Still at 21 Eastgate Street were his parents; brothers Edwin, Walter, Olver, Harvey and Othniel [8]; sister Jessie. 1911 census...Bertram has not been found in this census. Still at 21 Eastate Street were his parents; brothers Oliver, Spencer, Harvey and Othniel. |
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He enlisted in Lambeth. The War Diary :- Front Line - 24 Aug 16. Capt W W Young commanding "D" Coy went out on patrol with 2/Lt G Murray DSO. The patrol split up and Capt Young went off with one man, both he and the man failed to return and have been reported missing. Part of front line G.12.d.1.7.was blown in during the night by minenwerfers...On 24th/25th the Battalion made a raid, about which the following report was written: Wire was cut on the front G.12.5 - 9.12.1 from 10 am until dark by 18 pndrs assisted by 2 T Mortars in the evening 24-8-16.Though the wire was not cleared entirely in front of German front line there appeared to be seveal gaps made through it, more especially on the south side of the Hulluch Road. At 8 pm a large explosion was observed to take place in the German line opposite G.18.5 which had the appearance of a small mine. It could not definitely be located. At 11pm the 3 companies detailed to raid this portion of the German line were in position in our front line between BOYAU 79 and 77. The 4th Coy had 2 platoons in the support line between BOYAU 79 and 77, one platoon near MERTHYR SAP in front line. Lewis guns were as detailed in the scheme, two each in the saps, two with Coys. At 11:20 pm the two leading Coys commenced to get out in front of our wire followed by the 3rd Coy and the Lewis guns. At 11:37pm all troops were in position outside our wire and the 2 platoons from the supprt line were filing into the front line. The enemy sent up one red flare from his second line or third line opposite our front at 11:35 pm, no action followed but the companies lying out had one or two casualties from machine gun fire which was intermittent. At midnight the bombardment started and the two lines commenced to crawl forward under the barrage ,following it closely. The leading line reached the enemy wire at 12:5 am and came under heavy enemy barrage directed on to the enemy front line and wire and they failed to get through the barrage and the wire. At 12:30 it was reported that the right leading Coy were in the German line but subsequently this report was found to be erroneous though a few men succeeded in getting as far as the German parapet The burst of fire arranged to take place 1.5 hours after "all quiet" was cancelled owing to the necessity of recovering wounded from No mans Land. It appears that the enemy after the wire cutting evacuated this portion of his line and arranged a heavy barrage of artillery, machine guns and rifle grenades on his front line and support trenches.He ceased fire when our Artillery ceased at 1:15am Casualties 1 officer killed, 7 wounded, 2 wounde but at duty, 3 missing. Other ranks 13 killed, 20 missing, 66 wounded.
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