No.8233, Private Octavius ELLES
Aged 27
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Octavius Ashman ELLES was born in Haverhill on 18th June 1888 [Risbridge Q3-1888 4a:612], baptised at St.Mary's, Haverhill on 10th August 1888, son
of William Riddelsdell and Fanny Jane ELLES (née GLASSCOCK). 1891 census...Aged 2, he was at the Board School House, Withersfield Road, Haverhill with his father, William R [36] hotel manager; his mother Fanny J [35] school mistress, born Camden Town, London; brothers William G [10], twins Cyril and Conrad [7] and Hubert [3]; sisters Olive W [5] and Maud J [1]. All the children were born in Haverhill. They had two servants. 1901 census...Aged 12, he was still at the School House, with his parents; brothers William G, Conrad and Hubert; sisters Olive W, Maud and Jessie M [8] born Haverhill. 1911 census...Aged 22, a joiner, he was at The Rose and Crown, Haverhill with his parents, mother now assisting in the business; his brothers Hubert (gardener) and Ronald [9]; sisters Maud and Marion. His mother had borne 11 children but lost 2 of them. The confusion here is Jessie M who was 8 in 1901 and now a Marion, who is 18 in 1911, but this girl was registered at birth as Marion Jessie ELLES. Also there this census was Albert JENNINGS, working as "boots" before he went off to Canada and came back in the Canadian Army, to die on the Somme two months after Octavius see here . He seems to be the man who on 27th August 1912 was admitted to the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (Tooting Branch) and also may be the man who on 31st March 1913 was admitted to the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (Ipswich Branch). His father died in Haverhill in 1917. |
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He enlisted in Colchester in the Hussars No.22820. in October 1914. The 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment moved into assembly on 13th July 1916 at Mametz Wood and launched their attack on Bazentin-le-Petit on the 14th Passing through the 2nd R Warwicks they gained the village and despite counter attacks and heavy artillery held the ground gained until relieved in the evening and marching back to Mametz Wood. They had suffered over 300 casualties. CWGC records show that 60 men were killed that day, only 4 have a known grave, one is named at Pozières and 55 are on the Thiepval memorial. |
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