ELLIS, Arthur Raymond

With his father’s permission, eighteen year old Arthur Ellis enlisted at Inverell in December 1915. At the time he was a Miner and living at Hazeldene, Stannifer where he was born and educated. He left Inverell with the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs on 12 January 1916 and became a member of the 33rd Battalion, D Company which trained at Armidale and Rutherford prior to sailing from Australia in May 1916. 

By the time his ship arrived in Cape Town, Arthur was seriously ill with pneumonia and hospitalised. When he was well enough he continued his journey on HMT Themistocles with the 21st Battalion. After arriving in England he went to France with the 33rd Battalion. Within weeks he was sick with bronchitis and by May 1917 was admitted to hospital with anaemia. Sadly he died on 7 June 1917 at No 32 Hospital, Boulogne and was buried at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France. Arthur was just nineteen years old.

Private Arthur Ellis, son of Joseph and Jane, is remembered at Inverell where his name is inscribed on the Honor Roll and Cenotaph. He was one of the 215 men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade in 1919. His name is also recorded on the Stannifer and Old Mill Honour Board.

Photo: Arthur Ellis (seated) with William Bacon courtesy IDFHG Inc