Private Charles Joseph Ellis

Charles Joseph Ellis was born at Hertford, England, on 8 December 1883. A glazier living at 3925 Victoria Avenue in Regina, Saskatchewan, he was married to Lizzie Ellis, whom he named as his next of kin. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Regina on 19 January 1916, service number 105899, and joined the 68th Overseas Battalion as a Private. Ellis went overseas in the spring of 1916. He transferred to the 32nd Reserve Battalion at Shorncliffe in July and to the 15th Reserve Battalion in January 1917. On 25 April 1917 he proceeded from Bramshott for service with the 5th Battalion in France, arriving at the Canadian Base Depot the next day and joining the battalion in the field on 16 May. He later served as a batman at the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade School and performed duty at its training depot before returning to field duty in December 1917. He took leave in the United Kingdom during 1918 and spent a period at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp from July to September. He returned to England on 15 March 1919 for repatriation. His release examination found him in good general health. He sailed for Canada on 10 April and arrived aboard Carmania on 18 April. Ellis was demobilized as a Private at Regina on 24 April 1919 and held Class A War Service Badge 241542. Throughout his service, Lizzie received assigned pay and separation allowance at their Regina home, later recorded as 2229 Elphinstone Street. His war-service gratuity totalled $600, divided into $420 for him and $180 in dependant allowance, with payment arranged through the Bank of Ottawa in Regina. A later address entry records 2340 Argyle Street. He died on 30 June 1952, aged 68.

1883-12-08 — Born at Hertford, England
1906 — Fractured his nose; a deformed nose remained an identification mark, with no sequelae recorded at release
1912 — Last pre-enlistment vaccination recorded
1913 — Recovered from pneumonia after coma and spinal puncture; a scar was attributed to an operation during that illness
1916-01 — Wife Lizzie Ellis recorded as next of kin at 3925 Victoria Avenue; allowance records subsequently changed her address to 2229 Elphinstone Street; Regina, Saskatchewan.
1916-01-19 — Attested as a Private in the 68th Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 105899; trade glazier; married to Lizzie Ellis; Regina, Saskatchewan.
1916-01-19 — Medical examination found him fit; height 64 inches, minimum chest 35 inches and expansion 3 inches; Church of England; Regina, Saskatchewan.
1916-03-23 — Anti-typhoid inoculation recorded; handwritten date somewhat uncertain; 68th Battalion.
1916-04-28 — Battalion embarkation return records sailing on 28 April; a detailed individual statement gives Halifax embarkation 1 May; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1916-05-01 — Assigned pay of $16 monthly to wife Lizzie Ellis commenced; some continuing ledgers date it 1 June; Regina, Saskatchewan.
1916-05-08 — Movement card records arrival in England; individual statement gives overwritten Liverpool date apparently 12 May
1916-06-06 — Further anti-typhoid inoculation recorded; handwritten date somewhat uncertain; England.
1916-06-17 — Further anti-typhoid inoculation recorded; handwritten date somewhat uncertain; England.
1916-07-07 to 1916-07-08 — Transferred from 68th Battalion to 32nd Reserve Battalion; cards give 7 and 8 July; Shorncliffe, England.
1916-08-14 — Vaccination recorded; handwritten date somewhat uncertain; England.
1917-01-04 — Transferred from 32nd Reserve Battalion to 15th Reserve Battalion; one card records Dibgate, another East Sandling; England.
1917-04-25 — Transferred from 15th Reserve Battalion for service with 5th Battalion and proceeded overseas from Bramshott; Bramshott, England.
1917-04-26 — Arrived at Canadian Base Depot in France
1917-05-13 — Left Canadian Base Depot to join 5th Battalion; France.
1917-05-16 — Joined 5th Battalion in the field; France.
1917-08-15 — Recorded as batman at 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade School; France.
1917-10-04 — Sent to 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade Training Depot for duty; entry reported 6 October; France.
1917-12-10 — Returned to field duty with his battalion; reported 15 December; France.
1917-12-31 — Wife's account showed cumulative separation allowance $468 and assigned pay $320, total $788; Regina, Saskatchewan.
1918-01-23 — Granted 14 days' leave to United Kingdom
1918-02-09 — Returned from leave to field duty; reported 16 February; France.
1918-03-05 — Granted 30 days' special leave to United Kingdom; original 14-day entry corrected by report 20 April
1918-04-18 — Rejoined his unit in the field; France.
1918-07-27 — Transferred to Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp; France.
1918-09-06 — Returned to 5th Battalion; reported 7 September; France.
1919-03-15 — Proceeded from 5th Battalion to England for return to Canada
1919-03-16 — Canadian Concentration Camp entry recorded pending return to Canada; England.
1919-03-18 — Overseas release examination found good general health and normal condition; dental assessment required fillings and partial upper denture; Milford Camp, United Kingdom.
1919-03-31 — Signed gratuity declaration, requesting payments through Bank of Ottawa, Regina; recorded 38 months' active service and wife as dependent; Witley, England.
1919-04-01 — Pay record entered Canadian Section/Canada transfer and cessation annotation for assigned pay; this is an administrative entry preceding actual embarkation; England.
1919-04-02 — A service statement recorded being struck off strength on proceeding to Canada; status abbreviation unclear; England.
1919-04-10 — Embarked for Canada with No. 9 Conducting Staff; concentration-camp and pay records also enter SOS Canada on this date; United Kingdom.
1919-04-18 — Disembarked in Canada aboard Carmania
1919-04-24 — Demobilized as Private at Dispersal Station O, Military District 12; received discharge certificate and held Class A War Service Badge 241542; Regina, Saskatchewan.
1919-04-30 — Separation-allowance and assigned-pay account closed; Regina, Saskatchewan.
1919-09 — Final account records war-service gratuity instalments through September, total $600, including $420 soldier share and $180 dependent allowance; Bank of Ottawa, Regina, Saskatchewan.
1952-06-30 — Died on 30 June 1952, aged 68.