The AIF Project

Wilford Charles ELLIS

Regimental number5815
Place of birthCastlemaine, Victoria
Other NamesWilfred Charles
SchoolCastlemaine State School No. 119, Victoria
Other trainingShorthand and typewriting. Accountancy.
ReligionMethodist
OccupationLaw clerk
AddressRowe Street, Castlemaine, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 4.5"
Weight134 lbs
Next of kinFather, Charles H. Ellis, Rowe Street, Castlemaine, Victoria
Previous military serviceSenior Cadets (5 years)
Enlistment date15 April 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll10 May 1916
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name23rd Battalion, 16th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/40/4
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on 2 October 1916
Rank from Nominal RollCorporal
Unit from Nominal Roll23rd Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


'For conspicuous gallantry as a rifle bomber in the assult on the Hindenburg Line, when he did excellent work clearing the enemy out of one of their saps in the disused railway track.'
Recommendation date: 12 May 1917

Military Medal


'For conspicuous gallantry as a rifle bomber in the assult on the Hindenburg Line on the 3 May 1917.'
Recommendation date: 14 May 1917

FateKilled in Action 4 July 1918
Place of death or woundingVillers-Bretonneux, France
Age at death21
Age at death from cemetery records21
Place of burialVillers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery (Plot IX, Row F, Grave No. 10), Fouilloy, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
99
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Charles Hackett and Mary Ann ELLIS, Rowe Street, Castlemaine, Victoria
Medals

Military Medal


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189
Date: 8 November 1917

Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 2 October 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 16 November 1916.

Promoted Acting Sergeant, Larkhill, 17 November 1916.

Reverts to the rank of Acting Corporal, 6th Training Bn, Larkhill, 28 December 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 4 February 1917; marched into 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 4 February 1917.

Reverts to the rank of Private, 5 February 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 8 February 1917.

Promoted Acting Corporal (extra duty pay), 2nd Australian Division Training Camp, 18 February 1917.

Reverts to the rank of Private, 31 March 1917.

Taken on strength of 23rd Bn, in the field, 31 March 1917.

Promoted Temporary Corporal, 14 May 1917.

Promoted Corporal, 4 August 1917.

Wounded in action, 2 October 1917; admitted to No 3 Australian Field Ambulance, 2 October 1917 (gunshot wound, scalp); transferred to No 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 2 October 1917; to No 53 Ambulance Train, 3 October 1917; to No 12 General Hospital, Rouen, 3 October 1917; discharged, 13 October 1917; marched into 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Havre, 15 October 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 21 October 1917; rejoined 23rd Bn, 23 October 1917.

On leave to England, 26 January 1918; rejoined unit, 12 February 1918.

Killed in action, 4 July 1918.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, ELLIS Wilford Charles

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