Current Information:

West Norwood

Born-West Ham

Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France

41st Division arrived in France in May, 1916 and after a period of trench instruction, took over part of the front line around Ploegsteert on the French-Belgian border. On 1st August, 1916, 11th Royal West Surrey (Queens) of 123 Brigade, were relieved from the front line and moved back to billets in Le Bizet from where they provided working parties for duties in Ploegsteert Wood. On 9th August, the enemy shelled an artillery battery located some 150 yards west of Le Bizet. One of their shell hit the billets occupied by ‘D’ Company, killing two men and wounding another five. An hour later two shells hit the billet occupied by the Lewis gunners and this killed eight men and wounded fifteen.  William Ellison died of wounds on 9th August and may have been wounded on an earlier date.