Marg Liessens is a prolific contributor to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial site and others with her photographs of headstones and other images related to the remembrance of our armed forces. While researching Private Oliver Chester Ellis, reg. no. 189469 a visit to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial contained the photograph of Private Ellis. Of note is the Canadian Flag and poppy attached to this man’s headstone showing that people have not forgotten this young man from Chatham who died so long ago.
This image of of the headstone of Private Oliver Chester Ellis.
From Chatham, he enlisted with the 91st Battalion and was transferred to the 186th Battalion. He lied on his attestation papers indicating he was born in 1894, when records show he was born in 1898, making him 17-years old, not 21 as he claimed. As the record cards show he was a problematic soldier. May confined to barracks and other charges but he soldiered on and was assigned to the 18th Battalion.
He arrived “in the field” at the 18th Battalion on 19 October 1917 and less than 2-months later was sentenced to 7-days Field Punishment No. 1 for “being in an Estaminet during prohibited hours.”
However, he had a clean record after this but suffered a GSW to his jaw on 2 April 1918.
He would begin his return to home via surgery in England and then Canada at Ste. Anne’s Hospital at Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue.
He would contract “lockjaw” 12 September 1919 and despite the valiant efforts of the medical staff he would succumb at 06:40 AM on 14 September 1919.
His family wanted him home and he was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Thamesville, Ontario. His parent and his 14 siblings mourned his passing.
His life was short and his death a tragic reminder that sometimes the body simply does not heal, no matter how young the victim is.
He is remembered.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 
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