Source: Elgin County and the Great War
Family Search
PTE. G.A. Ellis
was engaged in the plumbing and tinsmithing business previous to enlisting with the 91st Batt. The call was so strong that he gave up business and went overseas in June last. He was born in Lucan 31 years ago and had lived in Aylmer for the past 12 years. His wife and four small children are living on Victoria street. Recent letters state that all is well with him so far.
Source: Undated biography from unknown source. Posted at the Elgin County and the Great War web site. Estimated written circa July 1916 – 1917.
From We Will Remember Them – Surnames D – L, Elgin County Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society
George Ellis was born on December 20, 1884 in Lucan, Ontario, the son of George Ellis & Mary Jane Wilson. His father was a photographer.
George moved to Aylmer and was married there on January 11, 1912 to Margaret May Anderson, of Aylmer (1883-1963). Their marriage was reported in the Aylmer Express, January 18, 1912:
Mr. Geo. Ellis, one of our popular young business men and Miss Maggie Anderson, eldest daughter of Mr. J. F. Anderson were united in marriage by Rev. Fansher last Saturday. Both have a large circle of friends with whom they are very popular, and all of whom will join with us in wishing them a long and happy wedded life.
George was a plumber living in Aylmer when he enlisted with the 91st Battalion on March 31, 1916. He belonged to the 30th Battery in Aylmer, and formerly served with the 26th Battery in North Middlesex.
A photo of George with the following caption was printed in the East Elgin Tribune, December 28, 1916: “Pte. G. A. Ellis was engaged in the plumbing and tinsmithing business previous to enlisting with the 91st Batt. The call was so strong that he gave up business and went overseas in June last. He was born in Lucan 31 years ago and had lived in Aylmer for the past 12 years. His wife and four small children are living on Victoria street. Recent letters state that all is well with him so far.”
George returned from overseas in 1917, and his return was reported in the Aylmer Express, December 6, 1917 with a photograph and the following caption:
“Pte. George Ellis, who on Monday returned home, after being overseas some eighteen months, the greater part of which time was spent in the trenches. Pte. Ellis enlisted and went across with the 91st Battalion. He was invalided home suffering from trench feet and rheumatism. His many friends hope he will enjoy better health here at home.”
George died on May 21, 1923 in Victoria Hospital, London where he had been a patient four months, suffering from heart disease. He is buried in Aylmer cemetery. His name appears on a monument with his wife and other family members recording him as a veteran of the 91st Battalion, but there is also a military marker bearing the following inscription:
190173 Private George Alfred Ellis 18th Battn. C .E. F. 21st May 1923 After the victory sleep
His obituary, accompanied by a photograph, appeared in the Aylmer Express, May 24, 1923:
GEORGE ELLIS DIED IN VICTORIA HOSPITAL
Veteran of the Great War was Assistant Customs Officer
George Alfred Ellis, assistant customs officer here, died in Victoria Hospital, London, early on Monday morning, May 21st where he had been undergoing treatment since February last. Deceased who was in his 38th year was a veteran of the Great War, having enlisted and gone overseas with the Elgin Battalion, the 91st. He saw much service at the front, and his illness was caused from shell shock and the effect of being gassed in France. Mr. Ellis was invalided home in December 1917, and for the last three years has been assistant customs officer here, where he was a very popular official. He suffered a collapse in February and was sent by the Military authorities to Victoria Hospital, where he seemed to be improving steadily until Sunday last, when he suffered a stroke from which he never rallied. Besides his widow, he is survived by 7 young daughters, the eldest of whom is 11 and the youngest about a month old. Also by his step-mother, Mrs. Ellis, St. George street; one brother, Thomas J. Ellis, of Honolulu; and two sisters, Mrs. Dell Mollard, of Watrous, Sask.; and Mrs. Lorne Kilmer, of Battle Creek, Mich.. Deceased was a member of Aylmer Chapter, No. 81, G.R.C., and Malahide Lodge, No. 140, A.F.& A.M., and the funeral which was held yesterday at 2:30 p.m. was under Masonic auspices and was largely attended. Interment took place in the Aylmer cemetery.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 