Huthwaite WW One Memorial
1914 - 1918 Remembrance
John Sheppard Ellis
Private CH/162(S) - Royal Marine
Light Infantry Portsmouth Bn. R.N. Div.
Enlisted: September 1914
Killed in Action Dardanelles 8th May 1915 : Aged 33
Helles Memorial, Panel 2 to 7
Huthwaite Online WW1 Remembrance
Private John Sheppard Ellis was born 7th October 1883 in Sutton-in-Ashfield Idlewells. Parents 1894 marriage between coal miner father Mr John Sheppard and Miss Mary Ann Ellis leads to a Hucknall-under-Huthwaite marital home topping Columbia Street. Next 1901 census lists that household headed by Mr John Sheppard 40, Mrs Mary Ann Sheppard 38, still mothered John Sheppard Ellis 17, Samuel Ellis 16, Jesse Ellis 13, and Catherine Ellis. They became generally known under fathers surname, furthermore matching Huthwaite births for Mary 4, Gilley 2, and Harriett 1month.
Mr John Sheppard Ellis had started working New Hucknall Colliery. He apparently joined the Lincolns for a few months before returning to coal hewing and then marrying Miss Florence Cooke 24th Oct 1908. Claiming a colliery tied 79 Newcastle Street house lists young Huthwaite 1911 household headed by John Sheppard Ellis 28, where wife Mrs Florence Ellis 24 mothered Maggie 2, and John 1, before adding later found names Robert, Margaret A, and Alice.
Pte CH/162(S) John Sheppard Ellis voluntarily enlisted for military service September 1914, alongside his working colleague J T Goodall. Service number indicates transferal into Kitchener's Marines. Joining the Royal Marine Light Infantry shared regimental duties with F H Crafts formerly from Huthwaite, as well as a similarly dated death through a Gallipoli campaign. Pte J S Ellis was killed in action 8th May 1915, aged 33. Membership of Huthwaite Methodist church offered additional Roll of Honour.
THREE HUTHWAITE MEN KILLED
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Two Huthwaite men, Private J.T. Goodall and Private J.S. Ellis, both of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, have been killed in action “near the Dardanelles”, according to the official statement. Goodall was 26, and lived in Skegby Road. He leaves a widow and one child. Ellis’s home was in Newcastle Street, and he leaves a widow and four children. He was 33 years of age , and about 13 years ago enlisted in the Lincolns, but was bought off after a few months. Both men enlisted last September.
Another Huthwaite native of the same regiment, killed at the same place, was Quartermaster F.H. Crafts, aged 40, whose home was at Sherwood. He had served 21 years, and had been a pensioner 8 months when the war broke out, and he immediately rejoined. He had several brothers at Sutton, and a sister is Mrs. A. Taylor, wife of the Chairman of Huthwaite Urban District Council.
On Sunday morning a memorial service to the three men was held in the Parish Church it was conducted by the Rev. F.N. Beswick, and was largely attended. The proceedings were most impressive, and included the recital of the Burial Service, while the hymns and sermon were of an appropriate nature. The Union Jack flew at half-mast on the church tower, and at the close of the service Mr. A. Wilders rendered the Dead March from “Saul” on the organ.
The long immunity from tragic news respecting its own soldier sons which Huthwaite has enjoyed was rudely shattered last week-end, when the news carried that three Huthwaite natives had made the supreme sacrifice in laying down their lives for their country.
The departed heroes are private J.T. Goodall, aged 26, of Skegby Road, Private J. Ellis (often known as Sheppard) of Newcastle Street, and the third is Quartermaster F.H. Crafts (40) who, though his home was at Sherwood, was born at Huthwaite and will be remembered by many people. Several brothers live at Sutton, and a sister is Mrs. A. Taylor, wife of the Chairman of Huthwaite Urban District Council.
Crafts was single and had served 21 years and had been a pensioner for a year and a half, and when the war broke out he immediately rejoined. Goodall and Ellis both joined in September last. A singular feature is that all three belonged to the same regiment (the Portsmouth Brigade of the R.M.L.I.) and were all killed under exactly the same circumstances-officially stated as "near the Dardanelles".
About 13 years ago Ellis served a few months in the Lincolns, but was bought off. He was killed on the 30th. of April, but the date of the other deaths is not stated. Unfortunately, no photograph of Ellis is available.
06 Feb 09 by Gary Elliott Updated 06 Feb 13