Person

Henry Ellemor went through the mud of both the campaigns of the Somme and Ypres before eventually dying on the opening day of the great offensive against the Germans in 1918; which would lead to the end of hostilities four months later.

Henry was born in the autumn of 1890, the second son of Harry and Ann Ellemor (nee Bruce). The family were living in Seaham Harbour where Harry earned a living as a bricklayer’s labourer. As a youngster, Henry earned a few shillings as an errand boy but would eventually follow his dad, becoming a hod-carrier for a bricklayer in the local colliery.

In 1911, Henry left England with his brother, John and the latter’s wife and young son, for a new life in Australia; settling in the gold mining town of Mount Morgan, in Queensland. Henry joined the Mount Morgan Mining Company as a miner, staying there until he enlisted in the 26th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force on 25 September 1915.

After basic training in Australia, Henry embarked for Europe on 28 March 1916; eventually joining his unit on 4 August 1916 at Pozieres in the Somme Valley. The battalion was sent up to Belgium, then back to the Somme, to take part in two attacks to the east of Flers; both of which foundered in the mud and slush. The terrible conditions began to take their toll on Henry’s health. He first developed pharyngitis; then had to be sent back to England in February 1917, suffering with severe rheumatism.

Henry returned to the Front on 6 November 1917 to join his battalion in the mud of the Ypres Salient. After a grim winter, Henry gained a brief respite with a week’s furlough in Paris, before returning to help drive back the German Spring Offensive of April 1918.

The final Allied push of the war began on 8 August 1918, near Amiens. On that opening day of the campaign, Henry was fatally wounded, shot in the back and legs. He was taken back to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station in Vignancourt, but died of his wounds later that day.

He was buried in the British Cemetery at Vignancourt, eight miles north-west of Amiens, where the Reverend G A B Boycott officiated at his burial. Henry’s personal possessions (pipe and lighter, tobacco pouch, gold ring and a YMCA wallet) were sent to John back in Queensland. A separate package followed with Henry’s devotional book in it.

Civil Parish: Dawdon

Birth date: 1890

Death date: 08-Aug-1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 19 Railway Street, Seaham Harbour (ecclesiastical parish of St John’s 1891)
46 Church Street, Seaham Harbour (1901 census)
15 Adelaide Row, Seaham Harbour (1911 census)
Rockhampton Road, Mount Morgan, Queensland, Australia (1915)

Employment: Errand boy
Bricklayer’s labourer
Miner

Family: Parents: Harry Ellemor (1853-1911), Ann Wardman Ellemor (nee Bruce) (1863-1901)
Sibling: John Bruce (b 1886)

Military service:

SERN 4130
Private
26th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force

Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by Kelloe Visitor, Trimdon Station