Private 54990, 15th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action 22nd April 1918 in France and Flanders. Age 36. Born ashford, Middlesex, enlisted Bexhill-on-Sea. Son of James and Annie Earles, of Ashford, Middlesex; husband of M. L. Earles, of 26, Park Rd., Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex. Buried in WARLOY-BAILLON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, Somme, France. Plot IV. Row F. Grave 5.

Extract from St Peter’s Church Parish Magazine 1918 June:

It is with deep regret we have to announce the recent death of Private William Earles, who was killed while on active service in France. The news came as a terrible blow to his wife, and in fact to all his friends. In pre-war days, or when home on leave, he was a regular member and Communicant of St. Andrew's Congregation, and was beloved by all who knew him. Letters from his Commanding Officers show how much he was appreciated and respected in the Army, and his loss will be felt by many. Our sincere sympathy goes out to his sorrowing wife and relatives.
Requiescat in Pace.

ELDRIDGE

Ernest John

[A J ELDRIDGE on memorial] Private 46721, 11th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. 6th Divisional Pioneers. Killed in action 12 October 1917. Aged 38. Son of Elijah and Ann Eldridge, of Sidley; husband of Ruth Amy Eldridge, of 9, Camperdown St., Sidley, Bexhill-on-Sea. Born in Battle and enlisted in Chatham Kent. Formerly with the Royal Engineers. Buried in THE HUTS CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot IX. Row D. Grave 3.

MORE BAD NEWS

Mrs. Eldridge, of 9, Camperdown-street, received the sad news on Thursday that her husband, Private Ernest John Eldridge, Royal Engineers, attached to a Pioneer Battalion, has been killed in action. He joined the Army in January, and had only been in France a month and three days. He was formerly employed by Councillor J. Rogers, builder.

Extract from St Peter’s Church Parish Magazine 1917 December:

It is hard for many of us to realise that our dear friend Ernest Eldridge is really gone. "Killed in action on October 12th." Such was the message which arrived on the morning of All Saints' Day, and was the first news which greeted some of us on coming out from the Children's Eucharist, where we had been praying for his safe return.

Of all the useful lives which the war has re-moved from our midst it is but the simple truth to say that none will be more widely missed than his. Ernest Eldridge was essentially a man of action, and he was thorough in all lie did. Councillor J. Rogers, in whose employment he had been since boyhood, has testified to what he was as a workman. We in Sidley know what he was as a Churchman, and the part which he played in the social life of the place, not to mention what he was as a husband, son, and brother. For twenty-seven years he was a member of the Choir, and each successive priest-in-charge realised not only his value as a singer, but his sterling worth as a man. He loved his Church and its services, and one of the things which he felt most keenly on joining the Army was the loss of the religious privileges to which he had been accustomed.

For the Army Church parade service, he had nothing but dislike, and shared the belief of many other good men in its worthlessness as a religious force. Over and over again he said, both in letters and in conversation, that he should not. mind the life in the -Army " if it wasn't for the Sundays." Many of us feel that we have lost in him one of our truest friends. Certainly, the present writer can bear witness with gratitude to his steadfast comradeship and his unfailing help from the very beginning of their acquaintance. 'It is only fitting that we should try to place, in course of time, some memorial in the Church to his life and work, but after all his truest memorial will be the lasting impression which he has left in our hearts of a useful, unselfish, and Christian life. Early on Saturday morning, November 10th, we offered for his soul the Divinely appointed Memorial Service, which was sung by a full choir, and was attended by his widow, his mother and other members of the family, and by a number of his old friends. May he rest in peace, and may Light perpetual shine upon him.

Boy 1st Class J/37894, H.M.S. Queen Mary, Royal Navy. Killed in action when his ship was lost at the Battle of Jutland 31 May 1916. Aged 16. Born 14 July 1899 in Hastings, Sussex. Son of Frederick and Florence V. Eldridge, of 9, Reginald Rd., Bexhill. Enlisted 11 July 1917 for 12 years, height 4 feet 11 inches, chest 32½ inches, brown hair, grey eyes, fair complexion. Prior to enlisting he was a Warship T S Boy. In the 1901 census he was aged 1, born Hastings, Sussex, son of Frederick and Florence Eldridge, resident 22, Salisbury Road, Bexhill, Battle, Sussex. In the 1911 census he was aged 11, born Hastings, Sussex, at school, son of Frederick and Florence Eldridge, resident 9, Salisbury Road, Bexhill-On-Sea, Bexhill, Sussex. No known grave. Commemorated on PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Hampshire. Panel 14. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea - St Mary Magdelene

Special Note: HMS Queen Mary was a Battle Cruiser, weighing 27,250 tons, she was launched in 1912, but was sunk at 16:25 on the 31 May 1916, after receiving direct hits from two Germans ships, Seydlitz and Derfflingerat, at the Battle of Jutland. 1,266 men lost their lives.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer 10 June 1916:

Among those who, it is feared, have sunk on the "Queen Mary" in the recent Naval battle, is Herbert Eldridge. second son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Eldridge. of 9, Salisbury Road, Bexhill. He was First-class call Boy on the "Queen Mary," which was his first seagoing ship and would have been 17 years of age on the 14th of next month. He had only been away from home a year and seven months, and he formerly worked for Mr. Lye, of St. Leonards Road, Bexhill.

Private TF/202102, 2nd/6th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment. Killed in action 21 March 1918. Aged 35. Son of Mrs. A. Eldridge of Sidley, Bexhill. Born in Battle and enlisted in Chichester. No known grave. Commemorated on ARRAS MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Bay 7 and 8.

Private 71499, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Killed in action by German mines 9 November 1918 in France and Flanders. Born Shoreham, Sussex, enlisted Bexhill, resident Burgess Hill, Sussex. Eldest son of Leonard William Elliott, senior, of 6, Salisbury Road, Bexhill-on-Sea; husband of Mrs. B. Elliott, of 9, Claremont Row, Brighton. Formerly 1563, Royal Sussex Regiment. Buried in MAUBEUGE-CENTRE CEMETERY, Nord, France. Grave D. 64.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 21 December 1918, page 5:

ELLIOTT.-In ever loving memory of Leonard William Elliott, sen., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Elliott, 6, Salisbury Road. Killed in action Nov. 9th, 1918.

Private, ???? Corps.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 21 September 1918, page 5:

BEXHILL FAMILY'S GREAT SACRIFICE
FOUR SONS KILLED IN THE WAR

As announced in the “Bexhill Observer” last week, Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Ellis, of 11, Salisbury-road, have lost their four sons in the War, as well as a son-in-law and a nephew. This pathetic record of one family will enlist sympathy from Bexhillians. Mrs. Ellis has been all her life in Bexhill, and Mr. Ellis, who works for Messrs. Strange & Son, has been here for 37 years. The parents deeply appreciate the widespread sympathy they have received. “It is very hard for us,” says Mrs. Ellis, in a letter to the “Observer,” “to lose four of our boys, and also our son-in-law. One comfort to us is that they gave up their lives for their King and country. Nevertheless, our loss is a terrible blow.” We give above the portraits of Mr. Ellis and his sons, also son-in-law and nephew. Private C. H. Ellis, East Kent Buffs, formerly worked for Messrs. Goddard fishmongers, St. Leonards-road. He went to France, was missing since the 30th November, 1917, and has since been returned as killed.

Private George Ellis, Royal Sussex Regiment, whose death was announced last week, was formerly a fishmonger and worked for Messrs. Wallis. Having learnt baking, he was a baker in the Army Service Corps in the Near East. Being transferred to the Royal Sussex about the end of May, he returned from Egypt and Mesopotamia to France. Rifleman Thomas Ellis, Rifle Brigade, formerly worked on land for Mr. John Webb. He was killed at Armentieres in January, 1915, after having been four months at the Front. Before the war he was a member of the Bexhill Battery of the R.F.A., and it may be interesting to note that he was the sixteenth Bexhill man to give his life for the cause. He was 24. Private James William Ellis, Royal West Kent Regiment, formerly managed a shop in Western-road, and afterwards worked for Mr. J. Arscott, St. Leonards-road. He came from India to the Euphrates, and was killed in action against the Turks on the 24th July, 1915.

Lance-Corporal David Dunk, Royal Sussex Regiment, was son-in-law to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis. He was painter and decorator, and was one of the first to join up in the Southdowns. He was shot by a sniper in the trenches almost immediately after going to France. Sapper William Allen, Royal Engineers, was nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis and son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen of Suffolk-road, Sidley. He worked in the building trade. He died last January from wounds in the head received in action. He served from the outbreak war. He was 24 years of age.

Private G/18907, 6th Battalion, Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Killed in action 30 November 1917 in France and Flanders. Born, resident and enlisted Bexhill, Sussex. No known grave. Commemorated on CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL, Nord, France. Panel 3.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 19 January 1918, page 7:

Mrs. Ellis, of 4 North-street, has received official intimation that her husband, Private C. H. Ellis, East Kent Regiment, has been missing since the 30th November. Private Ellis joined nearly two years ago and had seen year’s service in France.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 26 October 1918, page 4:

ONE OF FOUR SONS KILLED.

Mrs. Ellis, wife of Private Charles Henry Ellis, East Kents, of 4, North-street, has an official intimation that no further news having been received relative to her husband, who has been missing since the 30th November, 1917, the Army Council have regretfully constrained to conclude that his death took place on that date or since. The communication enclosed message of sympathy from the King and Queen, and expressed the regret of the Army Council.

Private Ellis, who leaves two children was the eldest of the family of four sons of Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Ellis, of Salisbury-road all of whom have given their lives in the War, and whose portraits appeared in the "Bexhill Observer"— a few weeks ago.

ELLIS

George

Private G/25422, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. 34th Division. Killed in action at Grand Rozoy 29 July 1918. Son of Mr Ellis and Mrs M. J. Ellis of 11 Salisbury Road Bexhill. Born in Bexhill and enlisted in Hastings. Buried in RAPERIE BRITISH CEMETERY, VILLEMONTOIRE, Aisne, France. Plot IIA. Row A. Grave 1.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer, Saturday 14 September 1918, page 4:

Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Ellie, of 11, Salisbury-road, have received the sad news that their second son, Private George Ellis, has been killed in action.

Private Ellis was in Egypt with the Army Service Corps, and was transferred to the Royal Sussex in France about the end of May. Three other sons, a son-in-law, and a nephew had already lost their lives. This latest bereavement is the more sad from the fact that Private Ellis was expected home on leave. He had been two years and nine months in Egypt and Mesopotamia without having leave, and pursued his former calling as a baker. He was 30 years of age.

ELLIS

James William

Private L/9957, 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. 6th Indian Division. Killed in action in Mesopotamia 24 July 1915. Regular Soldier. Born in Bexhill and enlisted in Eastbourne. Buried in BASRA WAR CEMETERY, Iraq. Plot II. Row R. Grave 11.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer 14 August 1915:

Mr. and Mrs. C. Ellis, of 11, Salisbury Road. have received this week the sad news of the death of their son, Private J. W. Ellis, 2nd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, who was killed in action on the Euphrates on 24th July. This is the second on Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have lost in the War, for it was only in January last that Rifleman T. Ellis, of the 6th Battalion Rifle Brigade fell on the Western Front. This second bereavement therefore comes as a very great blow to the parents, with whom the deepest sympathy will be felt. Private J. W. Ellis was formerly with his regiment in India, and had lately been engaged in the fighting against the Turks on the Euphrates.

ELLIS

Thomas

Rifleman 5295, 3rd. Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own). 24th Division. Killed in action 17 January 1915. Born in Bexhill and enlisted in Hastings. Next of kin Bexhill. Played for Bexhill Athletic Football Club. No known grave. Commemorated on PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, Hainaut, Belgium. Panel 10.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 23 January 1915, page 10:

KILLED IN ACTION
ANOTHER BEXHILL SOLDIER'S SACRIFICE

The sad news has been communicated to his parents of the death of Rifleman T Ellis, of the 6th Batt Rifle Brigade, who was killed in action at the front last Sunday. It appears that he was shot in the head and died immediately.

The gallant soldier, who is the sixteenth Bexhill man to give his life for the glorious cause for which the Allies are fighting, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, of 11, Salisbury-road, who were acquainted with the sad news through the courtesy of an officer. He had seen a good deal of fighting, having been four months at the Front. Before joining the Regular Army he was a rnember of the Bexhill Battery of the Royal Field Artillery. He would have been 25 years of age in March.

His brother, Private W. J. Ellis, is in the 2nd Batt. Royal West Kent Regiment. which is in India.

We are sure that our readers will deeply sympathise with Mr. and Mrs Ellis in the sacrifice which their son has made for his country.

[Listed as Lance Corporal on Bexhill Memorial] Private G/1713, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed in action at Richebourg 9 May 1915 with British Expeditionary Force. Age 22. Born Westham, Sussex, enlisted Bexhill. Son of Mr. J. and Mrs. L. Elphick, of 13, Springfield Rd., Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex. No known grave. Commemorated on LE TOURET MEMORIAL, Pas de Calais, France. Panel 20 and 21.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 18 September 1915, page 10:

DEATH OF LCE.-CORPORAL ELPHICK.

Mr. Elphick, of 13, Springfield Road, has been officially notified that his son, Lance-Corporal E. A. Elphick, was killed in action at Richebourg L'Avoue, on May 9th. He was formerly employed at the Rate Office, Town Hall, and enlisted in the 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment at the commencement of the war.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Chronicle - Saturday 2 October 1915, page 14:

FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
LANCE-CORPORAL ELPHICK.
Corporation Sympathy with an
Employee Who Has Been Killed.

At the meeting of the Town Council on Monday, the Mayor (Alderman F. Bond, M.A., presiding) the first business on the agenda was to confirm the following resolution of the Council in Committee:—"It was reported that Lance -Corporal Elphick, 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment, had been officially reported as killed in action at Richebourg l'Avoue on 9 May last. Lance-Corporal Elphick was an assistant in the Collector's office: he enlisted immediately on the outbreak of war, and very shortly afterwards was sent to France. He is the first member of the Town Hall Staff to have been killed on active service. He was a willing, conscientious and energetic worker. The Committee directed the Town Clerk to convey to the parents of Lance-Corporal Elphick an assurance of the sincere sympathy of the Council in the loss they have sustained."

The Mayor said the Council would very much regret to learn that their fears with regard to Lance-Corporal Elphick had been confirmed. Some time ago the Town Clerk had informed him that he was missing, and he had written at his (the Mayor's) request to Lance-Corporal Elphick's father, asking if he had any further information. The reply was that he had had no further information than that he was missing. They all now very much regretted that their fears had been confirmed. The Committee thought it right to record their sympathy with his parents, and to record that sympathy on the minutes.

In seconding the adoption of the minutes the Deputy-Mayor endorsed what had been said in reference to Elphick, who was a very valued assistant in the rate office. He was a very excellent clerk, and took great interest in his work. He had died nobly.

A few minutes later it was reported that Mr. J. R. Fothergill. the Assistant Surveyor, had obtained a commission in the Royal Engineers, and had left Bexhill to take up his duties, an assurance having been given him that his position would be kept open on his return to municipal work. This undertaking on the part of the Council in Committee was now confirmed by the Council.

ESDAILE

George Augustus Churchill

Second Lieutenant, 261st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (TF). Killed in action near Ypres. 10 August 1917. Aged 25. Son of George and Georgina Esdaile, of 4, High St., Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex. B. Sc. Buried in THE HUTS CEMETERY, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot II. Row C. Grave 6.

EVANS

Benjamin John

PATRIOTIC BEXHILL.

Writing to us from the Concentration Camp at Winchester, Private B. J. Evans, of the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, nephew of Messrs. Duke, Sea Road, Little Common, says: " I was surprised to see such a long list of Bexhillians serving their country. If other towns could show as many in proportion to the population it would require a few more Kitchener's and French's to organise the billeting, etc." He concludes by wishing them all the best of luck.

Messrs. Duke Bros., of Little Common, have received the following letter from Private B. J. Evans, who is serving in the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and who is a nephew of Messrs. Duke. The letter arrived on Wednesday night, and was sent from the stationary hospital at Rouen, on Saturday last:— " I'm feeling a bit better now the gas has cleared out of my head. My knee is going on well, but a bit sore and painful, and I am still in bed. I must be thankful I'm alive, for I was up at the St. Eloi scrap, and again on the left ridge of Hill 60, but this last fight at Ypres was about the limit; they simply blew us out of our trenches, and still our lads wouldn't budge. Then came the gas, and it was at the last moment we gave way, only to get our trench back with the bayonet a few hours later., Although many of my chums have gone, and in fact, my regiment, you can rest assured the Huns didn't have all their own way by the dead, which lay in front of our trench—piles of th€ grey devils. Ypres is in a fearful state—dead people, horses, and cattle lying about the streets, and the Cloth Hall and cathedral blown to atoms. I saw a 17in. shell lying in one street unexploded, and it is quite 5ft. long, and 17ins. thick—an awful looking thing. I lost all my belongings when I got hit. I'd got a German helmet, belt, pipe, and Bible, but it's gone now. They were rather nice souvenirs, but my life was better. " The beggars fire the gas by firing a shell to burst in front of a trench, and the gas is a greenish yellow smoke, and it is awful; it burns one's eyes and mouth, and makes one, gasp for breath and-(censored and blacked out). I have the satisfaction of knowing my rifle did its duty on Sunday last, for to miss at 30 yards is impossible, and I know a few chaps dropped to my bag. In the charge, we shifted to—(censored)—and a few of them managed to get away, but not many. Our boys didn't half stop their capers! It isn't war; it's butchery. " I'm rather anxious about George Freeman, for his regiment was near mine, and I know they, like us, had a decent fight for it. Well, before I close, I must say a word or so about the hospital. It's a lovely, well-ventilated place and the sisters and orderlies are so good and kind to us, but I feel such a nuisance lying about here, and can't get about. I might get to England when I can hobble a bit, but I'm afraid it will be some time before I can stand a long march."

Pte. B. J. Evans (who is a nephew of Messrs. Duke Bros., of Little Common) has so far- -recovered that he has, with other wounded men, been brought to England, and is now at the 2nd Southern Hospital, South Mead, Bristol. Pte. Evans, who was until recently at the front, was hit in the leg by shrapnel. He has at the hospital had the piece of shell extracted, and is now able to walk.

The people of Little Common will be pleased to hear that Lance-Corpl. B. J. Evans, of the Argylle and Sutherland Highlanders, and nephew of Messrs. Duke Bros., of Little Common, has been promoted to Lance-Sergeant on the field for deserving conduct.

Sergeant B. J. Evans, Argyll and Suther-land Highlanders was killed on October 12th, while in action. He was a nephew of, and was brought up by Mr. Duke, grocer and provision merchant, Little Common. He had been in the Army for the last ten years.

Trimmer 606961, H.M.S. Stephen Furness, Mercantile Marine Reserve, Royal Navy. Died 13 December 1917. Age 25. Son of Mr. and Mrs. William Evans, of Dulwich, London; husband of Emily Evans, of 51, Shenley Rd., Camberwell, London. No known grave. Commemorated on PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL, Devon. Panel 25. - See also Little Common

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 22 December 1917, page 8:

Mr. and Mrs Evans, of The Maples, Cooden Searoad, have received the sad news that their eldest son, Vernon Evans, aged 25, is beleived to have lost his life on the 13th inst. through the sinking of a ship in a convoy action. The loss of a promising sailor will be regretted.

Note: H.M.S. "Stephen Furness" was built at West Hartlepool in 1910. 1712 gross tonnage. Owned by the Tyne-Tees Shipping Co. Ltd., King Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. Ship No.34 129,753. Type: Auxiliaries - Armed Boarding. Sunk by submarine UB64 in Irish Sea, west of the Isle of Man; six officers and 95 men lost 13rd December 1917.

Private SD/5129, 9th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment 24th Division. Died of wounds in Netley Military Hospital Hampshire 1 September 1916. Aged 19. Born in Eastbourne and enlisted in Hastings. Next of kin Bexhill. Formerly with the South Downs Battalion. Buried in NETLEY MILITARY CEMETERY, Hampshire C.E. Grave 1844. - See also Bexhill-on-Sea - St Mary Magdelene

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 16 September 1916, page 10:

SOLDIER CADDIE'S DEATH.

The death of Private Ernest Evenden, Royal Sussex Regiment, has occurred at Netley, after a long illness, from fever. He had been brought back from France. Private Evenden was the son of Mrs. Wickham, of 51, Little Common-road, Bexhill, and was only 19 years of age. He was formerly well known as a caddie at Cooden Golf Links.

Extract from Bexhill-on-Sea Observer - Saturday 23 September 1916, page 10:

As announced in our last issue, Private Ernest Evenden, Royal Sussex Regiment, son of Mrs. Wickham, of 51, Little Common-road, Bexhill, has passed away. He was only 19 years of age, and was formerly well known as a caddie at Cooden Golf Links. He served in France, and after a long illness from fever succumbed recently at Netley.