Parkwood area
Private. 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. Service number 3/11789.
Early life
Ellis was born in Keighley in 1875 and his birth was registered in the fourth quarter of the year. His parents were Robinson and Sarah Ann Rawling.
In the 1881 census he was aged five and living at 4, Lark Street, Keighley, with his parents, three brothers and three sisters. His father was a mason – contractor.
In the 1891 census he was aged fifteen and employed as a worsted doffer. He was living at 52, Parkwood Street, Keighley with his widowed mother, two brothers and five sisters.
He married Maggie Wademan in the first quarter of 1899. He would have been about 23 years old at that time.
We did not find an entry for the 1901 census for either Ellis or Margaret.
By 1911 he was aged 35 and living at 39, Parkwood Street, Keighley with wife Margaret, daughter Annie aged eleven, Son Norman aged five and daughter Winifred Ellen aged two. Occupation: Textile machine iron turner at Prince Smith’s Burlington Shed.
He was recalled to the colours in August 1914, shortly after war was declared. He was listed in the ‘Keighley’s Gallant Sons’ book of volunteers as: Rawling, Ellis. 39, Parkwood Street.
He arrived in France/Flanders on 5th December with the 2nd Battalion, West Riding Regiment and served with them until he was killed in action on 18th April 1915 at the age of 40, during an attack on Hill 60.
He was originally listed as missing, presumed killed, and his name would have been recorded on the Menin Gate memorial (on a list from November 23, 1925 but after his body was exhumed and identified in 1926 (during the battlefield and scattered cemetery concentrations), he was buried in grave 12, row G, plot 6 of Oosttaverne Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. The items found to verify him were his identification disc, pay book and clothing.
The family inscription on his grave reads: In Realms Of Light And Glory He Lives For Evermore.
His original grave map reference was at Hill 60: 28.1.29.c.95.25
The circumstances of his death were explained in the Keighley News after a letter from a comrade was brought forward.
The Keighley News Saturday June 8, 1916:
KEIGHLEY SOLDIERS KILLED IN ACTION.
News was received on Saturday morning last by Mrs. Rawling, 39, Parkwood Street, Keighley, that her husband, Private Ellis Rawling (40) of the West Hiding Regiment, who has been posted as missing by the War Office since June last, was killed in the fighting at Hill 60 on April 18, 1915, The news was contained in a letter written by Oliver Mitchell, a Keighley soldier, who was the third man away from Private Rawling when he was killed. He himself was hit in the back, probably at the same time as Private Rawling, but he did not go away. Later, when Mitchell went to turn his comrade over he was hit in the face, and had to leave him, knowing that it was his last chance of safety.
Formerly Private Rawling was an iron turner and from his apprenticeship up to a few weeks before the outbreak of the war he worked for Messrs. Prince Smith & Son, Burlington Shed. He had served eleven years in the old Volunteers and joined the Army in August 1914, going out to the front in December. He was very well known in the town and had a wide circle of friends. He leaves a widow and three children.
Note:
3/12382 Private Oliver Mitchell was wounded on the same day and was operated on his face and back on 19th April 1915. He was discharged from the Army on 3rd June 1916 with a Silver War Badge and survived the war. He was resident at 20, Green End Road in Morton.
Post war:
Ellis was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service and these would have been sent to Margaret in 1921 along with any personal effects. She would also have received a memorial scroll and the Bronze War Memorial plaque inscribed with Ellis’s name.
Remembrance:
Ellis is named in Keighley’s Great War Roll of Honour book in Keighley Library.
He is also remembered on the St Paul’s Church War Memorial tablet, which is on the wall in Keighley Shared Church.
He was originally named on the Menin Gate memorial but this would have been removed some time after 1926, when he was reburied in Oostaverne Cemetery.
Margaret received Ellis’s remaining pay of £3 16s and 10d on 13th July 1916 and a further war gratuity payment of £3 on 2nd September 1919.
She also received a dependant’s pension of 21 shillings per week beginning on 21st February 1916. This was just for two of her children, Norman aged ten and Winifred Ellen aged eight. (Annie being over the age of sixteen.) The record shows that Margaret was declared ineligible for a dependant’s pension, although the reason is not clear.
In the 1939 register, Margaret was living at 32, Caister Street, Keighley with Annie aged 33 and Winifred Ellen aged 30.
Margaret died aged 74 and her death was registered in the Worth Valley in the third quarter of 1950.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
1881 England Census.
1891 England Census.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
1911 England Census.
Keighley’s Gallant Sons.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldier’s Died in the Great War.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
World War One Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
1921 England Census.
1939 England and Wales Register.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
National Archives. W0-95/1552. War Diary for 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
Letters provided by Neil Moules.
The Great War Letters of Private Ellis Rawling:
These are transcribed as written by Ellis.
Dear Wife
I shall come home the week End if I can get off as they only Let Passes out 10 for each Platoon and I shall have to wait and see if mine comes out and as I shall only have my rail fare, would you Please send me about 2/- on, as soon as Possible. I know it is rather Expensive But if you want me to come home Please Let me know and send me a PO for 2/-. Write as soon as you get this as I will know I have 11/- now and it is what it will cost me.
Yours Ellis.
Dear Wife.
I am sorry that I cannot come home, I Put a Pass in Last week But no one was allowed a Pass, I have the money that you send me the Landlord is saving it for me at the Black Horse, if you want it Back I will send it Forward as I will only spend it. There is a Draft of 50 going out to Day, Saturday, From our Company. They are all Picked men But I ham holding Back as Long as I can get. Tell our Harry to see Fred Pickard of Keighley as he as Been in our Company and he got send to Halifax Last Monday so he might come home to Keighley this week End. I told him to see our Harry if he Did so he will tell you how I am and our we all getting treat[ed] he will Be glad to get away From here and so would I But Being a fit man I shall have to stick it we have to Be up at 5 o clock Every morning and Be out at 6am and stand in the Parade ground Till it Breaks Day Light and it is very cold up here I can tell you it is my Birthday to Day as you will know and we are all going to have a Bit of a Do in our Room as they are two of us we are Doing 2/- Each and the others are giving a little so we will Be Enjoying our-selves hoping you are all alright
From your loving Husband Mr Rawling.
XXXX
I would have liked to come home This week End But no one is allowed a Pass as Fred Pickard will Tell our Harry if he sees him.
Dear Wife
I am going to get my fota taken to Day Friday as I got Put on Guard Last Tuesday and when I came off I had no money as I had to Bie a Little Bit Excetera/Extra? But you should get them Buy Thursday it is very rough weather up here and I Do not go out much as all the Lights have to Be out and it is just as Bad as Been—He it is a bombing Village Plenty of marching But I am in the Pink as I keep my eating up I can get to come home this weekend, 7 September, as I can get a Pass Till Saturday till Sunday night But I shall have to Be back Here at Monks Eaton on Sunday night at 9-30 I shall Land in Keighley on Saturday night at 7-30 if you will me a Little Towards my Fare I will come you must write and Let me know it will cost 10/- Railway Fare if you want me to come I will save my Pay. I just heard that Jimmy Stubbs is Dead you will not know him our Harry will know him.
You will have read in the paper about the wreck up Here I saw the Lifeboat go out to it our Fanny as not written yet tell her to send me some Bacca they said they would send me something you must get all you can From the Lady Visitors or the Town Hall Refuse nothing you must Tell our Harry about me coming home this week End Then he will send me something Towards my Fare if you want to see me I will come But let me know as soon as Possible so that I can safe my money I Received your Letter and ours Harry Letter also so no more at Present Yours Ellis x x x x
The address is In care Of Abe Gardener Black Horse Hotel Monkseaton Northumberland.
Dear Wife
I received your Post card But it was to late to put a Pass in But I will come on Saturday week if we are here as they say we have to go out next Draft I will let you know and I will save my money so you must send yours next Tuesday as we have to Put our Passes in on Wednesdays I am sending mt Totas so you can give our Ada one and Harry one and give the others out as Like we had to sleep in our clothes on Tuesday night as we heard heavy Gun Firing in the North Sea will you write and Let me know how you are going on at the Shed Tell our Harry to ask Jimmy Quin as I would Like to know I am keeping in The Pink of Condition But they is a Lot of them sick we are all having it a bit easier now as they as the wet is stopping us and it is Time my shoulders have____Ached carring 150 rounds of the thing is a Trip to Bradford next Saturday 14 Nov Newcastle v Bradford and they is a cheap Trip and we are going to se the Captian if we can go so I will come if he Let us which is Doubtful will you Let me knowhow our Annie Likes her new job at the Mill so no more at Present
From your loving Husband xxxx
I do not what you will think about my Fotas I think They are all Butter.
Sept 23rd 1914
Dear Wife
I write these few lines just to let you know where I am we went to Whitley Bay in Northumberland on Monday it is a beautiful place we are all billeted in a Chapel and we are going to get khaki? To Day Tuesday
You will get your first weeks pay on October 1st so no more at Present.
Yours Ellis
Xxx
If you wish to write back you must adress your Letter Tell our Harry to write
E Rawling 11789
No. 7 Company
Wesleyan Chapel
Monkseaton
Northumberland
25 Sept 14
Pte E Rawling 11789
No. 7 Company, Wesleyan Chapel, Northumberland
Dear Wife I again write to you just to let you know how I am going on we all getting plenty of work up here but I am standing it very well we went for a route march to Day about 6 miles and 3 of it at the Double yesterday we went for a bathe in the sea at Whitley Bay to Day we have had to go the Doctor to get passed again I Passed alright so we may be getting Removed as soon as I get to know I will Write again I am only getting 3d a Day you will Receive 9d out of my 1/- so you will see I have not much to space (spend?) I have to pay 3½ for Washing this week I called at the Wellington on Monday and they gave me some Bacca will you write and Let me know how you are getting on and the Children Tell our Harry to write also it would Please me very much it is a splendid Place I would Like to Bring you and the Children up here for a week if only I had the money they never have much written? I am getting as brown as a Berry I am going Down to Newcastle on Saturday they can get for a penny 6 miles I have put on a bit of weight so you see I am in the pink you will find the address on other side Do not forget to write will you so no more at present your dear loving husband.
Xxxx
good Luck
Monkseaton
Oct 1914
Dear Wife
I am writing again as I had not much Time Last night having only just landed at Monkseaton we had a Chamion Billet at North Shields but we have got a Poor One now all the Fellows are strangers to us me and jimmy moore are together yet this morning Saturday we have had to clean all our Equipment for Inspection and Clean all our buttons that is only the start I have got 150 Rounds of Ball Cartridge to carry next week so we are all going to get some extra work up here as it is a Trained Company on Friday night I was with Billy Bancroft but he as not got any uniform and I thing he will get is Ticket but you must not tell I have seen Mick Golden also he says he is fed up and wished he had not come but they do not know anything yet as they have not had any Rifle Drill yet I Shall not come across them now as I am 3½ miles away will you Please let me know how you are all getting on as you have not wrote Lately and send me a little Bacca Tell our Harry I am getting Fed up as They are Doing Bathes/Bothel/Bathe? Hard with us but I will have to stick it tell him to send me a Little to Day Saturday as I have not got anything I have walked Down to North Shields to write this and it is 3½ miles you must write and let me know how much you getting Please.
So no more at Present
Ellis
Xxxx
Oct 23rd 1914
Dear Wife
I have just got Removed to Monks Eaton to Day Friday I would Rather have stopped where I was just got used to the Place we got no Tea when we landed I am just about getting fed up but it is no use I saw Billy Bancroft Last night I am with out money Tell our Harry to send me a little so il will arrive By Sunday as I have to wait till Tuesday till I get any thing They say we are to get Ready for over yonder I am Properly Fitted out I can tell you so are the others all them that is fit have to keep their Khaki the others are getting special uniform tell our Harry not to forget you send a Little if you can.
The address is
Ellis Rawling
C/o Mr Gardener, Balck Horse Monkseaton.
Nov 29th –14
Dear Wife
I am going to get examined with the Doctor to morrow and if I Pass I shall have to go to France they sent another so Last night out of our Company they say all that is not fit is coming back to Halifax so I hope that I am one of them But I have Passed him these Times all Ready But he is very Particular on the teeth that is my only chance of getting out of it jimmy moore and Percy Lee? Have Both Failed so I will write again and Let you know as soon as I have Been Before him I have got that money you send me yet But I will keep it till I get to know how I go on we are getting it Rough I can tell you But I am in good Health and stick it well the Captain got all our Platoon Fotas taken Last Friday and he is going to give us all Two each so I will Be sending them on as soon as I get them Tell out Harry I think off him many a time and wish I was going to the Wellington with him I would like to know if he Backed A winner on Saturday and Jimmy Wood tell him to give my Best Respects to all at the wellington will you write and Let m know how you are all getting on as you have not wrote Lately I wish I was with you again I think many a Time about you I would Like you to write a Letter yourself how is our Norah and Nellie and Annie going on with Best Love to all of you From your loving Husband
Ellis
Xxxx
Please write as soon as you have time
Nov 30th –14
Dear Wife
I am sorry to tell you that I am going to the Front Probably on Wednesday so if the write you must write Right away so that I will Receive it at Monkseaton I have got all new clothing to go out with Last night Monday and the order has come so Quick that we will not Be here above a Day or two I can not say more at Present But I have my shirts and I will Probably send Them on and a Lot of other things with Them has They will Be no good carrying them about so you must look out for them I am writing this in a hurry will you write and Let me know if you Received my Letter and Fotas I shall write again before I go you have not forget the address it is
Your Ellis
Pte E Rawling
In care Mr Gardener
Black Horse Hotel
Monkseaton, Northumberland
I have kept all yours Letters and I am sending Them on as our Annie told me to keep them.
Thursday Dec 3rd –14
Dear Wife
I am writing you a few as we are setting of For France to night will Drop a Post card When I arrive at Southampton as we go their First to catch the Boat I Received you Letter and am very Pleased that our Annie is alright at the Mill
I have done nothing up Here all the week only go out and have a Bit of Enjoyment Before we go we have to march to a Place called Backworth to night to catch the Train we set of at 1-30 mid night so you will Be in Bed Fast asleep Love and I wash I was with you if anything happens to me you will get all as I have willed it all to you I am sorry that our Nora has Been Ill I can not say anything more at Present only I will keep my Pluck up and Trust in god to Pull Through so good Bye and keep your spirits up
From your loving Husband
Ellis
Xxxxxxxxxxx
I enclose all your letters
Dec 4th –14
Dear Wife I have arrived at Southampton alright setting sail to night Friday For France on Board The Bressetti.
From your Loving Husband
Ellis
Sunday Dec 5th –14
Dear wife I have arrived at France at a Place called Havre had a rough Passage across I know you will Be thinking about me But keep your spirits up Love and I will Do the same Love. I must not say so a great deal as they might open letters so no more at Present
From your Loving Husband
Ellis
39 Parkwood St, Keighley
Dec 23rd
Dear Husband,
Pleased to hear you arrived safely in France, you must keep pluck up until all is over. We are all very well at Present and we only wish you could be with us for Christmas. Mr and Mrs Durham are sending you this gift which is the soldiers comfort.
With Best Wishes
From your dear wife & children
A merry Xmas & a speedy return.
Dear Wife
I write you a Few Lines hoping you all are well and I hope you have had a good Christmas and should like to know how you are all getting on at Present. Tell our Ada and James Wood I would like to be with Them this Xmas and have some more Duck for Dinner and then have a good Whip Round you know I shall miss all this But when all is over I will have a good Time so I will keep my Heart up so Best Wishes to you all
Yours Ellis
If you write Back the address is
Pte E Rawling 11789
13th Brigade 5 Division
2nd Duke of Wellingtons
Expeditionary Force
Bruyeres Camp
Rouen France
This is the right address
[New Years Day – 1st Jan 1915]
Dear Wife
I write you a line or Two to Let you know that I am alright and in good Health hoping you have had a good Christmas we all got Queen Mary Xmas Present which was a box and a Post card this is the 6th time I have written and have had no answer yet Perhaps you have not Received my Letters or yours have not landed Dear Maggie you must not Be uneasy has I am alright I am going up to the Filing Line to Day New Years Day so no more at Present wishing you a happy New year From your Husband
Ellis
If you write back you must address
Pte E Rawling 11789
2nd Duke of Wellington
British Expeditionary Force
Feb 10th 1915
Dear Friends
I wrote you a few lines just to let you know how I am going on the weather out here is very bad the first time I went in the Trenches it was snowing heavy so you can guess what it would be like When I came out if you had seen me you would not have known me it was knee Deep in Slush and mud I received your Parcel of Twist? Alright and was very Pleased you must Thank Them all for me Ginger Moore came out here just in the new year and he is in my Company at the time we are writing this we are at Rest in a Barn and to get out it is knee Deep in pig **** it was first time Moore had been under Fire a shell Dropped about ten yards in front of us but did not Explode as it Dropped in the soft dirt Lucky for us it Did we go Back in the Trenches to night Feb 10th for 3 nights I can not say more at Present from your Old Pal Ellis
Tell our Harry I have Received his Parcel also and would Be Pleased with another Like it as soon as possible Do not send any more—-as we get Plenty out here.
Feb 13th (1915)
Mrs J Waderman
6H Newbury St
Lawrence
Mass.
Dear Sister Maggie,
Just a few lines to you hoping you & the children are all quite well as it leaves us both at present & we are so sorry to hear about poor Ellis & Tom has often wanted me to write to you
PAGE 2
So I write to Annie for your address, well Maggie we often talk about you & hope pretty soon to all be together in England once again, well Maggie you must drop us a line when you get this. Tom has a book he is sending for your little
PAGE 3
Boy, how is Annie getting I suppose she is a big girl now, wasn’t it a shame about poor little Nora I can’t realise it, well dear sister you must forgive us for not writing to you but we have thought about you just the same, well,
PAGE 4
Maggie I hope you will write soon & let us know how you are so I think this is all this time so will close with fondest love to all the children & yourself
From your loving Brother & Sister
Tom & Lily
X x x x
Dear Wife
I write you a few lines to Let you know I am in good health so you must not Be uneasy as I am alright give my Best Respects to the Boys at the Wellington I can not say more at Present. Your Ellis.
If you write back the address is Pte Ellis Rawling 11789
Duke of Wellington Regt
West Riding
13 Brigade
5th Division
Expeditionary Force
France
March 12th (1915)
Dear wife
I write you a few lines to let you know that I am still in good Health hoping you are all same. I received your letter all right and was sorry about Norah Durham tears came in to my eyes when Read the letter tell Mr Durham it is hard Luck to lose them after Bringing them up to that age tell our Harry I have Received his second Parcel But have not Received yours yet I would be very Pleased if you would send me the Keighley news or the news of the world Every week I have just come out the Trenches for a few Days Rest and I am very Tired I can tell you having marched about 8 miles to the Resting Place I will be able tell you something if I can only pull through when I come home But I Do not know when that will Be I wish it was now I thing many a time when I go in the Trenches that my time as.come But then I seem to think that I have not to meet my Death this way so I will Try and keep my Pluck up Did you Receive my Post card telling you to send me two boxes of Harrisons Pomade as it useful out here so I can not say any more at Present By the way you can tell Tommy Parker I saw the Keighley (News) out here and Read about his wedding so I will conclude my letter as I am very Tired and am going to have a sleep
From your Loving Husband
Ellis.
