Cpl 15528 Edward Ellicott

Edward (Ted) was born on 16th January 1886 in Liverpool, and was the son of Edward Ellicott and his wife Annie Lees (née Gray), their only son and the middle child of their three surviving children. His parents married on the 21st May 1882 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. Edward was a 30 year old mariner of Liverpool, father Edward a mariner, whilst Annie was aged 27 of Toxteth Park, father John a farmer. They had four children, one of whom sadly died. His parents were both born in Scotland, his father in Ardrossan, Ayrshire, and his mother in Walls, Orkney. 

 

His father became a second mate in 1873 in Scotland at the age of 21, and a first mate in 1874, certificate issued in Liverpool. He became a Master Mariner in Liverpool in 1877 at the age of 25. Edward (Ted) was born on 16th January 1886 in Liverpool, and was the son of Edward Ellicott and his wife Annie Lees (née Gray), their only son and the middle child of their three surviving children. His parents married on the 21st May 1882 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. Edward was a 30 year old mariner of Liverpool, father Edward a mariner, whilst Annie was aged 27 of Toxteth Park, father John a farmer. They had four children, one of whom sadly died. His parents were both born in Scotland, his father in Ardrossan, Ayrshire, and his mother in Walls, Orkney. 

The 1891 Census shows Alice (sic) Lees Ellicott, 36 years, born in Scotland, living with her mother, Isabella Gray, 77 years, and Alice’s three children, Elizabeth, Edward and Annabella, at 113 Northbrook Street, Toxteth. Alice is married but her husband’s name is not on the Census return as he was probably away at sea. Living at 95 Northbrook Street is a family called Peterkin, including their son, Alfred Gray Peterkin (sister Elizabeth’s future husband).

In the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald on 04th October 1895 his father placed a notice regarding his own mother:

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of my mother Elizabeth Moore, relict of Captain Ellicott, who died at 28 Montgomery Street, Ardrossan, 29th of September 1894.

EDWARD ELLICOTT

His father died in Norfolk, Virginia (a port city) on 03rd November 1896, when Edward was 10 years old. The death record states born in Scotland, age 44, married, occupation Capt. S.S., and his gravestone in Elmwood Cemetery, Norfolk, shows he was born in Ardrossan.


By 1901, Annie Lees Ellicott, now a widow, is living at 81 Garmoyle Road, Elizabeth is aged 17, now a pupil teacher, Edward is 15, Annabella 13, and her mother, now aged 87 years.     

In 1909, Elizabeth marries Alfred Gray Peterkin in Liverpool giving the name of her father as Edward.

In 1911 Edward is living at 8 Rossett Avenue, Toxteth Park, with his mother and sister Annabelle.  His mother is 54, Edward is 25, a commercial traveller for a biscuit manufacturer, and Annabella is 22, with no occupation.

Ted enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15528.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

Ted was killed in action, aged 30 years, on 28^th January 1916.  


He was originally buried at Maricourt Military Cemetery but after the was when graves were concentrated his body was exhumed and reburied at Cerisy- Gailly Cemetery, France. He now rests at Grave II H 1.

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme and a number of small cemeteries including:- MARICOURT MILITARY CEMETERY which was at the South-East corner of the village, on the road to Clery. It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German.  The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Parish of Wallasey Roll of Honour.