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ELLIS, Reginald Bertram ELLIS, Reginald Bertram Service Date Of Grave/Memorial Cemetery/Memorial No Surname Rank Age Regiment/Service Nationality Number Death Ref. Name Royal Sussex ELLIS , R United SEEND (HOLY CROSS) 1 Private G/36092 01/11/1918 30 Regiment, 1/16 B Kingdom CHURCHYARD (Sussex Yeomanry) (Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission) Born in Seend, Wilts Died age 31 at home on 1st November 1918. He had been invalided out of the Army after failing to convalesce in Ireland. His letters to the Rector suggest he had “rheumatism” (see below). Reginald was the son of Albert and Jane Ellis, of Seend, Melksham. He worked in Dyrham as the Rector’s footman. He was buried in Holy Cross Churchyard in Seend, Melksham Badge of the Sussex Yeomanry The 16th (Sussex Yeomanry) Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment was formed in January 1927 from the 1/1st Sussex Yeomanry having been reassigned as infantry. They came under the command of 230th Brigade in 74th (Yeomanry) Division. Prior to that, the 1/1st Sussex Yeomanry had been involved in the Gallipoli campaign, the defence of the Suez Canal and the Palestine campaign as part of the Western Frontier Force. They landed at Marseilles in May 1918 and moved up to the Western Front. On 14 July, the Division, part of the 3rd Corps of the Fifth Army, took over a sector of front line near Merville. It took part in the following engagements: Second Battles of the Somme in 1918, specifically, the Second Battle of Bapaume (31 Aug-3 Sep); Advance in Flanders (18 Aug-6 Sep); the Battle of Epehy (18 Sep); and the final advance in Artois (2 Oct-11 Nov), including the capture of Douai, together known as the Hundred Days Offensive. On 1st November 1918, the day of Reginald’s death, General Haig order the start of the final phase of the battles. His battalion and the Fifth Army were not in the main part of the attack on Valenciennes. On 11th November, the Armistice was declared. The Rev Wynter Blathwayt, Rector of Dyrham, used to write to men from Dyrham & Hinton who were fighting abroad during the war. We have some replies. Here is a letter from Reginald in his own words while he was convalescing in hospital in Ireland: No G36092 1/6 Cyclist Corp Royal ?? Regt Wicklow Hospital Ireland Sept 1918 To The Rev W E Blathwayt Dear Sir, I have been conveyed by the Red Cross Ambulance to the local Hospital yesterday, suffering from Chronic Rheumatism in my legs, caused from sleeping in wet Blankets & damp ground the rain came through our tent for several nights. I fell sick the end of Lent week previous to coming home, the Doctor saw me this morning & of course am in bed. my Food did consist of Eggs & milk, and the matron & nurses are very kind also some kind Lady brought me a bunch of Grapes & some Cakes. Hospital life seems very strange to me & I have done very little ?drill yet. Wicklow is situated on the Coast with mountains around & is about 28 Miles south east of Dublin, it is a small town the Population are mostly Sein Feiners & are very bitter towards the British, I have been unable to attend the Church here as we are a considerable distance away & too wet for Church Parades but I believe the vicar will visit the Hospital this Evening. Dublin is very interesting & the shops are good especially for Antique articles, also the Ruins in Sackville that are still to be seen from the Irish rebellion in 1916. the Irish are a very dirty lot of people & no limit to Food ?restrictions although things are very dear. I went to see the Cathedral at Chichester some of the arches are Norman & I should imagine the building very historic I hope the mistress is still keeping well also your Cold better, I have plenty of time to think of Dyrham &the past now am in bed, but this is a poor account of myself Yours Faithfully R B Ellis .
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