Pte
Arthur Wyatt Ellis

Information about birth

Date of birth:
06/07/1887
Place of birth:
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

General information

Profession:
Plumber

Army information

Country:
New Zealand
Force:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
40789
Enlistment date:
26/10/1916
Enlistment place:
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Units:
 —  Canterbury Regiment, 3rd Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
16/12/1917
Place of death:
Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
30

Cemetery

Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood
Plot: IX
Row: AA
Grave: 15

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Arthur Ellis was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 6 July 1887, son of Joseph and Jane (nee Wyatt) Ellis. He had six siblings. Arthur was a plumber working in Sumner, a suburb of Christchurch, when he enlisted on 26 October 1916 in Christchurch, joining the 23rd Reinforcement, service number 40789. He trained at Trentham, Featherston and Tauherenikau camps before embarking on the troop ship Corinthic on 2 April 1917. During the voyage he was in the ship’s hospital with tonsillitis. He arrived in Devenport, England on 10 June, entering Sling Camp on the Salisbury Plain the same day.

Arthur sailed to France on 6 July 1917 and spent two weeks at Etaples before being posted to 3rd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment on 24 July.

After the Third Battle of Ypres the New Zealand Division held the line in and around Polygon Wood. In early December the Division wanted to improve its positions and tried to take the heights round Polderhoek Chateau.

The Division’s battalions relieved each other in the Polygon Wood sector, the main work being improving defences, repairing trenches and wire. The landscape was water-filled shell holes. The Germans had observation over much of the area so any movement was shelled or machine-gunned.

The 2nd Brigade was replaced by the 4th Brigade on the night of 15/16 December; In this, the 3rd Battalion of the Canterbury Regiment replaced the 1st Canterbury. It was during this period that Arthur Ellis was killed. His burial was reported by Rev C Jones, attached to the 3rd Canterbury Battalion.

He is now in a special memorial grave at Buttes New British Cemetery at Polygon Wood, Plot IX, Row AA, Grave 15.

Files 1

Sources 4

Archives New Zealand
https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/
Sources used
Auckland Weekly News
http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/heritageimages/
Sources used
Ferguson David, The history of the Canterbury Regiment, NZEF 1914-1919, (Auckland, Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd, 1921), pg. 218-223.
Sources used
New Zealand births deaths marriages
https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search
Sources used

More information 5