Cpl. Charles E. Ellis 510034

Charles Ervine/Irvine Ellis was born in Wooler, Ontario on March 14^th 1871, to J.W. and Esther Ellis. Little is available about Charles’ childhood.  He married Elle Jane Hall in Belleville on January 9, 1895.  Five years later, in 1901, he was living in Sidney Township, Hastings County with his wife and two children.

Sometime before the War the Ellis’s moved to Warsaw, Ontario where Charles began working as a blacksmith.  He enlisted into the Canadian Army Service Corps in Peterborough on July 29, 1915. He was over 44 years old, stood 5 feet 3 inches tall, and weighed 140 pounds.   He had fresh complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair.  He was married, had no previous military experience and was a member of the Church of England. 

Charles arrived in England aboard the S.S. Scandinavian on October 10, 1915 and was posted to Bramshott Camp.  He was taken into the Army Service Corps as a farrier (someone skilled at shoeing horses) on the 26^th of October.  While training, he entered the Military Hospital at Bramshott with Bronchitis on December 11, 1915 for six days.  Shortly after his discharge he was transferred to the 3^rd Division Train Headquarters and embarked for France on January 26^th 1916.

Charles served in as a farrier in France until a bout of bronchitis laid him up in hospital from April 27^th to May 5^th. He returned to work in the field until being called up to attend a month long instructional course at the No.22 Veterinary Hospital from August 2^nd to 31^st 1916. 

After his training, Charles returned to his unit and continued working as a farrier throughout 1916.  He was awarded a leave of absence from January 12^th to February 2^nd 1917.  Shortly after returning from leave, Ellis ran into some trouble when he was sentenced to 67 days of close confinement for neglecting to obey an order.  Charles must have improved his behaviour somewhat, as he was promoted in rank to Acting Corporal on August 28^th.

His record received another blemish on the 4^th of November 1917, when he was reprimanded for being over two hours late for a roll call.  Even so, Charles was given two weeks of leave a month later which he took in England.  He returned on the 14^th of January without incident.

On March 22^nd, 1918 Corporal Ellis was reassigned to the 10^th Canadian Field Ambulance, most likely to attend the feet of the many horses in their service. This assignment lasted three months, at which time he returned to the Army Service Corps pool for the remaining duration of the War.

Cpl. Charles Ellis proceeded to Canada on March 17, 1919 aboard the S.S. Olympic, and was given a full military discharge on the 28^th in Kingston, Ontario.

Charles moved to Otonabee Township, near Keene after the War and was employed as a blacksmith and general repairman.  He died there on September 1^st, 1923 from cardiac asthma and indigestion.  He is buried in Warsaw, Ontario.

Sources

Archives of Ontario Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928;  Series: MS932; Reel: 85  P.81.

Library & Archives Canada The Military Service File of Charles Ellis.  Ottawa, Ontario. RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 2880-22. NO.377336.

LAC. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: 1901; Census Place: Sidney, Hastings (west/ouest), Ontario; Page: 4; Family No: 50. Page:40.

Archives of Ontario. Registrations of Deaths, , 1869-1938. MS 935, reels 1-615. Archives of Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

LAC. Sixth Census of Canada, 1921. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives   Canada, 2013. Series RG31. Statistics  Canada Fonds.  Reference Number: RG 31;   Folder Number: 82; Census Place: Peterboro (City), Peterborough West, Ontario; Page Number: 12

LAC. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: 2007. Census Place: 25 - Peterborough, Peterborough West, Ontario; Page: 13; Family No: 131