Trafford

Born during the September quarter 1893 in the Manchester R.D. - ref:
8d/208, the son of Thomas Fleetwood & Eliza Ellison (nee Pritchard).

1901 Census - 97 Jersey Street, Manchester.  Son - aged: 7 - born:
Manchester.  Head of household - Thomas Fleetwood Ellison - Married - aged:
40 - occ: Licensed Victualler - born: Warrington.  Also - Eliza Ellison -
Wife - aged: 40 - born: Bubbenhall, Warwickshire.  Plus 3 siblings, 1
vistor and 1 servant.

1911 Census - 2 Queens Road, Urmston.   Son - listed as Arthur Ellison -
aged: 17 - occ: Shipping Clerk - born: Manchester.   Head of household -
Thomas Fleetwood Ellison - Married - aged: 51 - occ: Book Keeper - born:
Warrington.   Also - Eliza Ellison - Wife - aged: 52 - born: Bubbenhall,
Warwickshire.   Plus 3 siblings, 1 cousin and 4 boarders.   Thomas & Eliza
had produced 5 children, but had lost their daughter - Evelyn, aged 1 year
7 months.   They resided in a 10 roomed house.

His MIC confirms that he was a Corporal in the 17th Bn. Manchester Rgt and
was posted to France on 08/11/1915.  He was awarded the 15 Star, the BWM
and the VM.

WO363 - states that he was born at Moss Side.   He enlisted on 03/09/1914,
when aged: 20 years 2 months.    He was 5 feet 9½ inches in height,
weighed 130 lb, 34½/37 inch chest measurement, was of Fresh complexion,
had Hazel eyes and Dark hair and no distinguishing marks.  He was recorded
as being Church of England.

After attacking Montauban on the 1st July 1916, the 17th Bn were in reserve
at Happy Valley on the 3rd.  They moved to Oxford Copse on the 8th in
readiness for an attack on Trônes Wood on the 9th.  They advanced from
Bernafay Wood at 06.00 hrs and due to gas shelling were forced to wear gas
masks and their eye pieces misting up in the rain causing loss of
direction.  Eastern edge of Trônes Wood reached at 08.00 hrs, but later
suffered high casualties from a German bombardment and forced to withdraw. 
Thomas was wounded and unresponsive and had to be left behind.   A party of
40 men resisted at Bernafay Wood at 15.00 hrs until they were also
overwhelmed.  It seems likely that Thomas was killed on the 9th which is
what his commemoration on the family grave at Manchester (Philips Park)
Cemetery states.  Grave No. L/352.