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   MAJ ARTHUR
GEORGE ELLIS 7 R NORFOLK from B&C 100 Jun 03Peter Suffolk wrote: 'I came across your web-site and I thought you might be interested in Maj Arthur George Ellis. He served in 7 R Norfolk as 'B' Coy commander before being transferred to 1 Suffolk in Aug 1944 on the disbandment of the 7th Bn. He was killed in action with the Suffolk Regt on 12 Oct 1944, the first day of the battle of Overloon. For over 2 years I have been working on compiling a book on the Officers who served in 1 Suffolk from D-Day to VE-Day. It will contain a biographical account of every officer who served, similar to the article below on Major Ellis. Of the 107 Officers served from D-Day to VE-Day, I have managed to find photographs of 80. I am still tracing others but it unfortunately takes time. Please feel free to e-mail me peterandalison@psuffolk.freeserve.co.uk with any questions, or telephone 01772 683259. Arthur George Ellis was the son of William and Maud Ellis of Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk. Educated at Yarmouth Grammar School he went on to St Paul's College, Cheltenham, to train as a teacher. In 1936 Arthur joined the staff of Stradbroke Junior School at Gorleston, Norfolk, and in 1938 transferred to Denes Junior School. Arthur was a prominent member of the Old Yarmouthians Cricket Club and was also a member of Yarmouth Territorial Royal Artillery Battery before the outbreak of the WW2. At the beginning of the war Arthur was called up and trained as a gunner, but on passing out of the OCTU was transferred into the infantry. Commissioned into the 7th Bn The Royal Norfolk Regt, Arthur Ellis gained rapid promotion. He landed in Normandy on the 28 Jun 1944 as OC B Coy. Maj Ellis took part in the bloody battles of Epron and the Orne bridgehead. On 4 Aug in an attack on a strongpoint near the river Orne, Maj Ellis and Cpl Smith went out into the open to bring in Lt O'Connell and two badly wounded men who were lying in an exposed position and under enemy fire. For this action Maj Ellis was mentioned in despatches, his 'leadership being of the highest order'. The 7th Bn had a short active service and was disbanded on 26 Aug 1944, as were all bns in the 59th Division, to provide reinforcements for other infantry bns. 'B' Coy including their OC Maj Ellis, were sent to 1 Suffolk. After some home leave, Maj Ellis joined 1 Suffolk as OC A Coy. On 12 Oct 1944, 1 Suffolk were ordered to capture the right hand side of the Dutch village Overloon as far south as the factory, as part of the 3rd British Infantry Division's assault on Overloon. A and B Coys, supported by tanks, advanced at 1200 hours, and progress was slow. By 1400 hours A Coy was held up by heavy small arms fire. It was here that a sniper killed Major Ellis. Arthur George Ellis' death was front page news in the Yarmouth Mercury on 28 Oct 1944. At a meeting of the Yarmouth Education Committee, tributes were paid to Arthur's services as a teacher. Mr J May described Arthur as 'one of the most promising young teachers he had ever met'. Arthur George Ellis died at the age of 29 and is buried in Overloon War Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Holland in grave II.E.10. Sources: Royal Norfolk Regiment archives, History of Suffolk Regiment by Nicholson, Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Yarmouth Mercury Newspaper. Photographs supplied by Arthur Ellis' brother. Does anyone remember Maj Arthur Ellis? Please write to Peter Suffolk peterandalison@psuffolk.freeserve.co.uk and copy it to the Norfolk Section Editor. B&C 100 See B&C 101 Dec 03 for a response from Maj John Knox Forte. |
