 Hooge Crater Cemetery. The emblem of the Australian Imperial Forces on private Sydney Edmund Ellis' gravestone. Sydney Edmund Ellis' short time in the line
He enlisted on October 24, 1916, at the age of 27. He was finally assigned to 4th Australian Machine Gun Company. He arrived at the front near Ypres, Belgium, on the 17th of October 1917, only a few days before his death.
Their fellow comrades dug them out but they were blown almost beyond recognition, as declared by several eye witnesses and written down by the Australian Red Cross. Soon after their death, these 3 soldiers were buried right on the spot where they were killed. The grave was marked with a wooden cross.  Anzac Ridge, Zonnebeke. I found the coordinates of his original burial place on the website of the CWGC (J.3.C.1.6.on map 28 N.E.). The exact location was not accessible due to private ground. The position of the original grave would have been right behind the houses in the far distance of this picture. Anzac Ridge todayThis part of Anzac Ridge is situated near the crossing of the Grote Molenstraat en the Lotegatstraat in Zonnebeke. Once a fortified German strongpoint with trenches and bunkers, now a peaceful place with farms and fields. These days the barbwire is not used for wounding or strangling attacking soldiers but to keep the cows from escaping. Only the shrapnel that is mingled with the earth is a small reminder of what happened here one hundred years ago.  View from Anzac Ridge towards the church of Zonnebeke.
 Anzac Ridge, Zonnebeke, Lotegatstraat.
Hooge Crater Cemetery, his final resting placeThe remains of private Sydney Edmund Ellis were found after the war and reburied at Hooge Crater Cemetery in Zillebeke, Belgium. His grave is situated in Plot XVIII C.3.
 Lest we forgetSydney Edmund's older brother, Arthur Edward Ellis, used his name to enlist in 1914 and was therefore registered as Private Sydney Ellis #501 of the 8th Battalion, AIF. Private Sydney Ellis #501 was a survivor of the battle of Pozières but was badly wounded on the 25th of July 1916, during the battle itself. We would like to give a special thanks to the daughter of Arthur Edward Ellis (a.k.a. Private Sydney Ellis #501). If it wasn't for her reaction to our blogpost on the battle of Pozières, we would have never known the stories of Sydney Edmund Ellis and his brother. Join us in remembering private Sydney Edmund Ellis and all the other Australians who fought or were killed far from home. Lest we forget! Thank you for sharing our blogpost. Tom and Sarah  Battlefield Photography ABOUT OUR BLOGWe take you along our photographic journey through the World War battlefields in Belgium and France. With our black and white photographs and self written poetry, we share our impression of these historic, heroic and tragic events.
7 Comments
10/22/2017 01:38:53
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for this blog - my heart spills over with emotion. The details and photographs of my uncle's manner and place of death help me to understand, as I remember the link of love (and grief) that so profoundly bonded my dad to his brother up until his own death. Thank you.
Battlefield Photography
10/23/2017 14:18:51
Dear Hellen. Thank you for your kind words. It was done with pleasure. It is you we need to thank for keeping Sydney's memory alive. I promise I'll drop by his grave everytime I visit by Hooge Crater Cemetery from now on.
Helen Ellis
11/27/2017 01:10:13
I would like to drop by one day myself Tom and Sarah. My uncle and I did not meet in our shared lifetimes; yet my memories of my dad, and now his family, make 'Sydney' very real. I go to see my dad, who rests in the WW1 War Graves section of Rookwood cemetery, Sydney. An attendant I have come to know over the years always says hello and has commented 'you are the only person who comes here - nobody comes here'! I first visited my dad's grave with my mum shortly after his death over 62 years ago and continue to do so. It saddens me deeply that honouring our returned servicemen, whose sacrifice and suffering was unimaginable to comprehend for most people, to continue after their return, is so unacknowledged and neglected here at home. Thank you both for all you do to ensure they are not forgotten! 10/24/2017 11:35:25
A small correction to the last paragraph for my uncle Sydney Edmund Ellis. My dad, Arthur Edward Ellis a.k.a. Private Sydney Ellis #501, took part in the attack on Pozieres on 23 July, 1916 and was severely wounded on 25 July, 1916. He survived. My thanks to Pozieres Remembrance Association for their dedication to honouring this battle.
Battlefield Photography
10/25/2017 21:13:04
Thanks for your reaction Helen. Correction is done.
Joan Dawson
10/22/2017 10:34:42
Such a moving reflection of this man’s plight. Thank you for what you are doing. We must remember them.
Battlefield Photography
10/23/2017 14:24:32
Thanks you Joan for your kind words. We must indeed remember them. Everyday. Leave a Reply. |
Battlefield PhotographyWe honor the men who fought and died during both World Wars by telling their story and by sharing our pictures of battlefields, memorials and cemeteries as they are today.
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Tom Bruelemans
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