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Ellis Griffiths
52269, Private, 1st Lincolnshire Regiment
Killed in action, 19 September 1918, aged 20
No known grave (Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France)
CWGC registered (Son of Elizabeth Griffiths, of 10 Cwlach St, Llandudno, and the late Edward Griffiths)
Ellis Griffiths was the son of Edward Griffiths and his wife Elizabeth Griffiths (née Lewis). He was born at Glan Conwy on 5 February 1898. The Census of Wales for 1901 records the family living at Pant-y-Wenol; Edward Griffiths was a labourer and at that time, Ellis had three sisters and a brother. The family may have moved to Conwy for when Ellis was admitted to St. George’s National School in Llandudno in June 1905, his previous school was recorded as at Conwy Morfa. Thereafter, the family lived at two addresses on the Great Orme, 5 Cyll Terrace and 5 Belle Vue Terrace. Ellis also attended the “New” school at the Great Orme and later Lloyd Street School, Llandudno. He left school in December 1911.
Little is known of Ellis’ army service. Soldiers Died in the Great War records that he enlisted at Bangor and the medal rolls indicate that his first recorded unit was the “Linc.Cyclist.R.” or “Army Cyclist Corps” with a regimental number of 11160 followed by a posting to the Lincolnshire Regiment’s 1st Battalion with a number of 52269. Judging from these service numbers, Ellis Griffiths was probably called-up in 1917 and trained with a Training Reserve battalion before joining the Army Cyclist Corps later in the year. He was sent to France and posted to the 1st Lincoln’s in mid-August 1918.
Ellis Griffiths was reported as being killed in action during an enemy bombardment on 19 September 1918, the day after the Battle of Épehy when the 1st Lincoln’s advanced near the village of Sorel-le-Grand. He was aged 20 and has no known grave.
Known memorials:
- Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France
- Llandudno Roll of Honour
- Llandudno War Memorial
- Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
- Siloh a Hyfrydle, Llandudno
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