BORN HULL 1895. ONLY SON OF GEORGE & AGNES ELY, OF 6, PEMBERTON STREET, DANSOM LANE, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). SISTERS RUTH, ALMA, & STELLA. EX RECKITTS WORKER AND MOTOR MECHANIC AT THEIR BLUE AND LEAD STARCH DEPOT.
HE ENLISTED IN HULL, ON 10/05/1915. HIS ARMY RECORDS DESCRIBE HIM AS 5 FOOT, 5 INCHES TALL, CHEST SIZE 35-37 INCHES, “GOOD” PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, “VERY GOOD” WORK REFERENCE, METHODIST RELIGION.
HE SERVED AS A SAPPER, IN THE 497TH FIELD COMPANY, ROYAL ENGINEERS. POSTED TO FRANCE ON 11/10/1916. DIED OF WOUNDS AT THE 88TH FIELD HOSPITAL, ON 04/07/1917, AGED 23. HE HAD SERVED IN THE ARMY FOR 2 YEARS AND 26 DAYS.
BURIED AT CANADA FARM CEMETERY, WEST-VLAANDEREN, BELGIUM. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “HE DIED THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE”
HIS MOTHER WROTE TO THE AUTHORITIES IN 1919 ASKING IF HIS REMAINS WOULD BE RETURNED TO ENGLAND, SAYING HE WAS HER ONLY SON AND SHE WAS “BROKEN HEARTED”.
HIS NAME IS SPELT, GEORGE ELEY ,ON THE WW1 MEMORIAL AT ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, NEWINGTON, HULL.
