Notes A birth registration was found for Robert Ellis: Year of Registration: 1898; Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec; District: Liverpool (1837-1934); County: Lancashire; Volume: 8b; Page: 26. Parents: Thomas Ellis and Ellen Roberts, married 1897 in West Derby, Lancashire, England.
In 1901, Robert Ellis, 2 years of age, was shown residing at 32 Benledi Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England. Other family members included: Elizabeth Ellis, 6; Ellen Ellis, 38; and Thomas Ellis, 46, stationers engine driver. (Source: 1901 Census of England; Class: RG13; Piece: 3408; Folio: 206; Page: 35.)
His mother had died his father had deserted the family when Robert Ellis and his brother James were placed in the Nash Grove Boy`s Home. They stayed for a year and then Robert was sent to the Liverpool Sheltering Home for 9 months before being sent to Canada. He did not go to Knowlton, Quebec, as there had been a fire just before he left for Canada, and he was sent to Montreal.
Robert was placed on a farm in Minton, Quebec.
He left behind an 18 yr. old sister a 9 year old brother. Both siblings, older sister Elizabeth and younger brother James, stayed in Liverpool. Elizabeth never married.
In 1913, Robert Ellis, 14, arrived in Quebec, Canada, in a group of 64 children from the Liverpool Sheltering Home, accompanied by Mrs Ridd, and en route to Knowlton, Quebec, Canada.
On October 28, 1915, at Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, Robert Ellis, 18, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He declared that he was born in Liverpool, England; that his next of kin was his sister, Miss Elizabeth Ellis, who resided at 120 Queens Park, Liverpool, Lancashire, England; that his date of birth was September 24th; that he was a farmer; that he was not married; and that he had previously served in the 54th Regt. He was described as 5 foot 4 inches in height; brown complexion; brown eyes; brown hair. He was a member of the Church of England.
His father, Thomas Ellis died May 28, 1916, of pneumonia, at Kirkdale Home, Vine Street, Liverpool, Lancashire, England.
After the war, Robert returned to Canada, disembarking in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on February 8, 1919. He gave an address on leave as 130 Broad St., St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, and again gave that address for a War Service Gratuity and when he was discharged in Toronto.
Robert returned to England to be married.