Ellis Jack Rossen

Gunner, Royal Artillery
195 Field Regt.
Service number: 14393561
Died 3 Jun 1943
Buried Willesden Jewish Cemetery, United Kingdom
Age 18

Headstone Inscription
‘DEEPLY MOURNED AND NEVER FORGOTTEN BY HIS SORROWING PARENTS, SISTERS, BROTHER-IN-LAW, RELATIVES AND FRIENDS
PEACE TO HIS DEAR SOUL’


Ellis was born in July 1924 in Hackney, London to London born parents Joseph and Fanny nee Sklanowitz and he had three older sisters Annette, Betty and Adele.

The family owned and ran a grocers shop in Southend on Sea and lived in Cobham Road. Ellis attended the Stamford Hill Hebrew school and after leaving school, he became an articled clerk to a solicitor before enlisting in the Royal Artillery.

On 3 June 1943 Ellis went to the Bay of Colwyn swimming pool with two other soldiers and he left his Army book for security to hire bathing costumes. At 19.40 his body was discovered in the deep end and despite resuscitation attempts he was declared dead. His father travelled to Wales to collect his body and a military service and guard of honour were held at Colwyn Bay railway station prior to his body being entrained.

Despite extensive inquiries the two soldiers who were with Ellis were never traced and at the inquest it was decided that there was an absence of direct evidence to what occurred, and it was found that his death was accidental.

Photo courtesy of D Lindsey