Born c. 1806, believed to be at Birmingham. His father's name was assumed to be "George" Ellis, but it is now known [2001] from a marriage certificate that his father was Thomas Ellis.
He is first entered in the 4th Light Dragoon Depot rolls as a "Recruit from Birmingham, 3rd of January 1824". There are no Description and Succession books still extant for the 4th, so there is no way of knowing anything of his physical appearance etc.
He is shown as being "On Recruiting Duties at Birmingham" from January 1825 until the 7th January 1826, when he returned to the Maidstone Depot.
His Regimental number was originally 200. Depot recruits did not receive numbers until joining the regiment, but was altered to 203 in October of 1834.
The Maidstone Cavalry Depot muster rolls, however, while showing substantially the same information, also show him as:
"George Ellis, aged 18 (Lad), 5' 7" in height, enlisted at Coventry by Lieut. Donald, marched from Coventry, 125 miles, with 11 halts on the way and being billeted in local inns, before final approval on the 15th of February, marched on Recruiting Duties to Birmingham on the 24th December 1825 and being quartered in Birmingham Barracks [presumably Hulme Barracks] rejoined from Recruiting Duties at Birmingham on the 16th of January 1826, after a march of 145 miles, and 11 halts, marched on the 8th of June for embarkation about the "Royal George" for Bombay on the 9th. Given 4 months' sea pay."
On the 9th of June 1826 he embarked (on the Royal George) for India. He was at Bombay from the 28th of October and joined the regiment on the 25th of January 1827, serving at first in Captain (and Brevet Major) Edward Byrne's Troop.
From Private to Corporal: 14th of July 1831.
Corporal to Sergeant: 20th of March 1834.
From information received from his great-grand-grandson living in Sussex [September 2000] it is now known that George Ellis was first married in Kirkee, India, on the 4th of October 1836 to Mary Ann Bradley, the marriage certificate showing:
"George Ellis, bachelor apt. Sergt Major in HMS 4th (QO) Light Dragoons and Mary Ann Bradley, spinster, were married at Kirkee by Banns this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty Six by me, Randall Ward, Chaplain."
Their first child, Elizabeth Margaret, was born on the 27th of February 1838 and christened on 18th March 1838.
Two further children were born to them: Juliana [Julianna?], 29th of September 1839 (an Index reference shows a Juliana Ellis, an infant who died 18th June 1840, which is likely to have been her), and Thomas William, who was born on the 8th of May 1841 and christened on the 30th of May 1841 by the Revd. A Goode. Chaplain. The records show Thomas William as the son of George Ellis, Troop Sgt with the 4th Light Dragoons, and his wife, Mary Ann Thomas.
There is no record of the death of a Mary Ann Ellis in any of the three Indian Provinces up to 1842 (when the regiment returned to England), but she probably must have done so by September 1846, when the regiment went to Ireland.
[PB: For Mary Ann Bradley's antecedents, it may be worth investigating http://www.genes.plus.com/FAMILY/IND20.HTML]
__________
Thomas William Ellis married in Liverpool in 1881, when he was described as a Sea Captain and his father as "George Ellis, Captain HMS, deceased." He was believed by the greater family to have died at sea in 1901. Although he [who?] was a Master Mariner he was never a Captain and died at his home some years later, a Dock Worker. [PB: Have I got this right?]
He later married Jane Bright (by licence) at the parish church of Great Connell, Co. Kildare, on the 11th of July 1848. He was a widower at this time, aged 42 years, and she, a spinster, 37.
His father was shown as George Ellis and hers as Thomas Bright. Both fathers were shown as "Dead". The officiating priest was the Reverend John Browne, Chaplain of Newbridge Barracks, and the witnesses were Thomas Tarleton and Richard Hamilton.
However, the marriage certificate shows his father as being Thomas Ellis, still surviving at this time, but her father, Thomas Bright, as "Dead". The occupation of both is given as "Trade".
Appointed to Troop Sergeant-Major: 7th of September 1837.
Promoted to Regimental Sergeant-Major. 3rd of March 1846.
Cornet in the 15th Light Dragoons. The regiment was then in India, but he was "Directed to do duty with the 4th Light Dragoons, Europe", 7th of May 1847.
One of the two covering pages from the Commander-in-Chief's Memoranda, shows "15 Lt. Drags", his name and the date, "3rd May 1847", and the other covering page from the Duke of Wellington's Office dated the 30th of April 1847 first of all related to the "15th Light Dragoons. Cornetcy without purchase, vice Miller, promoted", but followed by "Sergeant Major Ellis from the 4th Lt. Drgs, with a view to his succeeding to the Adjutancy of that Regt." (See copy of accompanying letter.)
[PB: Add a brief summary of what is at issue in what follows?]
"Dublin
March 19th, 1847
My Dear Sir,
May I thank you for your kind letter concerning the Adjutancy of the Fourth.
I rejoice in that I have received it, as it gives me the opportunity of stating exactly what occurred, and in the part that I took in it, about which, I trust you will forgive me in saying, with every deference, that I think you have an erroneous impression.
When the Adjutancy became vacant, Colonel Parlby [Colonel of the regiment at the time — the other name at the bottom of the page to whom the letter was addressed was Lt. General the Lord Fitzroy Somerset, KCB. Private Secretary to the Duke of Wellington] asked Cornet Molyneux whether he would like the appointment to which he distinctly replied; saying that in a general way he did not think the duties of the Adjutancy would suit him (he had been already Acting Adjutant).
At the same time he maintained that the Regiment being on the eve of going to Manchester, where he would be in the middle of his friends, he would then be particularly adverse to constant confinement to the barracks.
All this, he repeatedly reiterated to Colonel Parlby, even after the appointment was settled, and so adverse was he to it, that he came to speak to me, and begged me to speak to Col. Parlby on the subject, which I did, and was assured that it was settled and must remain as it was.
I felt so aware at the time of how injudicious an appointment it was I spoke (I think) to General Brown (Assistant Adjutant General in Ireland) on the subject, which I think he will corroborate and I now most sincerely regret that I did not speak to you, with the dislike of troubling you (in the situation I was then in in being Major) prevented my doing.so.
I can only repeat that I took every means, I thought I was justified in, to stop the appointment and my belief that Mr. Molyneux should give it up and he tells me that Lord-------- [name unreadable] does not think otherwise.
I sincerely trust that the peculiar circumstances under which he was appointed, against his own wishes, will enable you to think favourably of it.
I think I have shown to you that my part in the transaction was, from the first to the last, to do all I could to oppose it and I ------- [word unreadable] did so likewise.
The reference in that part of your Lordship's letter as to how he has failed to fulfil the expectations of him when he was placed in the situation. I can assure you that he has failed in no expectations I ever entertained of him as Adjutant, which amounted solely to a perfect willingness and zeal to perform any duties required of him, which he has shown to the fullest extent and I have my great pleasure in bearing testimony to him and that a better troop and duty officer could not be. But for an Adjutant, I do consider him in any way qualified, either from his habits or from the short time he has been in the service.
As regards any private feelings I may have in the latter, I can assure you that they would tend make me anxious to retain him in the situation whereby he would hopefully obtain his promotion without purchase, which would of course, in his circumstances, and which therefore I should be most anxious for, for his sake and that of the family, from every member of whom I have known, I have invariably received the greatest kindness.
But Cornet Molyneux is as anxious as I am, that he reiterates my great hope, that you will soon be enabled to ------ [illegible] the place of Adjutant to my Regimental S. Major Ellis, as I am very hard put to it to go on as I am and I shall be more embarrassed as the drill season comes on.
Trusting that you will forgive my taking up so much of your time, which I would not do, but for the urgency of the case,
I have the honour to be,
Yours,
It would appear from this that the two documents had become mixed up. As George Ellis did not actually serve with the 15th Light Dragoons, the opportunity was obviously taken at the time of getting a without-purchase commission for him, something which gave him the opportunity of becoming the Adjutant of the 4th, but something he did not become until over a year later.
On the 17th of April 1848, it was recorded:
And on the 5th of May 1848:"Cornet George Ellis, 15th Light Dragoons, to be Adjutant 4th Light Dragoons, by recommendation by the Commanding Officer".
"Cornet G. Ellis, 15th Light Dragoons to 4th Light Dragoons, vice Burton, Retd. and Cornet G. Ellis to be Adjutant 4th Light Dragoons, vice Molyneux, Resigned."
Cornet and Adjutant in the 4th Light Dragoons: 5th of May 1848.
Lieutenant, 4th Light Dragoons: 8th of May 1851.
Captain, 4th Light Dragoons: 8th of December 1854.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the "Simla" on the 19th of July 1854.
Captain Ellis served the Eastern campaign of 1854 and up to the 12th of January 1855, including the battles of the Alma, Balaclava [sic] and the Siege of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasps.)
Entitled (according to the medal rolls) to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.
Canon Lummis only credits him with the clasps for Alma and Sebastopol, and Hart's "Army List" of 1856 shows him with only that for the Alma. He is also shown as being so entitled on the roll of those whose medals were presented to them by Queen Victoria at a ceremony on the Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855.
"Horse Guards,
16th May 1855.
Sir, — Referring to my letter of the 10th inst., I have the General Commanding-in-Chief's command to desire that all officers entitled to receive the Crimean medal and now with their Depots to be ordered to attend in London for the purpose of being present on the parade on Friday the 18th of May 1855 at 10 o'clock precisely. Be pleased to acknowledge its receipt.
I am, etc. etc.,
G.A. Weatherall. AAG.
[To:] Officer Commanding the Cavalry Depots.
His name is (with clasp entitlement) on the Nominal Roll of those present and now in the PRO, and also appears on similar rolls published in the Illustrated London News of the 26th of May 1855 and the "United Services Magazine for June of 1855.
The Regimental History, however, states that he was "absent, sick," on the day of the battle of Balaclava, his place being taken by Fiennes Wykeham Martin. The medal roll for the Balaclava clasp shows him as being so awarded, with the addendum "Invalided to England." (Lummis and Wynn state that he was sent to Scutari on the 7th of October 1854 and invalided to England on the 31st of March 1855.) Promoted Captain," and that for the Alma and Inkerman clasp as not being entitled to the latter clasp and with the addenda, "Board Ship, 26th Oct. Sick.")
He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on the 14th of April 1848, but he does not appear to have previously been awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal as would have been expected.
The M.S.M. Register shows that the medal was sent to Colonel Lovell, commanding the 15th Hussars, at Madras, India, on the 18th of December 1847 and was returned by Lt. Col. Key on the 22nd of March 1848 and finally forwarded to "Cornet George Ellis, now with the Headquarters of the 4th Light Dragoons, Newbridge, Ireland." He received an annuity of £10 with this medal.
He was also awarded the Turkish medal.
(He was among the first 107 men nominated for the M.S.M., all being senior N.C.O.s of cavalry and the infantry, a significant number being commissioned shortly afterwards, allowing for the retention of the medal, but not of the annuity. The year "1847" was impressed after the naming.)
"Horse Guards,
21st February 1856 .
Sir, — I have the honour, by direction of the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief to refer to you the enclosed papers relevant to the Captain ordered to proceed to the East and now at the Depot, and request that you will order their return to this Department for his Lordship's information whether it is your wish that Captain Ellis should now be placed in command of the Depot squadron and for what reasons.
I have, etc. etc,,
G.A Weatherall, AAG.
[To:] Brevet Colonel Low, York Hotel, Brighton.
He is shown on the Brighton Cavalry Depot muster rolls from the 11th of April 1855.
Extracts from the Trowbridge Advertiser, various dates:
"Saturday the 12th of July 1856. — "Arrival of the Dragoons."
"Last Saturday a detachment of the Fourth Light Dragoons, the "F" and "G" Troops, arrived in this town from Brighton, under the command of Major Portal and Captain Ellis, the same who received his promotion at Balaclava. There were 104 Non-commissioned officers and privates, with 92 troop horses, which have fully occupied the barracks. It was intended by the gentlemen of Gouldsmith's celebrated band to have escorted these brave men through the town to the barracks on Saturday last, but they arrived here about two hours earlier than expected, to the disappointment of our loyal musicians."
Died at Trowbridge, Wiltshire (believed to be at the Barracks) on the 5th of October 1856, from an "Effusion of water on the brain, consequent upon service in the Crimea." The regiment was lying at Brighton at this time.
Death registered
George Ellis, December Quarter 1856, Melksham.
At the time of his death his wife was living at No 5 Victoria Place, Trinity Square, Southwark, London, but she was not living there at the time of the 1861 Census.
[Source of the following quote? Presumably the Trowbridge Advertiser? Is this one continuous quotation? Check against original.]
Saturday, October the 11th, 1856:
"Died, October 6th, at the Barracks, Trowbridge, Captain George Ellis of the Fourth Light Dragoons, aged 50 years... Next week we propose to give a few particulars of this gentleman's life.
The leading article, signed by T.R., dwelt at some length on various aspects of the late war and eulogising those who had lost their lives in the Crimea and those who had returned home only to die of sickness or disease...
But we are digressing from our subject, and must return to it. We were saying that we wished to make remarks on the decease of two gallant and tried officers whose recent deaths have occurred almost simultaneously. [The other was Colonel Frederick George Shewell, 8th Hussars.) But it is now our privilege to speak of one who has been more intimately associated with us, who has lived amongst us and has gained our respect in his private as well as in his public capacity — who "Hath gone out from amongst us like a breath. Hath fallen asleep in death."
He has but recently died amongst us; full of honours but not of years, who has departed this life at the age of fifty years, thirty-four of which were spent in the service of his country — a period sufficient to cover him with honour, but too brief for his country's benefit.
We now speak of Captain George Ellis, late of the 4th Light Dragoons, the first officer ever interred here, whose funeral took place on Friday the 10th instant, when our last impression was in press.
And (en passant) we must express our disgust at the turbulent and indecent crowding around the procession, by a number of badly-behaved factory boys and girls whose Conduct: however much actuated by curiosity and not by their premeditation, was such a disgrace to the innate feelings of natural dignity and reverence, so eminently possessed by our cottage peasantry; and which misbehaviour is so utterly disavowed by the more decent and respectable portion of the community.
This Captain Ellis was a native of Birmingham, of very humble origin; a man of most estimable piety — a good soldier, a strict disciplinarian, thoroughly conversant with the minutest details of his profession, beloved by his fellow officers and regarded by his men as a father and a friend.
In addition to his claims for our respect for having served his country in India, (He was at the taking of Ghuznee in 1839) [sic] and for having served in the Crimea, whence he was invalided after being present at Alma and Inkerman, he suffering from illness at the time of the Balaclava charge; he demands our further admiration from the fact that being without possession of the adventitious aids of birth or wealth (he rose from the ranks and was formerly a private soldier in our very own barracks) he elevated himself by his merit to the proud position of Captain in one of Her Majesty's most distinguished cavalry regiments.
To persons acquainted with the difficulties and obstacles in the way of attaining such a position, the extraordinary merits of this man will at once be apparent.
His Minister, The Reverend Incumbent of Trinity Church, spoke most feelingly of him on Sunday last — of his earnest piety and of his constant attendance at the services of the church. The writer himself has often noticed there his devotional and unassuming bearing; it is not too much to say of him that he was one of nature's worthies, a man who became in rank what he always was in heart — a gentleman.
A man who rose with moderation, and filled his every station with becoming dignity, but without ostentation, a man to whom belonged the rare dignity of bearing prosperity with dignity and modesty, ever mindful of other's feelings and whose rise excited no feeling of envy amongst the soldiers with whom he had been associated and over whom he was now called upon to command; and who was welcomed by those officers and gentleman who had been his former superiors.
Whether the day will ever come when promotion will be more frequent from the ranks, and most assuredly more of the younger sons of our clergy will enter, bringing with them the "elan and esprit" of public schools and colleges, the writer is not prepared to argue or even venture an opinion as to its desirability; but it can in all events be asserted that the conduct of Captain Ellis was an instance in its favour.
We have now a few words to address to our fellow-townsmen; they are these: For many years past, a great poet, the Revd. George Crabb, "nature's sternest painter, but her best," a fit monument has been raised. It would be but a fit monument to departed worth if we raised, by public subscription, a tomb over all that is mortal of Captain Ellis.
We have had no Crimean Banquet here, but this would be some recognition of our soldier's deserts. It would take away the stigma of an ultra commercialism, of a too great immersion in business to the exclusion of other things, which attaches to us; and it would be a monument to which our descendants might point with pride, saying, "Behold the grave of a Christian, a gentleman and a soldier," whom our fathers in honouring him honoured themselves, for amidst the strife of a busy world, and of an intense competition, they found time to perpetuate his memory and raised with willing hearts this record of a British hero.
To the attainment of this end, the writer invites the assistance of rich and poor and will gladly bestow on it all the time and means in his power...
Obituary in the Trowbridge Advertiser, 18th of October 1856:
"Our dead heroes
It is now our privilege to speak of one who has been more intimately associated with us, who has lived among us, and gained our respect in his private as well as public capacity, who has recently died amongst us full of honours but not of years who has departed this life at the age of fifty years, thirty four of which were spent in the service of his country a period sufficient to cover him with honour, but too brief for that country's benefit.
We now speak of Captain George Ellis, late of H.M. 4th Light Dragoons, the first officer ever interred here who's funeral took place this 10th instant whilst our last impression was in press. And (en passant ) we must express our disgust at the turbulent and indecent crowding round the procession, of a number of ill behaved boys and girls whose conduct, however much actuated by curiosity and not by premeditation, was a disgrace to the innate feelings of natural village peasantry and which misbehaviour is utterly disavowed by the decent and respectable portion of the community.
This Captain Ellis was a native of Birmingham, of very humble origin; a man of most estimable piety a good soldier, a strict disciplinarian, thoroughly conversant with the minutest details of his profession, beloved by his fellow officers and regarded by his men as a father and a friend.
In addition to his claims on our respect for having served his country in India (he was at the taking of Ghuznee in 1839) and for having served in the Crimea, whence he was invalided after being present at Alma and Inkermann he suffering from illness at the time of the Balaclava charge; he demands our further admiration from the fact that without being possessed of the adventitious aids of birth or wealth (he rose from the ranks and was formerly a private soldier in our very barracks) he elevated himself by his merit to the proud position of Captain in one of her Majesty's most distinguished regiments. To persons acquainted with the difficulties and obstacles in the way of attaining such a position, the extraordinary merits of the man will be at once apparent.
His minister, the Reverent Incumbent of the Trinity Church, spoke most feelingly of him, on Sunday last of his earnest piety and of his constant attendance at the services of the church. The writer himself has often noted there his devotional and unassuming bearing; and it is not too much to say of him that he was one of natures worthies, a man who became "in rank what he was in heart a gentleman" a man who rose with moderation and filled his every station with becoming dignity but without ostentation, a man to whom belonged the rare merit of bearing prosperity with modesty, ever mindful of others feelings whose rise excited no envy amongst the soldiers with whom he had associated and over whom he was called on to command; and who was welcomed by those officers and gentlemen who had been his former superiors.
Whether the day will ever come when promotion shall become more frequent from the ranks, and when most assuredly more of the younger sons of the clergy and gentry will enter, bringing with them the "elan" and "esprit" of public schools and colleges, this writer is not prepared to argue nor even venture an opinion on its desirability, but this can at all events be asserted that the conduct of Captain George Ellis is an instance in its favour.
We now have a few words to address to our fellow townsmen:- for years past, as great poet, the Rev. George Crabb, has slept his last sleep amongst us.
To his memory a fit monument has been raised. It would be but a grateful tribute to the departed worth if we raised, by public subscription, a tomb over all that is mortal of Captain Ellis. It would be a monument to which our descendants might point with pride saying "behold the grave of a Christian , a gentleman and a soldier! Our fathers in honouring him honoured themselves for amid the strife of a busy world they found time to perpetuate his memory and raised with willing hearts the record of a British hero." T.R.
An advertisement also appeared in a local paper relating to the sale by auction of items 'Late the property of an officer, deceased, of the 4th Queens Own Light Dragoons", who could only have been George Ellis.
Saturday, 3rd of January 1857
The late Captain Ellis.
We are pleased to observe that the tomb is now erected over the grave of the late much respected and gallant Captain Ellis who died at the barracks here.
He was buried in the graveyard of Trinity Church. The tomb is of an entirely new design and appears to be composed of one massive block of hard and durable stone of a beautiful silver-grey colour, bearing appropriate inscriptions indicating where the sleeping warrior had been engaged.
On the four pediments formed by the intersecting arms of a cross are sculptured in bold relief the words, Crimea, Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol and on the sides of the tomb are the usual inscriptions with particulars of age, etc., appearing in very deeply incised characters.
The erection has been performed by Mr. Chapman of Frome, and reflects the highest credit on his taste as an artist in sepulchral memorials. The cost has been defrayed entirely by the officers of the regiment to which the deceased belonged."
From this it would appear that the appeal for subscriptions for the tomb or for the reduced one of a memorial window, did not receive enough public support.
The "Advertiser" contains letters in successive issues on the subject — one from "T.R.", the author of "Our Dead Heroes", and one from an anonymous correspondent who questioned the whole concept of "T.R."s proposal, asking, "What has Ellis done that thousands of private soldiers had not done?" The correspondence was quite virulent at times.
The churchyard of Holy Trinity has now (1985) been almost entirely cleared, only a handful of grave-stones remaining and certainly nothing resembling that which is said to have been erected. Some of the ground has been taken as part of a road-widening scheme and his stone could possibly have been on this.
It is now known (October, 2000) that from Trowbridge Record Office records that his grave memorial was visible in 1913: a recumbent stone with ribbed cross (beneath which were the words, Crimea, Alma, Balaclava, Sebastopol), surrounded by iron railings. (This corresponds with the decription given in the newspaper report at the time of its erection in 1857.)
The inscription read:
"Sacred to the memory of Captain George Ellis
(4th Queen's Own Light Dragoons)
who departed this life
in Trowbridge Barracks
on the 5th October 1856.
Aged 50 years."
It would now appear that the area in which he was buried was subject to land-slip and this was cleared and filled-in.
His medals have come up for auction several times in the 1990s, when doubts were expressed about the MSM, and also whether or not George Ellis was entitled to the Balaclava clasp. In addition, the muster rolls for the period of the Ghuznee campaign do not show him as being "On service in Scinde" — in the absence of any actual medal rolls, these provide the only means of identifying any particular individual as being entitled to the medal.
One dealer who put the medals up for auction was of the opinion that Ellis had indeed Charged because the roll shows Ellis as eligible for the Balaclava clasp — the argument being that Ellis must have been present because the officer signing the roll surely knew where his Adjutant was on that particular day. However, this officer was Major Low, who was not in command at Balaclava.
The muster rolls show that Ellis was rationed (or receiving payment in lieu) from the 1st to the 25th October as the Adjutant, but his name also appears as the last under the Captains listed and as such [PB: what does this mean?] from the 26th October to the 31st December 1854.
In fact, too much attention cannot be paid to the continued showing of entitlements to rations, etc. — his chargers are also still shown until the end of December 1854 as being "fed and watered" — as officers' pay and allowances were paid through agents (unlike other ranks, where any charges were passed on to the new unit from the day the move was made).
The October muster does not show any particular station for him when this was taken (as common to everyone else), but that for November shows "At Scutari". This is repeated for December, but the date of promotion to Captain (8th December) is qualified by "On augmentation." The muster for the Depot Troop at Dorchester shows him as "From Service Troops, 12th Jan."
Given this date, Ellis must have left Scutari sometime around the middle of December 1854 (no precise date is shown). Unfortunately, there are no records for officers in the Scutari Hospital, the General Depot at Scutari (under which the Hospital then came, up until the 1st of January 1855) showing only N.C.O.s and men. So the fact that the muster shows him as being at Scutari for the December muster was simply because the regiment was not aware of the true facts.
The dealer also said that the roll does not show anyother officer described as Acting-Adjutant. Agreeing on this, there is no entry for anyone else being recorded Adjutant until the 1st of January 1855, when Henry Jennings (promoted to Cornet, 5th November 1854) is shown in the post. But in the "Journal of the Crimean War", by Lord George Paget (footnote to pages 194/95), he states that "Lieutenant Martyn was Acting-Adjutant, 4th Light Dragoons", and also lists the officers present at Balaclava and Inkerman, when Ellis is not credited with either clasp, and furthermore is listed as "Sick".
Canon Lummis mentions Cornet F.W. Martin as being the Acting-Adjutant too. The dealer comments too, on the promotions made, or not, "There being no apparent vacancy created by casualties on the 25th October for a Captain", but the Regimental History states:
"The deaths of Halkett and Sparkes brought immediate promotion to four officers, Alexander Low became Major, Addlington, Captain, and Cornets Keith and Martin to Lieutenants.
There was also a move up in seniority for every one else."
All these promotions were dated 26th of October 1854. Martin having been promoted to Lieutenant at this time was probably the reason why he is not shown as Adjutant, the post usually being given to a Cornet.
[PB: So, did he Charge?]
A copy of George Ellis's death certificate shows that he was a Captain in G. Troop, 4th Light Dragoons, and the cause of death was "Meningitis 14 days, Serous Apoplexy" [PB: A form of stroke, produced by congestion or rupture of the vessels of the brain.]
A copy of the entry of his will on being made Probate reads:
"George Ellis, Esquire. On the Twelfth day of (February 1857) Admon. of the Goods, Chattels and credits of George Ellis, late of Trowbridge in the County of Wilts, Esquire, late a Captain in her Majesty"s 4th Regiment of Light Dragoons, deceased, was granted to Jane Ellis, Widow, the Relict. having been sworn duly to adm. Sum of £300.
George Ellis's life is described in some detail here, with an acknowledgment of EJB's contribution to the research:
Registration of death kindly provided by Chris Poole.