ELLIS GEORGE GOTTFRID BERGDAHL
Images courtesy of the Ling family.
Born: 17th November 1884, 2, Curriers Lane, Ipswich.
Died: 5th July 1920; age 35; died from multiple Abscesses in the brain and Compression at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital, Ipswich.
Residence: 17, Silent Street, Ipswich.
Occupation: Furnace man – Foundry.
Ellis had served eight years in the Army Service Corps before the war. He rejoined on the 4th August, 1914, and proceeded to France, where he served nineteen months, after which he was sent to Salonika, and was invalided home to Bristol in 1916. After recovering, he went to Malta.
Date of Entry Therein: 20th September 1914.
Demobilised in September 1919.
Rank: Company Sergeant Major: Service Number: T/18261
Regiment: Royal Army Service Corps,
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star + Obilitch Silver Medal (Serbia). Medal for Zealous Service – in Silver.
E.A.D.T. – Wednesday, 30th January 1918 – SERBIAN DECORATION – Acting Company Sergeant Major Ellis George Bergdahl, of the Army Service Corps, of Ipswich, was awarded the Silver Medal for Zealous Service by King Peter I of Serbia
Grave Reference:
BA.2.72.
Ipswich.
Relatives Notified & Address: Husband of N. Smy (formerly Bergdahl), of 17, Silent Street, Ipswich.
Stepbrother to GEORGE BERNARD BERGDAHL. KiA.
CENSUS
1891 45, Priory Street, Ipswich.
Rebecca
Ellis was 6 years old and living with his widowed mother and stepbrothers.
Rebecca Bergdahl (nee Whybrow), 38, Living on her Own Means, born Ipswich.
Eric William Arvid Bergdahl, 13, born Gällivare, Norrbotten, Sweden.
George Bernhard Bergdahl, 12, born Gällivare, Norrbotten, Sweden.
In 1893, in Ipswich, Ellis’ widowed mother, Rebecca Bergdahl, married John Patrick Doole.
Ellis’ stepsister, Beatrice Rebecca Bergdahl, born 28th February 1873, Ipswich, died on the 20th May 1899, at her home, at Watts Court, Foundation Street, Ipswich, and was buried in Section U, Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Ellis’ stepsister, Gertrude Elise Bergdahl, born 24th January 1875, Ipswich, died on the 25th May 1894, at Piteå, Norrbotten, Sweden.
1901 17, Handford Road, Ipswich.
Ellis was 17 years old, a Soldier – Suffolk Militia. He was living with his mother, a cousin, his mother’s husband and stepsister.
John Patrick Doole, 39, Navvy, born Ipswich.
Rebecca Doole, 48.
Frederick Whybrow, 17, a Soldier – Suffolk Militia.
Daisy Winifred Doole, 9, born Ipswich.
Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – Friday, 3rd September 1909 – FIGHTING “LIKE TWO BULLDOGS” – “They were going for each other like two bulldogs,” said Police-constable Gostling, in evidence against two young fellows named Ellis George Bergdahl, cycle repairer, and Thomas Morris, painter, living together in St. Stephen’s Lane, Ipswich. The defendants were summoned before the Mayor of Ipswich, Mr. Francis Charles Ward, Mr. William Orford White, Mr. George Hines, Mr. Harry William Raffe, Mr. Henry Mason Jackaman, Mr. John Henry Grimwade, and Mr. Roderick Donald Fraser, at the Ipswich Police Court, on Monday, 30th August, for disturbing the public peace by fighting in the Butter Market on Saturday night.
Police-constable Gostling, replying to a question by Ellis Bergdahl, said that at the Police Station, he did not complain of having been struck first by Thomas Morris.
Robert Beaumont said that he heard the two defendants arguing and saw Thomas Morris strike the first blow.
Ellis Bergdahl stated that Thomas Morris was the aggressor. He was going home in company with his young lady when he met Thomas standing in a shop doorway in the Butter Market. Thomas commenced arguing and subsequently struck him.
Thomas Morris said that he was only talking to Ellis about him having torn his coat at the arm. They lived together, and this latter incident occurred at home. The Magistrates bound the defendants over in the sum of 40s. to keep the peace for six months. They also ordered them to pay 5s. each costs.
1911 3, Turret Buildings, Turret Lane, Ipswich.
Ellis was 27 years old, a Van man – Laundryman. He was Head of the Household, and his mother was living with him.
Rebecca, 58, a Charwoman – Office.
1 boarder.
On the 28th September 1911, at All Saints Church, Ipswich, 28 year old Ellis, a Laundryman, of 28, Riverside Road, Ipswich, married 22 year old Nellie Hannah Smith Harbert Adams, born August 1888, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk – daughter of Cornelius Robert Adams, a harness maker, and Ellen Hannah Smith Adams (nee Harbert), a dressmaker, of 156, Bramford Road, Ipswich.
Nellie and Ellis had three children:
Leonard Ellis George Bergdahl, born April 1913, Ipswich.
Reginald Herbert Bergdahl, born October 1916, Ipswich.
Olive Bergdahl, born March 1919, Ipswich.
Left to right: Nellie, Olive, Leonard & Reginald
Leonard Ellis George Bergdahl served in the 67th Medium Regiment R, A., during the Second World War. He was captured at Tobruk in 1942 and survived the war.
Reginald served in the Royal Navy during the war, and Olive’s husband, Edward, died as a Japanese POW.
Evening Star – Monday, 11th March 1912 – IPSWICH POLICE COURT – VAN DRIVER’S DOWNFALL – On Monday, 11th March, Ellis Bergdahl, a young van driver, of Riverside Road, Ipswich, was summoned before the Mayor of Ipswich, Mr. Fred Edward Rands, Mr. Alexander Gibb, Mr. Charles Ernest Tempest, and Mr. William Alexander, charged with the theft of half a peck of corn, value 6d., from his employers, Messrs. Canham, on the 2nd March.
Mr. Arthur S. Leighton, who prosecuted, said Messrs. Canham contracted for the supply of horses to the Tower Mill Laundry, to take round the vans. He also supplied the corn for the horses. The animals got into a bad condition, and suspicions were aroused. Complaints were made to Ellis, who was responsible for the horses, that they were not getting the full amount of corn allowed to them. The amount allowed was 5 ½ stones each horse per week. It was noticed that the horses gradually became worse, and inquiries were made, when it was discovered that Ellis kept rabbits, and according to his own admission, he had been taking a few handfuls of the corn for them every week. Whether that “few handfuls” was a greater quantity or not, he did not know.
When Ellis’ house was searched, a sack containing a considerable quantity of corn was found, and Ellis, when asked about it, admitted taking it from the premises.
Ellis had been in the employ of Messrs. Canham for 14 months, having come with excellent credentials, and up to this time had borne a good character. He had been dealing with £20 per week, and nothing had gone wrong. The stable key was easily accessible to those who knew where it was.
Ellis pleaded not guilty, and on oath said he had never disposed of any corn belonging to his employer. He took the small quantity for his two rabbits, but nothing else. Before going to this company, he had been in the Army, which he left with an excellent character. He was married six months ago, and also had a widowed mother to keep. He realised he had no right to take the small quantities of corn. The letter from his commanding officer spoke in high terms of his capabilities. The Bench intimated that they considered the case proved, and the defendant, Ellis Bergdahl, was then charged with stealing a bar of soap, value 9d., from the Tower Mill Laundry Company, on the 3rd March. Ellis admitted to taking about 3lbs of a special soap from the stables, where the horses used by the company were kept. Mrs. Nellie Bergdahl said that the soap they found came from the Stores, and she had bought it for 8d. But Mr. William Dore, of Fonnereau Road, manager at the International Stores, said they did not stock this soap. Ellis then said he took the soap, which had been in the stables for some months, and the story his wife had told was a mistake.
The Bench, after consideration, dealt with Ellis under the First Offenders Act, binding him over to be of good behaviour for twelve months. They also ordered him to pay the costs, £1 4s. in the case of the first case, and £1 3s. 6d. in the second. The Mayor, Mr. Frederick Rands, told Ellis he had been running a serious risk, but in view of his good character, they desired to deal with him leniently.
Ellis is on his horse.
AN R.A.O.B. FUNERAL
MILITARY HONOURS AT IPSWICH CEMETERY
(1920 newspaper clipping)
On Friday afternoon, the funeral took place at Ipswich Old Cemetery for the late Bro. E.G. Bergdahl, R.A.O.B. The deceased served in the Army previously to the war, having served eight years in the A.S.C. He rejoined on the 4th August 1914, and proceeded to France, where he served 19 months, after which he was sent to Salonika and was invalided home to Bristol in 1916. After recovering, he went to Malta and was demobilised in September 1919. He passed away at the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital on 5th July. Full military honours were supplied by the R.F.A., Ipswich, consisting of a firing party, bearers, gun carriage, and trumpeters. On arrival at the Cemetery, the service was conducted by Canon S. Green, of St. Nicholas Church, the concluding portion being at the Field of Honour, where the interment took place. The Buffaloes’ burial rites were read by H. Howard, K.O.M., the following members of the Buffs being present: S.E. Plume, K.O.M., R.Cook, K.O.M., Primos Osborne, Penny, Howard Glading, and Brothers Hiskey, Wright, Jarrett, Davis, Robinson, Godbold, Bowd, Calthorpe, Hines, A. Howard, Crane, and Garrard. The mourners were: Mrs. Bergdahl (widow), Mr. and Mrs. Eric Bergdahl, Mrs. Doole (mother), and Mr. and Mrs. Hearn. The coffin, of polished elm, with brass fittings, bore the following: “Ellis George Bergdahl, died July 5th, 1920, aged 35 years.” The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Hastings and Son, of Berners Street.
The Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) is responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air dispatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery (but not ammunition and military and technical equipment); administration of barracks; the Army Fire Service; and provision of staff clerks to headquarters units.
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