Pte George E. ELLINGFORD

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 31/10/2010 01:26:47

My late Mother's Brother was killed at Arnhem and I am trying to ascertain if this person is the correct one:

Private GEORGE EDWARD ELLINGFORD 5835386, 2nd Bn., Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. who died age 21 on 21 September 1944.
Son of John Edward and Mary Ann Ellingford, of Brighton, Sussex.
NKG = No Known Grave

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission at The GROESBEEK MEMORIAL supplied the above information to me and could not have been more helpful.

I need to find out if this is indeed the right person and I could do this but I need either the street or number of the house in Brighton.

Although up and till the time I left England there was only two families of Ellingfords in Brighton, my Grandfather and Grandmother and an Uncle.

Any ideas as I have sent emails to the usual organizations but, as yet, no help.

Regards

Hi,
I had a little bit of luck with George's history:

Private George E Ellingford ? September 21st 1944
Son of John Edward and Mary Ann Ellingford, of Brighton, Sussex
Served with 2nd Parachute Battalion.
Private Ellingford joined Airborne Forces and completed Parachute Course 37 at RAF Ringway in mid- November 1942.
From which he was posted to the Assault Pioneers, 2nd Parachute Battalion. Records indicate he served in North Africa, and then later in Italy during 1943.
By September 1944, Private Ellingford was part of the Assault Platoon, HQ Company, 2nd. Parachute Battalion and took part in the Battle of Arnhem, during Operation Market Garden.

Private Ellingford died on 21 September 1944, aged 21 years old.

He is now commemorated on the Memorial at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, near Nijmegen.

Decorations

1945 1939-45 War Star

1945 Africa Star, with 1st Army Clasp, North Africa (Operation Torch)

1945 Italy Star, Italy

1945 France and Germany Star, Arnhem (Operation Market Garden)

1945 Defence Medal

Listed Operations

11/11/1942 ? 31/05/1943 North Africa (Operation Torch)

09/09/1943 ? 01/05/1945 Italy

17/09/1944 ? 25/09/1944 Arnhem (Operation Market Garden)

Airborne Forces service history

1942-1944 2nd Battalion. The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA), (Private)

Italy

North Africa (Operation Torch).

Regards

Well done Rick,
Sorry we couldn't be more help on this one - but you got a result.

Nick

Hi Nic,
I get a lot of help in this website but now and again I get lucky in my never ending search through the Internet.

Can you imagine doing research using the Post Office?

Regards

This is a lesson to everyone to keep turning over every stone and seeing what is underneath...

The Internet is indeed a very useful tool with all manner of info hidden away in it's depths - and it's all, quite literally, at our finger tips....

Cheers,
Nick

Hi,
Just a bit of an update into this search. A fellow living in Arnhem saw one of my many 'wanted' ads for information and he sent this little snippet.

a Sgt. Wilkes (5th Platoon ? B Coy) mentions Ellingford in a letter he wrote as part of the Casualty Reports inquiry. In his letter he states: ?Re [regarding] Pte. Ellingford + WOII Scott, also of B Coy, I am afraid that their fates are still unknown to me.?

He is trying his sources for further information and I have two more forms to fill out to get George's Records. I have to prove that I am a Relative so part of this is a hand written letter to my Late Mother from George in which is written his Service Number.

The International War Graves Commitee has sent me a Certificate of Death as there is no known grave. They are 97% positive that George has finally found a home.
Regards

There is a photo of the Groesbeek memorial with your Uncle's name shown on this website:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=ellingford&GSfn=george&GSiman=1&GScid=1972402&GRid=12905742&

Hi,
Now that is brilliant. And it is very kind of you to send me the link.

Regards...

Hi,

An update to the search for George Ellingford.

An amazing piece of luck! I have found George's younger brother, my Uncle, Terry.

He is still alive and I am in contact with him. Best news is that he has promised to send a photograph of George and to explain the family tree on his side.

Terry also said that there are two more Uncles in the family as well. So what started as a search to find one person has gone on to provide me with a total of four new relatives.

Regards

Final update on George.
My Uncle Terry sent me a couple of photographs of Geoge and his brothers.
As soon as I have sorted them out I shall post a copy.
Regards

Rick,
It's fantastic that your perseverance is paying off and that you've now even got photos.

Well done and keep us posted.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 08/07/2011 09:59:58

Hi,
I have just got the ok to use George's photograph from his Brother, my Uncle, Terry Elligford.

"By all means post the picture of George. I hope it helps someone somewhere put a face to a name.Terry"

It has taken some time to find him but even better is that there are four, yes 4, new relatives. Plus Terry has also put me on to other family members.

So don't give up on a search the answer is out there somewhere.

Regards

Hi Rick

If you contact John Robertson, the administrator of the Special Forces Roll of Honour site, he will add your photo to the entry they already have for Pte Ellingford in their section on the Paras which can be seen on this link:

http://www.specialforcesroh.com/roll-10748.html

You will have to register on their forum to do this

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 08/07/2011 15:31:33

Hi Peter,

I will get onto it now and thanks for the link.

Regards

Hi,

An update for Peter.

I contacted John Robertson, the Administrator of the Special Forces Roll of Honour site and its a go to post George's photograph. Thank you for the link.

Thanks to all who helped during this search and in particular B Wraith who gave me the link to the International Wargraves Photography Project.

Steve Rogers is also posting the photograph and updating the information and I have now sponsored a page for George on the site.

What now? Find a Royal Navy sailor! Warning: family history is very addictive.

Regards