Pte Ambrose Elsey

Ambrose Elsey was born in Croydon, the son of Barnard and Priscilla Elsey. Barnard was a beerhouse keeper, but died while Ambrose was still a child. Priscilla then remarried to a man named John Toms, and that is what brought the family to the Brentwood area - moving to 10 Warley Road in Great Warley where John worked as a labourer.

At about age 25, Ambrose became a member of F (Brentwood) Company, 1st Volunteer Battalion during the Boer War. He enlisted in the 1st Volunteer Special Service Company, which was attached to the 1st Essex Regiment in South Africa. Private Elsey distinguished himself in several battles, earning the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, and likely South Africa 01. Upon his return to England, he and other volunteers from Brentwood were presented with a watch by the borough for their service. Ambrose's brother, Barnard, was also among these men.

When he returned from the Boer War he got married and moved to Brentwood, living at 31 North Road with his wife Maude. They would move to Ongar before 1917.

As a man with previous military experience, during the first world war he was called up and promoted to Sergeant in the 2nd/24th Battalion London Regiment. With his battalion he was a part of the Sinai and Palestine campaign and would have been present for the Battle of Beersheba in October 1917.

Ambrose was killed during the capture of Jerusalem on 9th December 1917 and is buried at the Jerusalem War Cemetery. He is not recorded on the Brentwood War Memorial, however a W Elsey is, this could either be a mistake and is meant to read A Elsey, or it could possibly be another relative of the family who has not been traced yet.