23/212 Sergeant Ellwood Charles Douglas Montagu, (24/11/1893-5/4/1918). "three years at the front"

Ellwood Montagu was working as a farmer when he enlisted in the Army.  He had not left for the front when he contracted measles, which required a period of convalescence .

Word has been, received by Mr and Mrs Montagu, of Chesterfield, to the effect that their son. Rifleman Elwood Montagu, of the Liverpool’s Own, is seriously ill. -Greymouth Evening Star, 29/7/1915.

Rifleman Ellwood Montague, of Chesterfield, left this morning to rejoin his regiment (Lord Liverpool’s Own). As the train passed through Camerons, where he is well and favourably known, he was presented with a fountain pen and safety razor and given a hearty send-off.  -Greymouth Evening Star, 14/9/1915.

Ellwood Montagu was with his Regiment's 1st Battalion on the day he died.  It was a day of furious action during the German Spring offensive - a day described in the rifles' Official History as "the enemy's final attempt to prevent the French and British line in this region from becoming stable." It began with a three hour artillery bombardment of the front line which eventually lifed to target areas to the rear.  Then the German infantry were seen.  The fight lasted the rest of the morning, at the end of which the 1st Battalion had lost 28 men dead and 51 wounded.

WEST COAST CASUALTIES.

[By Electric Telegraph — Special to “Star.”]

KILLED IN ACTION. 

April 5. 

John Polyglase (J. Outram, Blackball). 

Sergeant Ellwood Charles Douglas, Montagu (Charles Montagu, Kumara, father). . 

Slightly wounded, remaining with unit — Edwin Ford Boyd (Mrs A. Boyd, Hokitika, mother). 

SERGEANT E. MONTAGU. 

Mr and Mrs Charles Montague, of Kapitea and of Taramakau, have been advised that their son, Sergeant Ellwood Montagu, of the machine-gun section, was killed in action in France on April 5th. Sergeant Montague, who enlisted with the “Liverpool’s Own.” had been three years at the front, prior to which he had been employed by Messrs Wilson and Caldwell at farm work at Camerons. He was a native of Taramakau, 25 years of age, and was educated at the Kumara Junction School. His many friends will sincerely regret to hear of his death for he was extremely popular, and of a bright and cheery disposition. He leaves two brothers (George of Messrs Davidson Bros.’ foundry, Hokitika), and John (going to school), and two sisters (Mrs Hawker, of Canterbury and Nurse Montague, of Westland Hospital staff). Messrs Gardiner and William Wilson are uncles of the deceased.  -Greymouth Evening Star, 24/4/1918.

Hokitika Cemetery.