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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Ellis Wellwood Sifton

In memory of:

Lance Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton

April 9, 1917

Military Service

Service Number:

53730

Age:

25

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment)

Division:

18th Battalion

Citation(s):

An extract from The London Gazette, dated 8th June, 1917, records the following:

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. During the attack in enemy trenches Sjt. Sifton's company was held up by machine gun fire which inflicted many casualties. Having located the gun he charged it single-handed, killing all the crew. A small enemy party advanced down the trench, but he succeeded keeping these off till our men had gained the position. In carrying out this gallant act he was killed, but his conspicuous valour undoubtedly saved many lives and contributed largely to the success of the operation.

1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal.

Honours and Awards:

Victoria Cross

Additional Information

Born:

October 12, 1891
Wallacetown, Ontario

Enlistment:

October 23, 1914
St. Thomas, Ontario

Son of John J. Sifton, of Wallacetown, Ontario. In civilian life, Lance Sergeant Sifton had been a farmer.

Commemorated on Page 325 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Ellis Wellwood Sifton is a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Complete list of Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients

Burial Information

Cemetery:

LICHFIELD CRATER THELUS
Pas de Calais, France

Grave Reference:

Panel 3. Col 2.

Location:

Lichfield Crater is a small cemetery situated by the hedge of the motorway A26 (Paris-Calais) behind the village of Neuville St Vaast. On entering Neuville St Vaast follow the directions for the Vimy Canadian Memorial and take the third road on the right toward the wood, go over the motorway and take the first right towards the fields. The cemetery lies in a field approximately 450 metres from the crossroads.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the London Free Press January 1919. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the London Free Press January 1919. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram June 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram June 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram June 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram June 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram August 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram August 1917. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Honour roll– Memorial plaque in front of the United Kingdom High Commission in Ottawa to commemorate Canadians who have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

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    Honour roll
    Honour roll – Memorial plaque in front of the United Kingdom High Commission in Ottawa to commemorate Canadians who have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
  • Photo of Ellis Wellwood Sifton

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    Photo of Ellis Wellwood Sifton
    Photo of Ellis Wellwood Sifton
  • Newspaper Clipping– Clipping from the Dutton Advance for Thursday, 17 May 1917, page 1.

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    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Clipping from the Dutton Advance for Thursday, 17 May 1917, page 1.
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Dutton Advance for May 20, 1915.

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    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – From the Dutton Advance for May 20, 1915.
  • Newspaper clipping

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping
  • Newspaper Clipping– The Victoria Cross was presented to Lance Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton's father by the Governor General of Canada at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.

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    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – The Victoria Cross was presented to Lance Sergeant Ellis Wellwood Sifton's father by the Governor General of Canada at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.
  • Photo of Ellis Welwood Sifton– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

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    Photo of Ellis Welwood Sifton
    Photo of Ellis Welwood Sifton – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping
  • War Diary– Extract from 18th Battalion War Diary for April 1917

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    War Diary
    War Diary – Extract from 18th Battalion War Diary for April 1917
  • Attestation Paper (front)

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    Attestation Paper (front)
    Attestation Paper (front)
  • Attestation Paper (back)

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    Attestation Paper (back)
    Attestation Paper (back)
  • Award Citation– Personal Information Sheet

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    Award Citation
    Award Citation – Personal Information Sheet
  • Service Records (front)– Casualty Form - Active Service

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    Service Records (front)
    Service Records (front) – Casualty Form - Active Service
  • Service Records (back)– Casualty Form - Active Service

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    Service Records (back)
    Service Records (back) – Casualty Form - Active Service
  • Circumstances of death registers– Lance Corporal Ellis Wellwood Sifton

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    Circumstances of death registers
    Circumstances of death registers – Lance Corporal Ellis Wellwood Sifton
  • Grave Marker– Two comrades of the late L/Sergt. E.W. Sifton, V.C., 18th Battalion, visit his grave. February, 1918. Library and Archives Canada/PA-002415. This view shows two temporary crosses, with Sifton's grave being cared for by soldiers. Ellis W. Sifton, was acting as a Lance-Sergeant in the 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion on 9 April, 1917, on the first day of Vimy Ridge operations. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for single-handedly overwhelming a German Machine-Gun position that was holding up his company. He was killed moments later.

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Two comrades of the late L/Sergt. E.W. Sifton, V.C., 18th Battalion, visit his grave. February, 1918. Library and Archives Canada/PA-002415. This view shows two temporary crosses, with Sifton's grave being cared for by soldiers. Ellis W. Sifton, was acting as a Lance-Sergeant in the 18th Canadian Infantry Battalion on 9 April, 1917, on the first day of Vimy Ridge operations. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for single-handedly overwhelming a German Machine-Gun position that was holding up his company. He was killed moments later.
  • Original Grave Marker– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

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    Original Grave Marker
    Original Grave Marker – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Lichfield Crater Thelus– Ellis Wellwood Sifton V.C. final resting place at Lichfield Crater Cemetery France

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    Lichfield Crater Thelus
    Lichfield Crater Thelus – Ellis Wellwood Sifton V.C. final resting place at Lichfield Crater Cemetery France
  • Inscription

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    Inscription
    Inscription
  • Memorial

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    Memorial
    Memorial
  • Cenotaph– Barrie Military Park, Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients, Cenotaph

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    Cenotaph
    Cenotaph – Barrie Military Park, Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients, Cenotaph
  • Information– CWGC memorial explanatory panel

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    Information
    Information – CWGC memorial explanatory panel
  • Memorial wall– memorial wall

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    Memorial wall
    Memorial wall – memorial wall
  • Inscription– memorial panel

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    Inscription
    Inscription – memorial panel

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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