Wests Archives was advised by a grand-daughter of Edward Ellis that Edward’s half sibling, Royle Ellis (registered as Royal NSW BD&M) played with Wests and it was assumed that he was Wests player #15.
However, Royle Ellis was born in 1892 which would have made him sixteen years old if he played with Wests in 1908. R. Ellis served on Wests Provisional Committee in 1908. It is unlikely that such an honor would be given to a player as young as sixteen.
Wests player, R. Ellis played in the front row or second row and was recorded playing with Ted Mead and Bill Elliott in Ashfield Rugby Union teams as early as 1903. If Royle Ellis was in those teams, then he would have been only 11 years of age in 1903.
Royle Ellis’s military file records him at the age of 23, being 161cm tall and 57kg when he enlisted. He was actually smaller than Edward Ellis who was a half back. The facts do not support the proposition of Royle Ellis being the Wests player, R. Ellis.
So, who is R. Ellis?
