Captain Francis Bevis Ellis

Killed in action aged 33
Buried at Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont at Plot VI F 8

Francis Bevis was born at Sheepwash, Northumberland the third son of the Hon the Revd William Charles Ellis, (second son of 6th Baron Howard de Walden), and his wife Henrietta Ellis. His father was the vicar of Bedlington.

He was educated at Eton, and at Christ Church from 1901-1905.

In 1911 he was living at Flat 4 Clements Inn, London, a composer and patron and promoter of concerts of contemporary English music.

A member of the de Walden family and, like Balfour Gardiner (with his famous series of concerts in 1912 & 1913), rich enough selflessly to spend a great deal of money advancing new English music. Toye later recorded the work, as well as, among other things, the Two Pieces for Small Orchestra – and Delius wrote to him:
”The records are splendid, and I am delighted with the way you conducted them, all three. Your interpretation of these works is most poetical and understood entirely.”

A London Symphony was composed between 1910 and 1913 and first performed on 27 March 1914 under Geoffrey Toye at a concert sponsored by F Bevis Ellis in Queen’s Hall. It was during the rehearsals that Vaughan Williams got to know his fellow-composer Arnold Bax.

Held in the Bodleian Music Faculty Library:
Mr F.B. Ellis Orchestral and Chamber Concerts (1914)
A collection of programme books for three performances given in 1914 by Mr F.B. Ellis, being Mr F.B. Ellis's Concerts of Modern Orchestral Music nos. 1 and 2, given at the Queen's Hall, London on 20 and 27 March 1914, and Mr F.B. Ellis's Chamber Concert, given at the Aeolian Hall, London on 23 March 1914. 
All programmes incorporate a wordbook and include historical and analytical notes with musical examples.


He commenced Service 2 September 1914, serving in the ranks before being commissioned Captain 10th Northumberland Fusiliers, serving in France and Belgium. 
He was killed in 1916 and his name is on the War memorial at Bothal, Northumberland.

His address at the time of his death was K5 & 6, The Albany, Piccadilly. His Estate amounted to £40279 8s 4d. Probate granted to Percy Victor Sharran Esq., and Hugh Percy Allen Mus. Doc.