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From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Dr Alexander Donaldson Ellis MC, MID, BA, LLB, DLitt

With the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games, it is rather appropriate to remember Alex Ellis, who was at one time regarded as the best sprinter in Australia.
But his sporting achievements were only a very small aspect of his remarkably full and varied life.

Born at Oxley Flats, a small rural area just over 5-miles out of Wangaratta, Alexander Donaldson Ellis was the first-born son of school teacher, Robert Ellis, and his wife, Grace Johnstone Donaldson. Much of the boy’s ancestry was Scottish, which appears to have a direct bearing on his future character, his work ethic and his determination to excel.

The Ellis family was to be rounded out by the arrival of five consecutive daughters – Nance, Isabella, Janet, Elsie and Grace. By the time Elsie was born in 1894, the family had moved to Talbot, where Robert Ellis was employed as head teacher at the local State School.

As with most children of school teachers, Alex received his early education in his father’s classrooms. Indeed, it was due to his father’s deft encouragement, that Alex also chose to pursue a career in teaching. At the age of 15, he obtained a junior teaching position at the Caralulup State School just 4-miles south-west of Talbot. He subsequently held positions at Talbot and Clunes.

During his time in the Talbot area, Alex took an interest in rifle shooting. As with everything that he undertook, excellence was a key aspect and he was soon viewed as the best shot in the district.

Regarded as being of a ‘studious nature,’ Alex found balance by enjoying outdoor games. He played cricket, football, golf, tennis and billiards, commenting humorously at one point, that he did so with ‘vast enthusiasm and little skill.’

It was as a runner that he was to garner both attention and success. His pet distances were the 100, 220 and 300-yard sprints.

In December 1903, Alex sat the Pupil Teacher examinations (First Class). Then, on 7 January 1905, it was announced that he had had passed his matriculation exams – one of just 86 country candidates who were successful that year.

After passing through the Teachers’ Training College (under the auspices of the University of Melbourne), Alex took over the head teacher’s position at the Cambelltown State School. He subsequently moved to the Broomfield State School, just out of Creswick.

In undertaking his Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne, Alex entered Queen’s College. During this period, he experienced a truly purple patch in his running career and it was as a member of the Ballarat Harriers that he enjoyed the most success. In 1909, at the Victorian Championships held in Ballarat, he was the winner of the amateur 100 and 220 yards sprints.

The following year he travelled to Brisbane and then Tasmania, where he was once again victorious over his pet events. He also won the 220-yard Victorian Championship by a substantial 8-yards over his nearest rival, Joe Burton. Burton had his revenge in the “Century Dash,” reversing the result.

Not everything was plain sailing for Alex on the track – on 19 February 1910, at the annual sports meeting held by the East Melbourne Harriers, he had signalled that he intended to attempt the Australian record for 300-yards then held by G. A. Moir.

Running off scratch, Alex won the handicap over a second inside the record. However, on re-measuring the track (in accordance with Australasian rules) the distance was found to be 2-yards short and Alex was denied the record.

In 1912, Alex was beaten for the 100-yards Victorian Championship by Geelong’s Joe Slater; but in March 1913, Alex captured the Geelong and Western district championship. His results prompted British Olympic gold medallist, Emil Voigt, to state Alex was possibly the best sprinter in Australia.

The rivalry between Alex Ellis and Joe Slater on the running track and their subsequent friendship, had many of the elements of the screenplay for the 1981 Australian film, Gallipoli – they were almost the real-life “Archy Hamilton” and “Frank Dunne.” (Joe Slater, who was born in Ballarat and was a fine footballer, would go on to be named in the Geelong Football Club’s Team of the Century).

During 1911, Alex had the headship at the Vermont State School, a relatively small community of just 120 children. He also trained the school choir and, on 12 October, he travelled to Ballarat with 30 of his students to take part in the State School’s Choral Competition at the Royal South Street Eisteddfod. They finished in second place, the winning choir from Maryborough was ‘a selected band from two or three colleges and schools, and were trained by a professional lady.’

On 8 February 1913 at the Melbourne Exhibition, now running for the University Athletics Club and described as their ‘crack sprinter,’ Alex once again attempted to lower Moir’s 300-yard Australian amateur record of 32.4.5 seconds. He ran strongly, but missed the record by just one-fifth of a second. He did, however, set records for the distance during the remainder of the year.

With his Bachelor of Arts nearly completed, Alex extended his studies to include a Bachelor of Laws at Ormond College. It is important to understand that, while he was studying, Alex was also working full-time, teaching at the Melbourne High School.
At the beginning of 1914, Alex was transferred from Melbourne High to Ararat Grammar School. He brought with him the celebrity of being the ‘University’s champion sprinter’ and was recorded in the periodical, Alcock’s Sporting Review. In an interview, people would have been particularly interested in all aspects of his regimen.

‘…Mr Ellis favours hard foods for training and partakes of little water. He believes in a substantial meal, but avoids sloppy and frilly compounds. He states that one should go out a great deal, live a rational social life, and have as many distractions as he can — provided, always, they do not trespass on his training time or his physical fitness…’

It was also revealed that Alex had a keen interest in art and literature and had already collected ‘some valuable and beautiful paintings and sketches.’
The interview was concluded with Alex’s opinion on the handicap system.

‘…Like many other prominent athletes, Mr Ellis considers the backmarkers do not receive the consideration that they should from sports' promoters, who do not realise that it is desirable to set aside first-class handicaps occasionally in order to preserve the interest in the sport, for it is very rarely that the scratch man gets a place — a feat which often means breaking records…’

Injury unfortunately put paid to Alex’s racing in the 1914 season. The following article was printed in the Melbourne Herald on 9 January, giving full coverage of his achievements and indicating just how highly he was regarded as an athlete.

‘…Alex. D. Ellis, of the University Athletic Club, who is the University, Inter-university, and Victorian sprint champion, will be prevented from taking part in the Australasian track championships and the international sports carnival (American team), as a result of an accident. Last week Ellis, in company with Russell Watson (Victorian middle distance champion) and Sydney University athletes, was carrying out his training operations on the Mornington Cricket Ground asphalt track, when he suddenly pulled up lame, as a result of a tendon in his leg giving away. He expects to be out of action for fully six months.

He is 28 years of age, tips the beam at 11st. 41b. when in racing condition, and is but half an inch under 6ft. Of the four Australasian championship meetings in which he has taken part, he has been placed in all, while he has met with much success in 'Varsity and other contests.

In 1909 he won the 100 yards championship of Victoria at Ballarat. Visiting Brisbane for the Australasian championships, he finished second in the 220 yards and third in the 440 yards. In Tasmania, at the jubilee carnival in 1910, he carried off the 100 yards and 220 yards championships against the picked runners of Australia.

In the same year he won the Victorian 220 yards championship from J. Burton, and finished second to Burton in the century dash.

In 1911, though out of form, Ellis competed in the Victorian championships, but could only manage to fill third place in the sprint. In December of the same year he visited Wellington (N.Z.) with the Victorian team for the Australasian championships. He won his heat comfortably in the 100 yards, but in the final he ran third to Opie (N.Z.) inches separating the placed men.

In 1913 he ran second to Slater in the 100 yards championship, but did not compete in the furlong event owing to the failure of a dressing-room steward to notify him of the starting time. Last March he won the 220 yard championship of Geelong and Western district in 23 3-5sec. against a strong head wind.
Competing in the last Victorian championships, held on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Ellis put up a brilliant performance, winning the 100 yards and 220 yard championships in the respective times of 10sec. and 23sec. The Association will find it extremely hard to fill his place…’

It was announced on 4 April 1914 that Alex had been conferred with his Bachelor of Arts degree. But there was no break in his studies, and he transferred from Ararat to a significant new position at the Melbourne University High School (formerly the “University Practising School”) on the corner of Lygon and Lytton streets in Carlton.

Throughout this time, Alex remained particularly close to his parents and younger sisters. An informal family portrait that was taken around this time shows that Alex had also become a pipe smoker like his father – it created quite a visual atmosphere seeing the pair with pipes firmly clenched in their teeth.

Having successfully completed three years of his Bachelor of Laws degree, Alex made a pivotal decision to enlist on 16 March 1915. The war had already had a significant impact on the teaching fraternity, with a number of men joining up in the initial months. His decision was measured, intelligent, and not driven by emotion: the perceived conclusion date of Christmas had come and gone, but the patriotic fervour of the Gallipoli Landing was yet to come.

Technically, Alex enlisted as a private. He presented himself at the Melbourne Recruiting Depot, where Captain Arthur Wilson, a doctor with the Australian Army Medical Corps, conducted the physical examination. No doubt, Alex Ellis cut an impressive figure – he was 5-feet 11¼-inches tall, weighed 11-stone 8-pounds and had an expanded chest measurement of 40-inches. On his right arm were two vaccination marks and, below his right knee, was another one of those ever-enigmatic scars (what HAD caused the mark?!). His eyesight was also normal.
If photographs taken at the time had been in colour, we would be able to see Alex’s blue eyes, brown hair and fair complexion.

There was a delay of over two weeks before Alex finally signed his oath on 3 April. His signature, like his handwriting, was fine, small and very neat – quite a unique insight into his personality.

Identifying potential officer material was an important aspect of enlistment. As a school master with a high level of education, Alex had the intelligence factor, but he had no previous military training. Interestingly, he did not include his training that led to him being a crack rifle shot. When he applied for a commission in the Australian Imperial Force, he indicated that he had no experience in ‘any special unit,’ but that he had several years’ experience instructing and drilling Junior and Senior Cadets at various primary and secondary schools, although ‘I had no rank.’

Interestingly, he completed multiple applications for a commission – the final time on 6 November 1915. He completed the 6th Officers’ Training School and an advanced course at the 7th School and his commission to second-lieutenant was officially back-dated to June.

After seven months training, Alex was ready to embark for active duty. He sailed from Melbourne on 9 November onboard HMAT Wandilla as an officer in chain of command of D Company in the original 31st Infantry Battalion. The voyage to Egypt took a day short of four-weeks, and Alex arrived at Port Suez on 6 December.

On 21 March 1916, whilst the 31st Battalion was stationed at Tel-el-Kebir, Alex received the welcome news that he had been promoted to lieutenant. However, before he was to cross to the Western Front, he was transferred to the 29th Infantry Battalion. He joined his new unit at Moascar on 7 June.

A Brigade sports day held on 9 June was the last major event in Egypt for the men, and six days later they entrained for Alexandria. There they boarded the transport Tunisian to begin the voyage across the Mediterranean, sailing on 16 June. Although the trip was not described as being eventful, adrenalin would have been coursing through all onboard. They arrived at Marseilles without incident on 23 June. After travelling through to Morbecque in the country’s north, the 29th was visited by Corps Commander, General William Birdwood.

On 10 July, the 29th entered the frontline trenches at Bois-Grenier. They were then deployed at Fromelles on 19 July with two companies detailed to carry bombs and supplies through to the front trenches in the area facing Delangre Farm. By 2am on 20 July the enemy counterattacked and the entire 29th Battalion was involved in the subsequent action. ‘After a struggle in No Man’s Land the enemy were content to stop at their own trench,’ but, as one member of the 29th was heard to say,
‘…The novelty of being a soldier wore off in about five seconds; it was like a bloody butcher's shop…’
Compared to other units that dreadful day, the 29th got off relatively lightly with just 50 men killed – to describe any substantial loss of life with such an adverb may appear callous, but the 60th Battalion, for example, lost over 350 men killed, so the comparison certainly provides clarity. It was an experience that Alex Ellis and his mates, indeed anyone who survived the battle, would never forget.

To take full advantage of Alex’s communicative abilities by adding to his military qualifications, he was then detached to the 5th Divisional Bomb School for training on 6 August. When Lieutenant John Spencer Mann was appointed to staff, Alex took over his role as the Divisional bomb officer for the 5th Division School.

His value in this position brought Alex to the attention of the “heads” and, on 31 March 1917, he was promoted to captain. His work from 20 February through until midnight of 20/21 September was marked as displaying ‘distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty in the field,’ and later resulted in him receiving a Special Mention in Despatches by General Sir Douglas Haig.

In early May, Alex ran into his old mate, Joe Slater, who was by then a captain with the 22nd Battalion. It was at that point, Alex later stated, that Joe had ‘done him one of the best turns any soldier could do another.’ Although Alex didn’t elaborate, he did describe Joe as ‘a “topping” fellow in every way.’ It was to be a significant last meeting – only days later, Joe Slater was killed in action during the Second Battle of Bullecourt on 3 May. Alex had not seen him during the fighting, but made his own enquiries when it was discovered that the popular officer was missing. He believed Joe had been helping a wounded German officer when he was shot, but other reports varied dramatically. His body was never recovered.

Alex continued to perform his duties as Divisional Bomb Officer throughout the remaining months of 1917 and into 1918. He gained a reputation for showing ‘great keenness and resource,’ when he was training the bombers of the 5th Division.

During the period that the 5th Division held the line in the Gueudecourt Sector, Alex had charge of the Advance Ammunition dump at Flers.

‘…For four days [the Division] was under very heavy shell fire, during which time he displayed great gallantry and devotion to duty in carrying out his work. Notwithstanding the heavy shelling and most adverse weather conditions, he personally supervised the supply of ammunition and bombs to units in the front line at critical time when great difficulty was experienced in getting ammunition supplies forward. His example was a great inspiration to those working under him…’

When the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General was absent, Alex was employed to great effect on the “A” side of the Divisional Staff.

Throughout this extended period of time, Alex Ellis was proving himself an invaluable member of the 5th Division and his work would eventually be recognised in a concrete way.

On New Year’s Day 1918, the Special Mention in Despatches awarded to Alex Ellis, was announced in the Honour’s List. Then, on 15 March, it was confirmed that he had been awarded the Military Cross – the decoration was officially awarded in June as part of the King’s Birthday list.

In April 1918, columnist “The Prodigal” (in the Sydney journal The Referee), received a cheerful, chatty joint letter from Captain Geoffrey A. Street (from the Sydney University Athletics Club) and Captain Alex Ellis.

‘…From Somewhere in Belgium 17/2/18: —
You will probably be very surprised to hear from me after such a long silence, but this afternoon I called in to have tea with Captain A. D. Ellis (late M.U.A.C), and, as we talked athletics, what more natural than that your name should crop up. So here we are sitting in the remains of a little Belgian village, feeling at peace with the world and about to write to you.
We have discussed all manner of things athletic, and memories of old days have been very vividly before us. Alas, I'm afraid that the only running I've done since 1914 is running away from the shells, which I do on the slightest provocation, and, in fact, this morning I believe that the 100yds record would have looked silly if there had been a watch on me, as I fairly whizzed through the air to a place of safety.
Not far from us is Capt. E. W. B. Woods, M.C. (late M.U.A.C), and we ourselves are quite close to where L. H. Kelly (M.U.A.C.) was gassed some few weeks back. Ellis is growing impatient, and declares that if I don't stop, he will write a letter of his own, but the prologue finishes here, and I leave the peroration to Ellis…

…Here's the peroration. Let me start it with the cheeriest of greeting, anyhow, no matter how it finishes. Yes, we have talked running ad lib., and the names of the revered Olympians of old —foremost among them Nigel Barker —have been all before us. Even from this far distance we salute him.

The war is not such a bad old flutter after all. Street certainly did a fine sprint this morning and great was the need thereof. Presence of mind displayed itself by absence of body.

Redmond (N.S.W.) is somewhere handy in our artillery, and Leo Davis (Vic.) has a nice coming-on young brother who has a fine burst of speed that has never yet been tried out. 'Dad' Wheatley (Vic), too, is with us, and he preserves amid the alarums and excursions of war the urbane and gentle humor that we all liked so well. Jack Brake (Vic,) is with a neighboring division, and we are feeling very concerned just as present because we have heard that Jack Massie has again been wounded.

It has just occurred to me that this is not much like a peroration, so I'll pass the paper and pencil back to my versatile collaborateur. He is ruminating benevolently by the fireside, weighing, I fancy, the respective merits of another bit of toast or another cigarette — I'll back the latter. The latter duly won, as the toast is cold…

…I expect we've bored you long ere this, and after the brilliant effort of my revered (if somewhat personal) friend, I'm afraid I can say no more. This is only to let you know that we still remember you and your goodness to us in the past. I had seven Referees in a bunch by the last Australian mail, and as you can guess, they were well thumbed before being finally disposed of. The very best of luck to you, and hoping to see you again soon. —
Yours very sincerely, GEOFFERY A. STREET, A. D. ELLIS…’

Shortly after this letter appeared in print, news was received that Alex and been injured through a fall from his horse; this incident did not warrant a mention in his personal service record, so it is unclear what actually occurred. In reporting this minor incident for Australian newsreaders, Alex was identified as ‘former amateur sprint champion of Victoria.’ He certainly was very well known. Fortunately, he was not badly hurt.

On 19 July, Alex embarked at Boulogne for England to attend a special musketry course held at the Southern Command School on Hayling Island. When he began the course on 22 July, his instructors found that he already had a fair knowledge of musketry. Throughout the course he continued to show very good progress and was described as ‘an excellent worker.’ During the course, he was the winner of the school bayonet and bullet competition.

Upon qualifying, Alex was presented as ‘fit for position as assistant adjutant or musketry instructor.’ He was immediately granted a three week leave pass, which was for a very personal reason. His fiancée, Grace Dymphna Kirkcaldie, had travelled to England for their wedding. On 16 August 1918, the couple were married at St Mary’s Parish Church in Wimbledon by the assistant priest, Reverend S. Mark Anderson.

Dymphna was quite a remarkable young woman, who was not only an accomplished soprano (described as ‘that charming singer and delightful artist,’ and a student of Dame Nellie Melba) but also a graduate in massage from the University of Sydney. Her independence, especially during such dangerous times, was seriously admirable. She sailed for England in June 1918, and cabled her Melbourne friends after arriving in Le Havre, where she had secured a position as a masseuse to a military hospital.

Returning to the Front following the wedding, Alex was seconded for duty as the musketry officer for the 5th Division on 7 September. He was transferred to the 32nd Infantry Battalion within days of the signing of the Armistice and was in Ramburelles when the war ended.

Alex already had a very clear plan for filling the time before he was repatriated home – he was gathering information to write the 5th Division history. He spent time working at the War Records Office in London and long periods in France interviewing people and recording information.

On 15 November 1919, Alex and Dymphna boarded RMS Ormonde, one of the most significant returning vessels – onboard was Lieutenant-General Sir John Monash, General William Birdwood, Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Murray VC, Brigadier-Generals Evan Wisdom and James Robertson, Colonel Julius Bruche (later commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon) and Ballarat’s Lieutenant-Colonel Leslie Morshead. There were also a large number of returning Australian officers, their wives and children.

The steamer landed at New Pier, Port Melbourne, on Boxing Day.

Talk of the forthcoming book on the 5th Division had reached Australia ahead of Alex’s return. Publishers, Hodder and Stoughton, had arranged the publication with profits from the sales going to dependants of deceased soldiers of the 5th Division. In quite an important endorsement, French commander, Marshal Ferdinand Foch, had written the forward to the book.
‘…In the long and bitter struggle with barbarism, wherein the Allied nations displayed the finest soldierly qualities, the people of Australia won for themselves the place of honour by undeniable energy, their efforts calling forth contingents of daring and valiant men. While Australia brought to the common cause aid that would make its mark in the history of the war, the Australian Divisions won for themselves glory beyond dispute, in decisive battles that secured the victory. Recalling operations and exploits in the book dedicated to the memory of the dead of the Fifth Division, Marshal Foch refers to its fierce fighting in Polygon Wood in 1917, and the splendid dash of the Division at Villers-Bretonneux, which resulted in the re-taking of an important position, the loss of which had imperilled in the highest degree the defence of Amiens.

And this was only the beginning, for the division on August 8, 1918, was among those which attacked southward of the River Somme, and penetrated so deeply into the enemy's defences that from that day Germany felt the cold blast of defeat. After brilliantly seizing Péronne and the crossings of the Somme, the division at the end of September got in touch with the famous Hindenburg Line. This was truly the rampart of the enemy's resistance. Its strength must be measured by the effort needed to master it; but mastered it was. The 5th Australian Division can proudly inscribe on its annals the names of Bellicourt, Nauroy, Estrees, and Joncourt. In doing my homage to the division, it is a pleasure to extend that homage to the whole Australian Army Corps, which by its magnificent exploits was able to win for itself and Australia a most splendid title of renown…’

In the introduction, General J. T. T. Hobbs wrote,
‘…No words can possibly convey the pride and honour which I felt as commander of the division, or express my wonder and admiration at the gallantry and devotion, of the men. They proved themselves invincible soldiers…’

The book received glowing reviews.
‘…This book opens with the disastrous battle of Fromelles, on July 19, 1916. two days before Pozieres, and ends with General Rawlinson's Army order thanking the Australians for the assistance they had given the 4th Army in the final victory. What a wealth of matter—glorious matter, so far as the Australians are concerned—lies between those two periods. And Captain Ellis has dealt with it in a calm, deliberate manner, and gives excellent descriptions of actions, particularly of the early campaigns of the Australians in France on the Somme and elsewhere—particulars which every Australian will read with interest and pleasure.

Captain Ellis deals splendidly with the sensational capture of Mont St. Quentin; in fact, it is one of the best and clearest descriptions of that action that have been published anywhere. When Sir John Monash explained his plan to General Rawlinson, the latter said: "So you think you're going to take Mont St. Quentin with three battalions. What presumption! However, I don't think I ought to stop you. So go ahead and try—and I wish you luck."

Captain Ellis tells you in plain and characteristic words how the position was taken. Also, the much-talked-of operation of Fromelles is dealt with at some length, with extracts from General Hocking's (sic) orders beforehand after the battle.

The 5th Division went from Armentieres to the Somme and took part in the desperate fighting of Flers and Guedecourt. In 1917 – it fought with great distinction at Polygon Wood, but its greater distinctions were reserved until 1918. They began at Villers Bretonneux, when the enemy thought himself in possession of Amiens, and did not end until Peronne had been raptured and the Hindenburg line had been broken.
The compiler of this volume has set out the history of his division clearly and modestly, and has greatly added to its value by appendices containing lists of honours and of deaths.

Captain Ellis does not go in for humour or for ornament, but one anecdote he tells should not be forgotten. At the end of the terrible march across the desert, ordered by General Irving, the first Australian to reach Moascar was challenged. "Who goes there?" said the sentry. "I'm Burke and bleeding Wills," he answered. It is a great book this, a record which should be in every Australian household where a son, a brother, a husband, or any relative took part in the operations of the famous Fifth…’

Settling back into civilian life, Alex and Dymphna initially made their home at “Teryawynia” in Florence Avenue, Kew, and Alex immediately resumed his studies. After successfully completing his law degree, he was qualified for a transfer to the Attorney-General's Department as a professional assistant Parliamentary draughtsman.

On 16 March 1921, Alex published a “Notice of Intention” indicating he was seeking to apply to be admitted to practice as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court.

During the 1921 conferment of degrees, Alex was admitted by the University of Melbourne University to the rare degree of Doctor of Letters having submitted The Story of the Fifth Australian Division as his thesis. He would also receive the Harrison-Higginbotham Scholarship for the same work.

The following year saw Alex publish his second book, Australia and the League of Nations – a subject in which he was to become an authority.

As a sign of the regard for his work as a barrister, in 1924 Alex was briefed as counsel to represent the Victorian Police Department in the Royal Commission into grievances that led to the Police Strike of 1923. His appointment was asked for by former Premier and then Leader of the Opposition, Sir Alexander Peacock, who had been in power during the strike.

As president of the League of Nations Union, Alex was often a sought-after public speaker on the complex subject. The union had been organised to promote the values and aims of the League covering such aspects as upholding peace and security, international law and using arbitration, negotiation and disarmament to settle disputes. By 1928, Alex was regarded as one of Victoria’s foremost authorities on international law.
In speaking on the effect of the war on Europe, Alex showed his grasp of the subtleties of the emerging world situation.

‘…Many of the nations of Europe were the gainers by war and a number of others were the losers. The Treaty of Versailles, which awarded the spoils to the victors and deprived the vanquished of what it had deprived them, was to some extent the dividing line between the nations of Europe. Ever since the treaty there had been two great groups in Europe, one dreading to yield the provisions of the treaty, and the other group endeavouring to have them reconsidered, altered, modified, trying to restore the position obtaining before the war. The Treaty of Versailles had many other effects. It gave birth to a number of new nations, and it inflamed the national sensitiveness of most of the nations in Europe…’

Throughout the 1930’s Alex built his reputation as a practicing barrister and solicitor. He built up an extensive general practice both in common law and equity, specialising in the Arbitration Court; he also appeared in a number of important constitutional cases. During 1940, he represented employers in a protracted case in the Full Arbitration Court arguing that there was ‘no reason for increase’ to the basic wage.

Alex also continued to publish: he was a joint author of a number of legal works, and he played an important part in consolidation of the Victorian Statutes undertaken by the late Sir Leo Cussen. As a particularly keen golfer, it was appropriate that, in December 1941, Alex published the History of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

In July 1942, he was named as ‘one of the big guns of the Australian Bar’ who converged in Melbourne to fight the battle against uniform taxation.

‘…Associated with him is Alexander Donaldson Ellis, MC, BA, LLB, LittD (Vic), son of a Victorian country schoolmaster. From 1915 to 1919, Ellis was with the AIF. He got a commission in the 29th Battalion, and ultimately became Bombing Officer 5th Australian Division, and won the Military Cross as well as being mentioned in dispatches. His war book, the Story of the Fifth Australian Division, published in 1920, is one of the best of its kind. A. D. Ellis is a classical scholar. Though to some he may appear a remote figure, his war record, his smashing attacks during the Victorian Police Commission in 1924, and his splendid achievements as University sprint champion, prove that he is a man of action…’

Early in 1944, Alex was appointed as a judge to the County Court, and immediately accepted the office of chairman to the Railway Classification Board. He held the positions for three years.

His retirement from the County Court was announced in May 1948, and Alex and Dymphna left Melbourne for a new home in Collaroy Beach north of Sydney. He spent much of his time playing golf, but also maintained his connection with the AIF.

When Doctor Alexander Donaldson Ellis MC MID BA LLB DLitt died at Manly on 15 August 1963, he passed with the minimum of fanfare. The flash of the man who had once been revered as the fastest amateur sprinter in Australia had dimmed with time. But his contribution to the history of the Great War is still regarded as one of the finest produced. His achievements on the track, on the battlefield, in the halls of learning and the courts of law make him one of Ballarat and district’s most outstanding representatives.