A LAST Post was played today (Sunday) for Private George Ellison from York - the last British soldier killed in the First World War.

Members of the Bishophill Local History Group and York Sea Cadets met in Skeldergate, York, outside the address where Pt Ellison was born.

Pt Ellison died on November 11, 1918.

He had survived the entire war: right up until that fateful morning, when he was scouting for enemy movement in woods on the outskirts of Mons and was shot by an enemy sniper.

He died at 9.30am - just 90 minutes before the Armistice.

Pt Ellison was buried in the military cemetery at St Symphorien, close to Mons, alongside 228 other Commonwealth soldiers and 284 German soldiers.

Almost exactly opposite Pt Ellison's resting place in St Symphorien is the grave of 17-year-old Private John Parr - the very first British soldier to have been killed in the war.

At 9.30am today, a last post was played by Jamie Highton for the last soldier to die.

Colin Hinchcliffe, Bishophill Local History Group's chairman, said before the event: "We just feel that would be the most appropriate way to commemorate his life."