Ellis Luciano Silas (13 July 1885 - 2 May 1972) was a British artist and draughtsman who served as an ANZAC during World War 1. Silas landed on Gallipoli in the evening of 25 April with the 16th Battalion. In the first weeks on Gallipoli, 16 Battalion was reduced to two companies suffering heavy casualties at Pope’s Hill and Quinn’s Post. By 17 May, Silas had become seriously ill and was taken by hospital ship back to Egypt. From Egypt, he was transferred to England and in August 1916, was discharged from the AIF as being permanently unfit for active service.
His sketches from the front were viewed by King George and Queen Mary in May 1916. His book Crusading at Anzac was published in 1916 with forewords by Sir Ian Hamilton and William Birdwood.
Signaller Ellis Silas was the only artist to paint and sketch actual battle scenes showing Australian soldiers in action at Gallipoli. He was commissioned in 1919 by the Australian War Records Section to paint images of Gallipoli at the initiative of C. E. W. Bean who wanted ex-servicemen to paint from their experiences.
