| Regimental number | 1197 |
| Place of birth | Doncaster West, Victoria |
| School | Doncaster East State School, No. 2907, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Blackburn Road, East Doncaster, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 19 |
| Next of kin | Father, William Elder, Blackburn Road, East Doncaster, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served in the 48th Citizen Forces. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 23rd Battalion, C Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/40/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 23rd Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal Recommendation date: |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | "He received the Military Medal after a raid on Hamel on 17th May, 1918." Details from Mother. |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Bullecourt, France |
| Age at death | 22 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 22 |
| Place of burial | Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot III, Row B, Grave No. 1), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 99 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: WIlliam and E. Rose ELDER, Doncaster, Victoria |
| Medals |
Military Medal 'During the operations near ALBERT on morning of 19th May, 1918, entailing the capture of VILLE-SUR-ANCRE this N.C.O. was in charge of a Lewis Gun and great credit is due to his courage and dash in the success achieved. Immediately the barrage lifted an enemy machine gun opened fire. Elder dashed forward and engaged it, wounding the gunner, thus enabling the gun and crew to be captured. Entering the village the party was again held up by enemy machine gun fire, again he went forward and engaged the enemy, with the result that his party were enabled to work up and force the enemy out of the position, the gun was captured. At great personal risk he mounted his gun opposite a building which the enemy occupied; using three drums of ammunition he cut portion of the wall away with his gun fire and drove the enemy into the garden at the rear of house where they were eventually captured. His resolute daring, personal disregard of danger and splendid handling of his gun was an outstanding feature.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 23 Date: |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
