The AIF Project

Thomas Patrick ELLIOTT

Date of birth18 January 1894
Other trainingGraduate of Royal Military College, Duntroon
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSoldier
AddressGrenfell, Notting Hill, Auburn, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 10.5"
Weight160 lbs
Next of kinMrs M.E. Elliott, as above
Enlistment date3 November 1914
Rank on enlistmentLieutenant
Unit name7th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/12/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board Transport A33 Ayrshire on 20 December 1914
Rank from Nominal RollMajor
Unit from Nominal Roll60th Battalion
Promotions

Temporary Captain


Unit: 7th Light Horse Regiment
Promotion date: 22 July 1915

Captain


Unit: 7th Light Horse Regiment
Promotion date: 1 March 1916

Major


Unit: 60th Battalion
Promotion date: 1 June 1916

FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Age at death22.6
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 18), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
169
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 15 May 1915.

Appointed Temporary Captain, 26 July 1915.

Admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 21 September 1915 (enteritis); transferred to Military Hospital, Cottonera, Malta, 27 September 1915, and temporary rank cancelled; transferred to Villa Medici, Florence, Italy, 7 December 1915.

Rejoined unit, Maadi, Egypt, 24 January 1916.

Appointed Brigade Machine Gun Officer, 28 January 1916, and granted temporary rank of Captain while so acting.

Appointed Captain, 1 March 1916.

Transferred to 60th Bn, 19 March 1916, and taken on strength, Tel el Kebir.

Promoted Major, 1 June 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported wounded in action; subsequently reported missing in action.

Now, 13 August 1916, reported 'Killed in action, 19 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 1010108, 1301 Pte A. FORBES and 1965 Lance Corporal W.OLLIS, 4 August 1916: 'Major Elliott dropped about 80 yds from our line on July 19th at Fleurbaix. We saw him go down. Shortly afterwards he stood up and tried to get his tunic off. He got it off after a little and then pitched forward onto his face. He had a big gash in his back, as from high explosive. He remained there all bunched up with his body in the air and his head on the ground as we went past in our wave. We did not see him as we came back next morning. A cousin of his batman told me he stayed there with the Major until he died. The Major gave him various papers. I do not remember this man's name. The Major was one of the best.'

Second statement, 1999 Lance Corporal C. O'Brien, 60th Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 18 August 1916: 'I saw Major Elliott lying out in "No Man's Land" Fleurbaix on night of 19th July[;] he was wounded in about six places with shrapnel. He was a Duntroon man and a really good sort. I think he is dead.'

Third statement, 4595 Pte A.H. SEARLE, 60th Bn, 24 August 1916: 'I saw Major Elliott killed by a shell on July 20th. near Fleurbaix, during the attack. The shell must have burst near his feet. He went up in the air. Two other officers were hit with him and they were struck by the same shell. I do not know their names. Major Elliott's Casualty (sic) occurred at about 6. p.m. in 'No man's land". I do not know what happened to his body.'

Fourth statement, 1652 Pte A. POOLMAN, D Company, 60th Bn (patient, Horton County of London Hospital, Epsom, England), 8 September 1916: 'On 17th July 1916 to the left of Armentieres I was wounded and lay near the German trench until 19th July. I saw the Germans come out and take in our wounded who were near their trench, i.e. the German 1st line trench. On 19th July after I was brought in I was told by Wrigley that Major Elliott was lying wounded near the 1st line German trench and I expect the Germans took him in and that he is wounded and prisoner. Wrigley said he did not think he was badly wounded. Wrigley reported this to Capt. Grounds who has since died.'

Fifth statement, 3463 Sergeant F. BOYLE, 60th Bn, 9 Sptember 1916: 'Informant has a letter to say that Major Elliott's body has been found.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills.10.10.19.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, ELLIOTT Thomas Patrick
Red Cross File No 1010108

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