Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Elliott Henry House was born on the 28th of August 1893, and was the son of James House. He lived his life leading up to the great war in Mount Torrens.

Elliot Henry House enlisted in World War One on January 9th 1916 aged 22 and 5 months. He was a medium build, weighing 151 pound at 5 foot 10 inches, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. His relationship status was single and he was a Methodist.

He enlisted as a Private with the service number 78. He was a member of the 43rd battalion, one of South Australia's contributions to the war. He embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT Afric on the 9th of June, the ship stopped briefly in Egypt, then proceeded on to Britain for further training. The battalion arrived on the western front in late December and spent 1917 in the trenches in Flanders.

The 43rd Infantry Battalion also took part in the battle of Messines and in October the Third Battle of Ypres. Elliot was injured and admitted to hospital on the 11th of June 1917 with a gunshot to the right cheek, the next year he was gassed on the 14 of May 1918, but he made a full recovery from both of his injuries.

The Battalion spent most of 1918 fighting in the Somme valley. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of November 1918 the guns fell silent on the western front, throughout 1919 the men of the 43rd battalion returned to Australia, Elliot returned to Australia on the 21st of March 1919. Elliot House spent a total 3 years 163 days serving his country and 2 years and 333 days abroad. In the time Elliot served he was awarded two medals; the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

After his return to Australia Elliot married Amy Alice Mona Lintern, together they had 9 children, and in 1931 Elliot finished building their family home, sadly in 1935 Amy died from child birth complications.

In 1939 fires raged over South Australia, Elliott at the time was the head fire chief of the Stirling
area, meaning he spent several weeks away from his young children fighting the fires of Black Friday, the fires came so close to his house that it burnt his garage, toilet and chook shed.

Sadly Elliott died in 1958 at the age of 65 he was buried at the Stirling cemetery.

Elliott was the son of James HOUSE & Jane HAMPSHIRE and was born on the 27th of August 1893 in Mount Torrens, SA.

His parents were married on the 1st of February 1891 at the residence of James’s uncle, George House, in Mount Torrens, SA.

His father was the son of John HOUSE & Elizabeth ATWELL and was born in 1847 on Trevethin, Monmouthshire, Wales.
His mother was the daughter of James HAMPSHIRE & Eliza BUCKLEY and was born on the 17th of October 1860 in Blumberg (Birdwood), SA.

Elliott was the second child born into this marriage of 5 children.

At the age of 12, his father had immigrated to South Australia on board the North on the 28th of January 1859 with his parents and siblings.

His father was a farmer and the family grew up in Mt Torrens where Elliott and his siblings attended the Mt Torrens School.

On finishing school Elliott gained employment as a labourer.

At the age of 22, Elliott enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 10th of January 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 78 and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
His brother Herbert also enlisted on the same day and was allotted the service number 85 and posted with Elliott to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.

On the 1st of February Elliott & Herbert were transferred to A Company, 1st Depot Battalion and then on the 7th of March they were transferred to the newly raised 43rd Battalion A Company.

Elliott & Herbert embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916.
They served together on the Western front and were both gassed and wounded.
Herbert was the first to embark for Australia on the 8th of January 1919 and after nearly 3 years overseas Elliott embarked for Australia on board HT Kildonan Castle on the 21st of March 1919, disembarking in Adelaide on the 7th of May.

Elliott returned home to Mount Torrens and was met at the railway station by a large crowd of friends and the school children.
Elliott was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of June 1919.

On the 25th of August, with all the 11 Mount Torrens boys now home a dinner was given to the returned boys. The tables were decorated with Cootamundra Wattles and daffodils and they were presented with a parcel of socks.

Elliott gained employment as a linesman for the PMG and on the 29th of October 1919 Elliott purchased Section 415, Hundred of Noarlunga, containing 3 acres.
This land was located on Cricklewood Road, Aldgate and Elliott joined the Stirling RSL Sub-Branch.

Elliott married Amy Alice Mona LINTERN on the 1st of December 1919 in the Maughan Church Vestry, Adelaide.
Amy was the daughter of Thomas LINTERN & Elizabeth Betsy TALBOT and was born on the 25th of April 1896 in Mount Torrens, SA.

They welcomed their first child; Audrey Phyllis, on the 22nd of July 1920, followed by Daphne Joyce on the 28th of November 1921.

Maxwell Elliott was then born on the 11th of August 1923, followed by Darryl George on the 20th of March 1925.
The following year Clifford Seymour was born on the 8th of December 1926 and then Betty Jane was born on the 25th of November 1927.

Sadie was their last child born on the 11th of April 1932.

Sadly Betty died from Meningitis on the 18th of May 1936 in the Adelaide Children's Hospital and they buried her in the Stirling Cemetery; Section D, Row 9, Plot 400N.

Tragedy then struck again 2 months later when Amy died on the 20th of July 1936 in the Ambleside (Hahndorf) Private Hospital and Elliott buried her in the Stirling Cemetery; Section D, Row 9, Plot 400S next to their daughter Betty.

Elliott became the head fire control officer of Aldgate and in the 1939 Black Friday Bush fires, Elliott nearly lost his own home when the fires came so close to his house that it burnt his garage, toilet and chook shed.

With the outbreak of WW2 both his sons enlisted; Maxwell enlisted in the 23rd of June 1942 (SX21223) & Clifford enlisted on the 22nd of March 1945 (SX34193).

Elliott retired and sold the family home in 1954 and purchased a home at 11 Twin Street, Stirling West and Clifford & Shirley lived with him.

At 1pm on the 1st of November 1958 Elliott left his home dressed in sports clothes and with his binoculars.
At 3pm Elliott was found collapsed in his car on Greenhill Road, Burnside by a friend, Walter Rosenbauer and he took Elliott to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in his own car.
They arrived at 3.30pm but unfortunately Elliott was dead on arrival.
The doctor stated that he had not been dead long as his body was still warm.

A post mortem was conducted the following day and his death was deemed to be due to a Coronary Occlusion.

Elliott was buried in the Stirling Cemetery; Section D, Row 9, Plot 400N, with his daughter and next to his wife.

Military

At the age of 22, Elliott enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 10th of January 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 78 and posted to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
He listed his father, of Mount Torrens, as his next of kin.

His brother Herbert also enlisted on the same day and was allotted the service number 85 and posted to with Elliott to A Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.

On the 1st of February Elliott & Herbert were transferred to A Company, 1st Depot Battalion and then on the 7th of March they were transferred to the newly raised 43rd Battalion A Company.

The Battalion consisted of men who had but recently enlisted, and were practically raw recruits, most of whom had joined up in January and February.

Early in April musketry was commenced throughout the Battalion with each section forming a separate squad and undergoing ten days progressive instruction in the art of handling the rifle, the course being completed by the firing of an application and grouping practice on the miniature range in the dry bed of the Sturt River.
An open range was prepared in the sand hills between Glenelg and Henley, where for two days portions of the Battalion were engaged with the service rifle; but the working of these targets proved so slow and tedious that arrangements were made to secure the use of the butts at Port Adelaide, special trains conveying the troops to and from this place. Two complete days firing was given to each company, during which grouping, application, snap shooting, and rapid practices at 100, 200, and 300 yards were completed.

Elliott and Herbert gained four days leave, known as "long leave," on the 19th and this embraced the Easter Holidays, this being the last furlough granted prior to the Battalion's departure from Australia. The free weekends still being maintained and to those living within thirty miles of Adelaide, when desired, was extended to Monday morning.

The Battalion attended a number of functions and ceremonies, chief among which were the presentation of colours at Glenelg, the Military Tattoo on the Jubilee Oval, and the farewell dinner provided in the Exhibition Building by the Cheer-up Society; while occasional trips to the theatre were arranged, special trains usually being provided for the conveyance of the Unit to and from Morphettville. A certain amount of amusement was supplied within the camp on several occasions by concert parties.

During the whole period of training, equipment and clothing were gradually issued and they were fitted out for departure, signing for every article received and having numerous inspections to ascertain what shortages existed. The health of the men also received continuous attention, vaccination and two inoculations being administered in the early days, while dental inspections and subsequent treatment rectified any defects of the mouth.

The first week of June was spent in final preparations to embark on the 9th of June, the quartermasters and clerical departments being the most busily engaged. A final pay was drawn and as much leave as possible granted and by the 8th all preparations for embarkation had been completed, and the transport section had left for the Outer Harbour.

Dawn of June 9th was breaking behind the Mount Lofty Ranges when reveille sounded, rousing the whole camp to the activities of final preparations for departure, including the handing in of camp equipment and stores.

At 9.40 a.m. the first train, bearing Headquarters and A and B Companies, left Morphettville Station followed half-an-hour later by a second train with the remainder of the Battalion.
On reaching Port Adelaide the train proceeded by the old route down St. Vincent Street, where a large and enthusiastic crowd assembled to bid farewell to the unit. An hour later the Outer Harbour was reached and there followed a rapid embarkation on board their transport, HMAT A19 Afric.

Elliott & Herbert embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916 and they now realised that this was the commencement of the long, long trail, the end of which none could foretell.

The journey through The Bight was cold and rough, causing sickness to 70 per cent of the men. Land was first sighted at daybreak of the 13th of June and after passing through King George Sound they anchored in Albany Harbour at 11.30 am, when coaling immediately commenced.
The next day the boat drew alongside the wharf, and all were allowed ashore for a few hours.
At noon the same day the journey was resumed and soon the shores of their homeland receded from view.
That night it was learnt that the next port of call would be Colombo. As the result of a long period of calm weather that followed the departure from Albany, it was possible to conduct training, consisting of musketry, physical exercises, bayonet fighting, and boat drill, limited in extent by the small area of deck space available.

As the tropics were approached, permission to sleep on deck was granted, and a large majority, including Elliott & Herbert availed themselves of the privilege. By day a minimum amount of clothing was worn, the heavier uniform being abandoned for the lighter and more comfortable suit of dungarees.

Early on the morning of June 26th the island of Ceylon was sighted and by 10 a.m. the transport anchored in the harbour of Colombo. Coal barges were soon drawn along side the boat and coaling operations, conducted by the natives, commenced.
That afternoon they were taken ashore on lighters and marched to the military barracks in Colombo. There a wet canteen was placed at the disposal of the troops and native vendors of views, fruit, etc., offered their goods. As this was the first opportunity for some weeks of purchasing articles from other than the ship's canteen a brisk business resulted.

The following day the journey resumed at 3.45 pm and Elliott was admitted into the ships hospital as he was unwell. A few days later Herbert was also admitted into the ships hospital.

The voyage to Suez differed very little from the previous fortnight, except that during the four days in the Red Sea extreme heat was experienced, causing exhaustion to several of the stokers, whose work was undertaken for two days by volunteers from the troops.
By noon of July 11th Suez was reached and all preparations for disembarkation were completed.

Orders were, however, received from the military authorities that the journey was to be continued through the Mediterranean and at 4 pm an entrance was made into the Canal, the interesting surroundings of which attracted attention for sixteen hours. Along the bank were encamped Australian and English troops, who formed a portion of the Canal Garrison. An opportunity to converse with some of these was afforded by the boat being delayed for an hour at Ismalia.

By 8.30 am on the 12th the Canal was cleared and entry made into Port Said, where a transport conveying English troops southward was passed. Natives were again employed in coaling, which caused much inconvenience to those on board, as no leave ashore was granted. Numerous hawkers in small dinghies visited the boat, but not being allowed on deck were obliged to transact their sales by means of rope and basket.
Here an A 4.7 naval gun was mounted aft and manned by Royal Navy gunners and on departure at 2pm on the 13th, H.M. destroyer "Telmar," which had seen service with the Australians on Gallipoli, acted as their escort. These protective measures against submarines were augmented by the pre cautions of constant changes of course, screening of lights, and increase of sentries, whose duty was the outlook for enemy craft.

On passing Malta, the "Telmar" was relieved by a larger destroyer, but before departing semaphored "Australians, good-bye and good luck," on receipt of which cheers were interchanged between transport and escort. Daily routine on board continued until Marseilles was approached on the evening of July 19th, when at 10 pm the pilot was taken aboard, but the harbour was not entered until eight o'clock the next morning. This ended a six weeks successful journey on the "Afric".

At 3 pm on July 20th they disembarked and moved to Arran-Point Station, where they immediately entrained and at 5.35 pm left for Havre.
The journey through Southern France was most interesting, new types of villages, cultivation, and railway organisation being introduced. The scenery, especially that of the Rhone Valley, was superb, and the bright mid summer day showed the surroundings at their best.

A halt was made near Avignon, where hot tea and rations were issued, and on resumption of the journey the troops quickly settled down for the night. At 8 am on the 21st the train passed through Lyons, and at 3.45 pm Dijon was reached, and the French Red Cross workers served tea and cake to the Battalion.
Breakfast next morning was partaken of thirteen miles from Paris, Juvisy, from which, after a halt of two hours, the journey continued through Versailles, along the Seine Valley to Nantes, where a break was made for another meal, thence to Rouen and Havre.
Here the Battalion detrained and marched to a Rest Camp, where most of the men spent a cold night on cobbles. The following afternoon embarkation for England took place, and at dusk the Channel transport commenced its six-hour journey, reaching Southampton at daybreak and they disembarked at 7.30 am.
After two hours waiting on the wharf they were entrained for Amesbury Station on Salisbury Plain, where the Battalion detrained. An hour later Lark Hill was reached and the whole afternoon devoted to settling down in No.12 Camp. This was the training area for the 43rd Battalion prior to its departure for the front.
The first few days were spent in settling down in this new camp, which was one of about fifty of similar design located at Lark Hill, most of which were so fitted as to accommodate a complete battalion.

They spent the next few months here in training and towards the end of November, when they had been fully equipped for overseas, a divisional march, covering a distance of eighteen miles, was accomplished, the full issue of clothing and equipment, less blankets, being carried, the day proving most strenuous on account of the oppressive heat.

During the first three weeks of November final preparations and issue of equipment for the trip overseas were completed, and the dates of departure of the Division were expected to cover the last week of November 1916, the 43rd Battalion eventually sailing on the 25th prior to which the camp was thoroughly cleaned and the bulk of stores returned.

The early morning of November 25th was a repetition of June 9th. For the purpose of the move the Battalion was divided into three parties, leaving Lark Hill Camp in time to entrain at Amesbury Station by 7.15am. The weight of equipment carried by each man was far in excess of that borne on any previous march, as in addition to full marching order, two blankets, 150 rounds of ammunition, with steel and gas helmets, made a burden in all cases exceeding 80 lb.
At dusk the trip across the Channel commenced and a heavy sea was experienced, causing sea sickness to many on board, while a bleak wind with frequent showers of hail made the entry into the harbour at Le Havre and the period of waiting intensely cold.

Disembarkation and unloading commenced at 11 am and during the afternoon there followed the memorable route march to No.1 Rest Camp, situated on a hill about three miles from the wharf. Here they remained for the night, leaving at 6.30am next morning for the railway yards, where a troop train, consisting chiefly of cattle trucks, was waiting, and at 11.30am they left for Bailleul.
The journey, via Rouen, Abbeville, Boulogne, Calais, and St. Omer, occupied thirty hours, halts being made en route for the issue of rations and hot drinks.
Detraining was completed before dark, but by the time the unit moved from the station night had set in. For the march to billets, packs and blankets were carried by motor lorry. Locating these billets caused great difficulty, owing to the lack of information and absence of guides, and it was not until after 10 pm that they were settled for the night.

On December 23rd, in a high wind and through heavy rain, a march to new billets in Armentieres was carried out. They, with the 44th Battalion, formed support to the 41st and 42nd Battalions. Christmas Day 1916 was celebrated in the morning with working parties to the line and in the evening by a dinner, extra supplies being obtained through Comforts and Regimental Funds.

They spent February 1917 in and out of the front line and whilst in billets the raiding school continued training in bayonet fighting, physical exercises, patrolling, study of aeroplane photographs and practice of raiding formations on dummy trenches.
Elliott was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 23rd of February.

In April they were located near Ploegsteert Wood and on the 1st of May they left Armentieres and joined the remainder of the Brigade at Les Trois Tilleuls, proceeding through Steenwerck and Vieux Berquin to Petit See Bois. The following day they moved through Pradelles, Borre, and Hazebrouck to billets at Ebblinghem.

After 2 weeks here they commenced their journey back to Armentiers and by the 7th of June had moved to Messines and took part in the Battle.

Throughout the whole time in this area enemy aircraft proved exceptionally active, especially in the early morning, when low-flying planes engaged trenches and movement with machine gun fire.
The famous Red Circus, commanded by Baron von Richthoven, was stationed in the area and was a constant source of worry to both infantry and artillery.

It was here in St Andrews Drive, Messines, on the 9th of June that Elliott suffered a Guns Shot Wound to his right cheek and was admitted into the 9th Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 3rd Canadian Hospital in Boulogne.
The following day he was invalided to England and admitted into the 1st Southern General War Hospital in Birmingham.
Whilst he was here Herbert suffered from Tonsillitis on the 18th of June and spent 9 days in 9th Australian Field Ambulance Dressing Station.

Elliott was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 20th of June and 3 days later he was discharged to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth.
After 2 months he was posted to the Overseas Training Battalion in Perham Downs on the 27th of August and then proceeded back to France on the 17th of September.

Elliott rejoined Herbert and his Battalion on the 29th of September in Douve Camp, near Poperinghe.

They remained here resting and training until the 2nd of October when they entrained for Ypres for the offensive.
On the 4th of October they advanced to take up the front line and during this advancement Herbert suffered a Gun Shot Wound to back and admitted into the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station in Brandhoek for 7 days before returning to Elliott and their Battalion.

By the end of October they were resting and training in billets at Avroult.
The programme of training was so arranged that the primary object was to reinstate the old health and fitness that prevailed prior to Ypres, rest and light exercises being scheduled for the first few days, following on which a very gradual process was introduced, consisting mostly of platoon training and short route marches, combined with physical drill and bayonet fighting. As much recreation as possible was encouraged by means inter-company competitions and inter-battalion football matches, and as the weather remained favourable this healthy exercise, combined with careful feeding, had the desired effect of steadily raising the spirit and endurance of the men in the Battalion.

On November 12th the return to forward areas by route march was commenced, billets for the first night being allotted at Wittes. The route for the second day led through Boeseghem, Haver- skerque, and Neuf Berquin to Doulieu, a distance of twenty-one miles. They rested for a day, proceeding to De Seule on the 15th, where Kent Camp was occupied for the night, Canteen Corner being taken over next morning.
As many of the huts were in need of repairs an extensive works policy was adopted to execute these and undertake many improvements throughout the lines. One of the most important was the establishment of duckboard tracks to the various huts, as with the winter setting in the ground was becoming wet and slippery.

On the 26th of November, the anniversary of the Brigade's arrival in France, a sports meeting was held near the camp.
On December 5th they were detailed to bury cables from Nieppe to Hill 63, the work lasting for five days, during which time no training was undertaken.
The period spent here was of very short duration, as on the 19th orders were received for the Division to occupy the Armentieres and Bois Grenier Sectors, necessitating their move to Erquinghem. Excessively cold weather had set in, snow and heavy frosts causing the roads and ground to become frozen, thus making all movement, especially that of transport, most treacherous.

Christmas 1917 was spent here and then by late March they had moved to Caestre where they intended to spend the next 5 weeks in training but they were sent to the Somme.

A move to a reserve position on the bank of the Ancre, between Bonnay and Heilly, took place on the night of May 1st and their role here was that of reserve to the 9th Brigade. A small amount of specialist training was carried out, but the major portion of the time was spent in recreation and resting until, on the 6th, they moved to billets in La Houssoye.

The middle of May ended the opening phase of the Somme Campaign, the first forty-two days being spent in the trenches, all of which had to be constructed by the Brigade.
On the 20th of May they marched to Blangy Tronville and then onto Bois l'Abbe and Elliott & Hebert’s Company were located in the wood.
The night of the 25th would long remain in the memories of Elliott & Herbert as from 7 till 11 p.m. a heavy concentration of mustard gas was fired by all calibres up to 8 inches on the sector from Cachy to the northern end of the Bois l'Abbe.

At 3am on the 26th this was repeated and during this Herbert suffered from mustard gas poisoning and was admitted into the 47th Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred to the 41st Stationary Hospital in Pont Remy.

The whole area was thoroughly saturated with the volatile liquid, which during the day, vaporised by the warmth of the sun. Although gas masks were utilised to their fullest extent a very high percentage of casualties resulted including Elliott, the following day.

He was admitted into the 55th Casualty Clearing Station in Longpré-les-Corps-Saints and then transferred to the 9th General Hospital in Rouen on the 4th of June.
Elliott was invalided to England 9 days later and admitted into the 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton.
He remained here until the 3rd of July when he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford and 2 days later he was granted 2 weeks furlo.

Elliott then reported to No.2 Command Depot in Hurdcott on the 19th of July and on the 29th of July Herbert had recovered from being gassed and returned to the 43rd Battalion.
Herbert then suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his back on the 2nd of September in the attack on Scutari Trench in the Somme and was invalid to England.

On the 17th of September Elliott was posted to the Overseas Training Battalion in Longbridge Deverill for 2 weeks and was then transferred to the 9th Training Battalion in Fovant on the 4th of October.
Elliott spent Christmas 1918 here before being transferred to the 2nd Training Battalion in Codford on the 27th of January.
Herbert recovered enough from his wounds to embark for Australia on the 18th of February.

As the Armistice had been signed in November 1918 Elliott never returned to France and embarked from England on board HT Kildonan Castle on the 21st of March 1919, disembarking in Adelaide on the 7th of May.

Elliott was discharged from the AIF on the 21st of June 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.