S4857
ELIX, Otto William
| Service Numbers: | 70, 70a |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 February 1915, at Keswick |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Jamestown, South Australia, May 1892 |
| Home Town: | Jamestown, Northern Areas, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tinsmith |
| Died: | 5 June 1972, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 70, 27th Infantry Battalion, at Keswick | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 70, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 70, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 70a, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Otto William Elix's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Otto William Elix was born in the year 1892 in Jamestown, South Australia. Prior to the war, he worked as a Tinsmith. His occupation included repairing things made of tin or other light metals. Otto William Elix was unmarred with no children. He had a fair complexion and grey eyes. He stood 5ft6in feet tall (167cm) with a weight of 144lbs (65kg). Otto’s mother was Mary Elix. He was the only child in his family that we know of.
On the 9th of February 1915, at the age of 22, Otto enlisted in Keswick, South Australia, in the 27th Battalion. His journey to war began with a departure from Adelaide on the 31st May 1915 with the 27th battalion. He boarded the HMAT A2 Geelong. Initially, Otto went to fight on Gallipoli. However, he got in trouble here for refusing to do fatigues and was awarded 56 days of Field Punishment No. 2. After returning to Egypt, Otto was transferred to the 32nd Battalion, although he missed the fighting at Fromelles. In April 1917 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and in July to Corporal.
On the 12th of October 1917, he was wounded in action during the third battle of Ypres, suffering a wound to the right knee. The battle had already been going on before this. On the 12th of October, their battalion had 49 officers and 913 other ranks, At 3 pm the enemy reported massing in Celtic Wood. Brigade misinformed and artillery dispersed them. At 4.30 pm information came from the Brigade that aeroplane reconnaissance reported all roads leading to the enemy’s front was full of troops. They made preparations as they expected a counter-attack during the night. During the night their artillery kept slow fire on Enemy positions, but no attack developed. On that day their battalion had 19 casualties.
On the 20/10/17 he embarked to Carisbrooke castle ship headed for England. Then, on the 21/10/17 he was admitted to hospital in the V.A area. The hospital was located in Cheltenham which is a town in England located south of Birmingham. His right knee had been shot while fighting near Ypres and needed immediate attention. Over the next few months he recovered from this wound.
On the 1st of May 1918, he started his journey back to France ready to fight again. On 29 September 1918 he was wounded in action again, this time in his right arm and was returned to the UK.
He returned to Australia in early 1919 and was discharged from the AIF on 22 April.
After returning to Australia Otto settled into his new life after receiving his medals(he received these on the 6/4/20). He received a 1914/15 Star medal, a British war medal and a victory medal. Few details of his later life are known.
Bibliography
Details 2016, Adfa.edu.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=90083>.
27th Infantry Battalion 2014, Vwma.org.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/2>.
AWM4 23/44/2 - October 1915 2016, Awm.gov.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1356702?image=2>.
AWM4 23/44/1 - September 1915 2016, Awm.gov.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343898?image=2>.
Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War 2016, Awm.gov.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/AWM4>.
AWM4 23/49/1 - August 1915 2016, Awm.gov.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342637?image=3>.
Otto William Elix 2016, Awm.gov.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1948754>.
AWM4 23/49/27 - October 1917 2016, Awm.gov.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1343145?image=4>.
JamesM 2009, Deciphering soldiers’ records, Great War Forum, Great War Forum, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/139481-deciphering-soldiers-records/?tab=comments#comment-1334543>.
At sea (HMAT Geelong A2) 2016, Awm.gov.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/PL522475>.
Battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres) | Australian War Memorial 2007, Awm.gov.au, viewed 26 March 2021, <https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/battle-of-passchendaele-third-ypres>.