Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leading Aircraftman Herbert John Elliott (Service No:159961) initially served in the Air Training Cadets (ATC) from 13 May 1943 with No 1 Wing 13 Squadron (Cadet No:3552). He enlisted in the RAAF on 12 June 1945 as an Aircraftman I - mustered as General Hand - at No 1 Recruiting Centre Melbourne. Described by his employer as 'industrious, smart and courteous' (NAA), he was described in his Application Interview in 1945 as 'Bright type of youth, keen and industrious, and shows definite promise of advancing himself still further. Applied himself to ATC studies making good progress' (NAA). LAC Elliott was attached to 1 Stores Depot (SD) at Discharge on 16 May 1946.

John was born in Camperdown, Victotira in 1927, eldest of two children of Herbert White Elliott (b1899 in Hamilton, Victoria) and Florence Victoria Margaret Hasell (b 1904 in Caramut, Victoria). Herbert was a Clerk in Hamilton in 1926 when he and Flornece married in Portland. Herbert and Florence lived in Camperdown, Casterton and Melbourne where they raised their family and Herbert was a Linotype Operator. They were divorced in 1935 and Herbert died later that year. Florence remarried in Portland in 1942.

John first worked as a Telegraph Messenger when he left school, and was a Grocer's Assistant in Portland when he enlisted in the RAAF. Following his Discharge, John returned to Portland where he was a Carpenter in 1950 when he married Daphne Roma Roberts (b1928 in Warracknabeal, Victoria) - Daphne was a Teacher in Portland. John and Daphne settled in Portland where they raised their family and John worked as a Carpenter. In the early 1970s John and Daphne moved to Bundaberg, QLD where John worked as a Carpenter until his death in 1973. Following John's death, Daphne worked in Bundaberg as a Teacher, and died in 2023.