ELSTON, William Ernest
| Service Number: | 27 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 October 1914, Perth, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Camperdown, Victoria, Australia, 10 May 1869 |
| Home Town: | Wogan Hills, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Perth, Western Australia, 25 May 1955, aged 86 years |
| Cemetery: |
Dalwallinu Public Cemetery, Dalwallinu Shire, Western Australia |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
Biography contributed by Claude McKelvey
William Ernest Elston served in two contingents in the South African (Boer) war and again in WW1. First service was as a Private rising to Sergeant S.N. 27, 3rd Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer war. Second service, joined in South Africa as Lientenant (Supernumerary) with the 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer war. Third service was as a Lieutenant rising to Captain, 16th Infantry Battalion AIF, WW1.
When he passed in Western Australia in May 1955 an obituary covering his life and military service was published in the North-Eastern Courier on 2 Jun 1955 with partial extract transcribed below (see links for full obituary)
Death of Mr. W. Elston- North-Eastern Courier (Perth), 2 Jun 1955, p. 1.
After a very lengthy illness, Mr. W. Elston of Pithara, died in Perth on Tuesday, May 24, aged 87 years. He had been farming in the Pithara district for well over 40 years and was held in the highest esteem by the whole of the community.
The late Mr. Elston served in World War 1 with the A.I.F. and held the rank of captain. He fought in the Gallipoli campaign and was captured. He was a foundation member of the Pithara sub-branch of the R.S.L. Mr. Elston was a widower, his wife having predeceased him several years ago.
His remains were interred in the Church of England portion of the Dalwallinu cemetery last Firday afternoon, several pioneers of the district attending at the graveside, where Rev. R. S. Judge read the service.......
....Father's Footsteps
The late Mr. Elston was born at Ararat, in Victoria, and was a son of the late Mr. W. Elston, who was manager of the National Bank of Queensland. Mr. Elston followed in his father's footsteps for a while so far as the bank was concerned and was a bank clerk at the age of 19 years, serving as a bank officer at Bairnsdale, Victoria. He became interested in stock and station work and left Victoria for Queensland where he was manager of Granada Station for about 24 years.
From Queensland Mr. Elston enlisted for active service in the Boer War. Arriving in Western Australia in 1912, he came to Pithara, settling on the land in that good district in August, 1912. When World War 1 broke out, he was one of the first to enlist from Pithara and his unit was the 16th Btn., commanded by Col. W. O. Mansbridge, who frequently called upon him whenever he passed through Pithara. Mr. Elston was one of the Anzacs who landed on Gallipoli on the early morning of April 25, 1915.
In the early years he was a playing member of both the East Pithara cricket and tennis clubs, acquitting himself very creditably at each of the sports mentioned. Indeed at 67 years of age, he was a competitor at the Easter tournament of the Dalwallinu and Ballidu Tennis Association at Pithara.....
William Ernest Elston was born on 10 May 1869 (though BDM Victoria register shows 1868) in Victoria, a son to William Leo Elston and Eleanor Maria Elston (nee Wigg). He married Rose Linton Pofferwell and they had at least 1 child.
Click images to start slideshow.