Charles Hazell (Charlie) ELLIOTT CMG, DSO and Bar, VD, MID

ELLIOTT, Charles Hazell

    Service Number: Officer
    Enlisted: 24 August 1914, 8.5 years in Derwent Regiment 7 years as Coy Commander
    Last Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
    Last Unit: 12th Infantry Battalion
    Born: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 19 August 1882
    Home Town: Hobart, Tasmania
    Schooling: Friends School, (Quaker) Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
    Occupation: Cashier
    Died: Cerebro-vascular disease , Newtown, Tasmania, Australia, 27 April 1956, aged 73 years
    Cemetery: Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania
    Cremated PLOT Derwent Gardens, Aust.Imp.Force Arch, 1South, Number 6, B
    Memorials: Australian Mutual Provident Society HR, Hobart Roll of Honour, Lindisfarne Officers of the 12th Battalion Pictorial Honour Roll, North Hobart Friends' School Honour Roll, Tasmanian Amateur Athletics Association
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    World War 1 Service

    24 Aug 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, 12th Infantry Battalion, 8.5 years in Derwent Regiment 7 years as Coy Commander
    20 Oct 1914: Embarked Captain, 12th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Hobart
    20 Oct 1914: Involvement Captain, 12th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
    1 Jan 1915: Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 12th Infantry Battalion
    1 Mar 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 12th Infantry Battalion
    29 Jun 1917: Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Battle for Pozières , Excellent services and powers of leadership during Pozieres.
    29 Jun 1917: Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
    4 Oct 1917: Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and bar, On 15 April the Germans launched a surprise attack at Lagnicourt which threatened the battalion's headquarters. Elliott quickly organized the defence, showing 'a wonderful example of leadership, sangfroid and enthusiasm'. The London Gazette wrote: 'Although the enemy had penetrated our line, and were within 500 yards (457 m) of Battalion Headquarters, he took up a position with batmen, cooks and signallers and checked the enemy's advance, thus enabling the counter-attacking to come forward and drive the enemy back. His action at a most critical time turned what might have been a defeat into a victory'
    18 Apr 1918: Honoured Mention in Dispatches
    12 Dec 1918: Honoured Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, 'Conspicuous service as Commanding Officer during period February-September 1917 showing clever organisation, bravery and untiring energy throughout.'
    17 Jun 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, Officer, 12th Infantry Battalion

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    Biography contributed by Evan Evans

    Extract from Rodney K Quinns, Australian Dictionary of Biography Entry

    Elliott was a gallant soldier, always concerned for the well-being of those under his command. A schoolmate wrote of him in the April 1919 edition of The Friends' School journal: 'The best of Charlie is that, however many decorations he gets, he alters not a bit. Each time a fresh decoration is presented to him he lines the whole battalion up, shows them the medal and says, “Here you are, boys; have a look at this. You won it, not I”. What more could men expect of their commander?'

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