Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Elliot was not a young man when he enlisted, being almost 40 years of age. He joined the 16th Battalion in Egypt during early 1916 and was then badly wounded at Pozieres on 12 August 1916 (Shell Shock, gunshot wounds back and elbow). He was evacuated to England and returned to France in early 1917. He was awarded a Military Medal for bravery at Bullecourt on the 11 April 1917. This action cost the Battalion 650 casualties of the 800 who went into action. Elliot was wounded in the head during the attack but continued on and fired his Lewis Gun for hours in the captured German trench. When eventually forced to retreat he fought his way back to the Australian lines, carrying his Lewis Gun and was again wounded. Hit in the scalp and forearm he was again evacuated to England. During this time in England, he was married to Ellen Forrest in Bristol England.

When recovered he joined his unit again in time for the Battle of Polygon Wood in Belgium and was awarded a Bar to the Military Medal for his conspicuous gallantry near Zonnebeke on the 26-28 September 1917. He was again in charge of a Lewis Gun team with which he led with much skill and daring, under heavy shell fire. When his platoon was caught in a barrage, 3 men were killed and 10 wounded. He remained behind attending to the wounded and made sure they were all carried to a Dressing Station. This was done for over an hour under extremely heavy shell fire and he was responsible for saving many lives. He served throughout 1918 and eventually left England for return to Australia on the 9 December 1919, with his wife and a new daughter born during June 1919.

After the war James became a very successful farmer in the Korrelocking district of Western Australia. He also had a son, born in 1920, Edward John Elliot.

The son joined the RAAF and the following article appeared in the West Australian Newspaper of 19 April 1944,

GALLANTRY AWARD D.F.C. to Korrelocking. Mr James Elliot, pioneer settler of the Korrelocking district, has been informed in a letter conveying the congratulations of the Minister for Air (Mr Drakeford) and of the Air Board, that his son, Flying-Officer E. J. Elliot, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Mr Elliot, who served with the 16th Battalion, First AIF, and was awarded the Military Medal and Bar, said on Saturday that his son John was born at Wyalkatchem, near Korrelocking, and was now 23 years of age. His education had been limited to the 6th standard at the North Korrelocking school, where there were never more than 15 pupils. To get into the RAAF, Flying-Officer Elliot educated himself, attending night lectures arranged by the RAAF. He received his final training in England and was posted to a Wellington bomber with an English crew. The citation is as follows: "Flying-Officer Elliot has completed a tour of operations which has been outstanding for consistently good bombing results. He has attacked targets at Naples, Messina and Taranto. Throughout he has set an inspiring example by his keenness, cheerfulness, courage and determination.”