Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born 04 August 1893 at Norwood, SA

Son of Ernest Alfred TOLLEY and Ada Rosalie nee EBSWORTH

Died 08 February 1966 at Nuriootpa, SA

Elderton was the name given to a vineyard that was first
planted on the banks of the North Para River in Nuriootpa
in 1894 by early German settlers, the Scholz family. In 1916, it
was purchased by Samuel Elderton Tolley who built himself a
sprawling homestead on the Estate and sold the fruit to his
family’s winery. It was run successfully for many years, but
became derelict in the early years of the vine pull (circa 1975).

Service Papers not fully integrated:

Enlisting on the 5th August, 1915 at Adelaide, Sam Tolley declared he was single, 22 years old and his occupation had been a distiller and vigneron.  

He applied for Commission rank on the 30th December, 1915, having previously served 4 years in the volunteer cadets.

Recieved Commission of 2nd Lieutenant on the 20th January, 1916 at Adelaide.

He embarked with A Company of the 43rd Battalion at Outer Harbour on HMAT Afric (A19) on the 9th of June, 1916. The Battalion sailed to Albany in Western Australia first where they arrived on the 13th before sailing for Colombo on the 14th. They commenced training drills onboard the next day and continued until the reached Colombo on the 26th of June. Sam Tolley was admitted to the ships hospital on the 3rd of July, 1917, sick, however, was released the same day. Training drills continuted they reached the Mediterranean Sea on the 13th of July. The Battalion disembarked at Marseilles on the 20th of July, 1916 and took the a Troop Train to Harve which they reached two days later. On the 23rd of July they crossed the English Channel and reached there camp the next day at Lark Hill. Several days later after setting into there temporary home the Battalions training commenced.

On the 25th of November, 1916 the Battalion crossed the English Channel again via Southampton and arrived at Le Harve in France on the 26th of November. The battalion then marched to Steenwerck where they were billeted nearby. They commenced training again nearby on the 30th of November. On the 1st of December, 1916 2nd Lieutenant Sam Tolley was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.  On the 23rd of December, 1916 the Battalion moved billets to just outside Armentieres and until the 29th of December the battalion sent working parties to the front line. The 43rd Battalion relieved the 41st Battalion during the night of 29th of December, 1916 and saw in the new year in the trenches near Armentieres.

Throughout the early months of 1917 Sam Tolley and the 43rd Battalion were rotated through the trenches in the Armentiers 'Nursery' sector of line. Then on the 9th of April, 1917 Lieutenant Sam Elderton Tolley was Mentioned In Despatches from Field Marshal Douglas Haig's office.       

After the war Sam Tolley started his own vineyard in Nuriootpa, the Barossa Valley. Although no longer owned by his family the vineyard and cellar door is one of the most successful wine brands in the Barossa Valley - Elderton Wines (possibly named after his middle name.) The vineyard still has some of the original vines, planted after the war by Sam Tolley, producing some of their most highly acclaimed wines.