ELPHICK, Arthur Thomas
| Service Numbers: | 1262, 1261 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Owen, South Australia, 28 June 1883 |
| Home Town: | Wallaroo, Copper Coast, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Sisters of St. Joseph Catholic School |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 6 May 1915, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Buried at sea, H.M.H.S "Gascon", Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing, Wallaroo WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1262, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1262, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 3 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1261, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Wounded on 3rd of May 1915, gunshot wound to right buttock. Died from wounds three days later on 6th of May. (Note: His final rank was Private, ignore mentions of L/Corporal) | |
| 6 May 1915: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 1262, 16th Infantry Battalion (WW1), ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1262 awm_unit: 16 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1915-05-06 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Arthur Thomas Elphick was born in the town of Owen, South Australia, on the 28th of June 1883, although his hometown was Wallaroo. He attended school at the Sisters of St. Joseph Catholic School. Living with his widowed mother, he resided in Wallaroo for most of his life, employed as a labourer.
He was 5"9, with blue eyes and brown hair.
When he was 18, the outbreak of war in South Africa sparked his interest. Expressing his interest to his mother, she did not allow him to enlist.
Before WW1, he had previous military experience, first in the old volunteer forces, and later serving in Captain Henderson's "B" Company, S.A.I.R. He was one of the best shots in the Company.
On the 18th of September 1914, aged 31 years, Private Arthur Thomas Elphick enlisted under the 16th Infantry Battalion. A few months later, on the 22nd of December, he embarked for Egypt on the HMAT A40 Ceramic. After months of training, he went to Gallipoli with his battalion.
There are, however, records of his death. On the 3rd of May 1915, he was shot in the right buttock at Gallipoli. Three days later, the 32 year old Private, with a widowed mother and no other immediate family, died of his wounds aboard the H.M.H.S "Gascon."
He was buried at sea on the same ship, and memorialised at the Lone Pine Memorial, located at Gallipoli. His name is written in the War Memorial in Adelaide, under the 16th Infantry Battalion.
He was awarded three medals, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
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