ELMS, Eric Raynor Vivian
| Service Numbers: | 1962, S982 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | General Hospitals - WW2 |
| Born: | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia, 1 August 1898 |
| Home Town: | Maylands (SA), Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Sturt Street State School |
| Occupation: | French Polisher |
| Died: | 12 February 1963, aged 64 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Sturt Street Public School Great War Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 9th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1916: | Involvement Private, 1962, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 10 Feb 1916: | Embarked Private, 1962, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Warilda, Adelaide |
World War 2 Service
| 29 Jul 1940: | Involvement Lieutenant, S982 | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Wayville, SA | |
| 29 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, S982 | |
| 3 Dec 1943: | Discharged Lieutenant, General Hospitals - WW2 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Eric Raynor Vivian Elms was born on the 1st of August 1898 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. He was the son of jeweller, Ernest Charles Elms, and Hariett Elms. His brother, Allan Edwin Harry Elms was also a soldier during World War 1. Elms’ family lived on Augusta Street, Maylands, South Australia and Elms attended Sturt Street State School. Prior to the war, Elms was a French polisher.
According to the Attestation paper, Elms was 5 feet and 5 inches tall (165.1 cm), he weighed 126 lbs, and his chest measurement was 31.33 inches. Elms had a fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and his Religious Denomination was Church of England.
On the 20th of October 1915, Eric Raynor Vivian Elms was enlisted. On the Attestation paper, it was recorded that he was 21 years old and 2 months, however, by reviewing the dates, he was only 17. When Elms was enlisted, he was assigned the rank, Private.
His unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia on board His Majesty’s Australian Transport A69 Warilda on 10 February 1916. He joined the 14th Reinforcements of the 9th Light Horse Regiment before being transferred to the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC) on the 8th of April 1916.
On the 20th of June 1916, Elms embarked Alexandria aboard Huntsend and disembarked at Marseilles on the 30th of June 1916. Throughout 1916-1917, Elms served with the 5th DAC in France. The main battle that Eric Raynor Vivian Elms was a part of in the DAC for the 5th Australian Division was the Battle of Fromelles.
Elms had repeated illnesses and injuries which meant he spent a large quantity of 1916-1917 in hospital. On the 27th of October 1916, Elms was hospitalised with influenza. On the 4th of May 1917, Elms had an accidental fractured right leg and was required to travel to England for treatment. On the 15th of July 1917 Elms was granted furlough (leave) until the 1st of August 1917 to recover from his fractured leg.
In August 1917, he was medically classified B1A1 (only fit for certain duties), then later in August he was classified B1A2 (fit for certain light/base duties abroad).He returned from England to France later that year where he was in the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD). During 1918 he was again hospitalised several times with illness and impaired vision. On the 19th of September 1918, Elms returned to his unit from base depot. On the 9th of November 1918 Elms was discharged to 5th Division Artillery HQ and on the 16th of November 1918 he rejoined his unit. On the 6th of September 1919 Elms returned to Australia from England on Berrima HMAT.
On the 24th of June 1919, Eric Raynor Vivian Elms married Isabella Harding. At the time of marriage, Eric was 21 years old, living at Wyke Regis camp. Isabella was 27 years old and a spinster. She was a worker at the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (W.A.A.C) and she lived at 3, May Terrace, Wyke Regis. Isabella was the daughter of Levi Harding who was a gardener who died before their marriage.
Eric lived until the age of 64. He passed away on 12 February 1963 and was buried at Centennial Park, Derrick Gardens, path 23/705.
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