Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From How We Served

The final resting place for; - 2148 Private Vincent Joseph Elliott of Launceston, Tasmania and Fitzroy, Victoria, had been employed as a laborer when he enlisted for War Service on the 8th of January 1915.

Vincent was allocated to reinforcements for the 5th Battalion 1st AIF and was embarked for Egypt and further training on the 25th of June.

By the 5th of August, Vincent had arrived in the trenches of Gallipoli where he was formally taken on strength with his Unit, and within a fortnight of his arrival he was wounded in action on the 17th of August by bomb wounds to his right thigh and buttock.

Vincent was evacuated for hospitalization in Egypt where he arrived on the 25th of August and was admitted into the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Cairo, and following his recovery he was sent to the 2nd Auxiliary Convalescent Depot.

Here, Vincent was again deemed fit for further service and was sent back to Gallipoli, where he was formally taken back on strength with his Battalion on the 20th of December, in the last weeks of the Dardanelles campaign.

With the general evacuation of Gallipoli, Vincent returned to Egypt with his Battalion and by the 13th of March 1916, he had transferred to the 2nd Machine Gun Company, and with this Unit he was embarked for France, departing Egypt on the 30th of March.
Aside a slight bout of illness, Vincent’s service in the trenches of Northern France would be continuous, until he was again wounded in action on the 3rd of November 1916, having sustained a gunshot wound to his left arm.

Vincent was again evacuated for hospitalization and was sent to England where he was admitted into the 1st Southern General Hospital on the 9th of November.

From here Vincent would be sent to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield for further treatment on the 6th of April 1917.

Although seen as recovered, Vincent remained at Harefield where he was detached from his Unit for light duties, until he was again admitted into hospital being diagnosed as suffering from mitral disease of the heart.

Now deemed as no longer fit for further active service, Vincent was repatriated back to Australia as an invalid due to ill health, departing England on the 25th of August 1917.

Following his safe return to Australia, Vincent received his official discharge from the 1st AIF for his re-entry into civilian life on the 10th of December 1917.

Vincent’s health due to his War Service would be forever affected following his official discharge, and whilst residing at his parent’s home, Vincent’s sudden death took place on the 10th of November 1928. Vincent was aged 35 at the time of his passing.

Following his premature death, Private Vincent Elliott, a twice wounded veteran of the ‘Great War’ was formally laid to rest within Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria.