Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born March 1893 in Yarrawonga, Victoria. 

Maternal Grandfather William Bellingham Cairnes (WBC) 
(b.06/05/1832 Dublin Ireland - d. 19/03/1923 "Burreel" Elsternwick, VIC) and
Grandmother Elizabeth Cairnes (nee Matthews)
(b. 21/061842 Leicestershire, England - d. 16/07/1909 "Cairnesville" Yarrwonga, VIC)
- both buried in the same crypt at Yarrawonga Cemetery, Yarrawonga, VIC.
Grandfather William came from a family based in Northern Ireland, where there was a long
tradition of both military education and participation in the officer class, representing King
and Country (generational). One of his uncles wrote authoritative books on Wellington and
Waterloo.

William's father Montgomery, was  a military man. William also lost  brothers,  and uncles
and cousins to war in the 19th century. So he was well aware of the consequences of war
that ripple through the generations.

Elizabeth's parents:
Mary age 33, with her husband Robert Matthews, age 34 (and daughter Elizabeth Mary, age 12), arrived in Adelaide, South Australia, on 27th October 1854, on the ship Lord Raglan after 99 days at sea, having departed from Plymouth, England.  The family’s arrival in Adelaide, was in the winter of 1854 and they moved to Castlemaine, VIC soon thereafter, at the height of the Victorian Goldrush.

After having 16 children Grandmother Elizabeth Cairnes (nee Matthews) dies in Yarrawonga,
67 years young.

James' Father HARRY ELVINS (b. Truro, SA - d. 1938 East Malvern, VIC)
             Harry's father James Hawkey Elvins and Mother Frances Elvins (nee Martyn).
1882  married
Mother MARY ELIZABETH ELVINS (nee Cairnes - 2nd child of WBC)
             (b. 1859 Castlemaine, VIC - d. 1942 Greensborough, VIC),
1915 lived at "Meledor" Malcolm St, Mansfield, VIC
1918 lived at 9 Merston St, Caulfield, VIC
1920 lived at "Glen Rae," Balnarring, VIC
1922 lived at 43 Park Crescent, Kew, VIC

James' Siblings (9)
William Leslie ELVINS  b. May 1883 Yarrawonga, VIC - d. 20/01/1952 Carlton, VIC
                    buried in Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, VIC
   m.  1913 - Florence (Florrie) Cassie Elvins (nee JACK)
                   (b. 01/03/1890 Stawell, VIC - d. 27/04/1954 in Richmond, VIC)
                    buried in Warrigal Cemetery, Heidelberg, VIC
                    lived at lived at Grandview Hotel
         1932    divorced
Nelly ELVINS  b. 1884 Yarrawonga, VIC - d. 1963 Melbourne, VIC
   m.  1914  - Roland Peter BAKER (b. 1878 Castlemaine, VIC - d. 1938 Toorak, VIC 60 years)
John Martyn ELVINS  b. 1886 Yarrawonga, VIC - d. 1947 Black Rock, VIC
   m.  1914  - Emily (Emmie) Eliza Elvins (nee JACK & nee JUNKER)
                   (born. Beetchenow in 1861 in Collingwood, VIC - d. 19/05/1933 in Black Road, VIC)
                    buried with 1st husband in Stawell Pleasant Creek Public Cemetery, Stawell, VIC
                    m1. 1884 to Dr Robert Nelson Jack
                                      (b. 1853 Tyrone, Ireland - d.01/04/1892 Stawell, VIC)
                    m2. 1893 to Wilhelm Hubert Junker in Collingwood
   ***** Emily is the mother of William Leslie Elvins wife Florence Cassie Jack*****
                   lived at Grandview Hotel
Harry Cairnes ELVINS  b. 13/08/1887 Yarrawonga, VIC - d. 1972 Canterbury, VIC
   held a position as "Accountant" - Australian Soldiers Repat Fund (1906 - 1916)
                                                  (Sept. 1916 Prime Minister's Department)
   m.  1914 - Cora Elvins (nee DIMOND - b. 1891 Richmond, VIC - d. __)
Elizabeth Mary ELVINS  b. 1889 Yarrawonga, VIC - d. 1977 Carlton, VIC)
   m.  1919 - John William CARTER
Frances Winifred ELVINS  b. 1889 Yarrawonga, VIC - d. 1981 Templestowe, VIC)
   m.  1917 - Herbert Lyndsay DAWSON (b. 1892 Footscray, VIC - d. 1958 Fitzroy, VIC 66 years)
Madge Marie ELVINSs  b. 1889 Yarrawonga, VIC - d. 1916 Mansfield, VIC)
Esmee Grace ELVINS  b. 1897 Geelong, VIC - d. 1899 Geelong, VIC - Geelong Eastern Cemetery)
Ruth Una Hazel ELVINS  b.  1900 Geelong, VIC
   m. Kenneth Adelberg GREENWAY

James came from a very long line of military men on his mother's side.

Next of kin in service:
Brothers
5663   Staff Sergeant William Leslie ELVINS - 1st AGH - Dental Corps
           Wife Florence (Florrie) Carrie Elvins (nee Jack)
                   (daughter of Emily Eliza Jack, now John Martyn Elvins wife)
                   lived at Grand View Hotel, Fairfield Park, VIC
           12/07/1915   enlisted in Melbourne, VIC  -  32 years of age
           17/07/1915   embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A67 Orsova
                               as a Private with Dental Corps, 1st Australian General Hospital
           17/10/1916    returned to Australia onboard HT Ajana
           08/12/1916    disembarked into Australia 
           04/01/1917    discharged from service (chronic rheumatism & malaria)
           20/01/1952    passed away
           Buried in:       Carlton Cemetery, Carlton,  VIC

4180   Lance Corporal John Martyn ELVINS  - 7th Battalion
           Mother is Mary Elizabeth Elvins (nee Cairnes)
           Wife:  Mrs Emily Eliza Elvins (nee JACK & nee JUNKER),
                    lived at Grandview Hotel, Fairfield Park, VIC
           23/08/1915  enlisted in Melbourne, VIC - 29 years of age 
           29/12/1915  embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A64 Demosthenes
                              as a Private with 6th Battalion, 13 reinforcements
           28/03/1919   returned to Australia onboard HT City of Poona
           14/05/1919    disembarked into Australia
           06/07/1919    discharged from service
           1947             passed away at Black Rock, VIC
                               His remains were cremated at 'Springvale Botanical Cemetery'
                               and his ashes scattered.

Great-Uncles (mother's side)
145    BOER WAR George Alexander CAIRNES -
          - 6 Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse
          He lived with his father WBC (above) at Yarrawonga, VIC
          24/04/1902    enlisted into Boer War - 32 years of age
                              (to go and fight in South Africa)
          suffered from pneumonia and was unable to proceed overseas

2622   WWI Private Allan Bellingham CAIRNES - 58th Battalion
           He had lived with his father WBC above at 7 Bancroft St, Bendigo, VIC on enlisting.
           03/07/1916    enlisted in Melbourne, VIC - 35 years of age 
           02/10/1916    embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A71 Nestor
                                as a Private with 58th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
           09/02/1919    returned to Australia onboard HT Ascanius
           21/08/1919    discharged from service
           21/09/1948    Alan passed away
           Buried in:       Botany Cemetery
                                RCBD - Roman Catholic FM BD, Position 794

Great - Uncle-in-law (mother's side):
56       BOER WAR Private Bartholomew James GLEESON - 29 years of age
           - 7th Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse
           Wife:  Flora Moama Gleeson (nee Cairnes, daughter of WBC above)
           1902             enlisted into Boer War (to go and fight in South Africa)          
           18/08/1910    tragically he kills himself with potassium cyanide
                               at his home in Richardson Street, Middle Park, VIC
                               Witnessed by his wife. Leaves her destitute.
           19/08/1910   in 'The Western Australian; newspaper -
                              "The police took possession of a farewell letter addressed
                                to Mrs. Gleeson.   It is known that Mr. Gleeson had recently
                                been worried by money matters. He was 37 years of age,
                                and carried on business as a land agent."

Mother's First Cousins:
2607    BOER WAR  Sergeant Charles Beresford Cairnes
             - 3rd New South Wales Imperial Bushmen

WWI British Army - Second Lieutenant Charles Beresford Cairnes
                                C Battery 148th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
                 Father Claudius Beresford Cairnes
                 (b. 6/1/1840 Dublin, Ireland - d. 27/5/1910 Parramatta) and
                 Mother Elizabeth Rouse Cairnes
                 (b. 15/6/1845 - d. 17/5/1930 Darling Point, NSW)
                 Eldest son - 31 years of age on enlisting (b. 7/6/1883)
                 After school, he joined the Colonial Sugar Refining Company
                 1915             left for England
                 June 1916     on active service in France
                 22/04/1917   killed in action at Arras, France (33 years young)
                 Buried in:      St Leger Military Cemetery, St Leger, Arras, France
                 His name is commemorated in:
                 - a Commemorative Book at the Australia War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
                   for those Australians who fought with the British Army.
                 - on Family Headstone in Mays Hill Cemetery, Parramatta, NSW

2463    Lieutenant Beresford Henry Cairnes MC - 2nd Divisional Artillery
            Father Claudius Beresford Cairnes
             (b. 6/1/1840 Dublin, Ireland - d. 27/5/1910 Parramatta) and
             Mother Elizabeth Rouse Cairnes
             (b. 15/6/1845 - d. 17/5/1930 Darling Point, NSW)
             Second son - b.  29/03/1886 Parramatta, NSW
             lived with parents at Eltham Avenue, Darling Point, Sydney, NSW
             04/09/1914   enlisted
             18/10/1914   embarked Sydney, NSW onboard HMAT A8 Argyllshire
                                 as a Gunner with Divisional Ammunition Column Section 1

            02/05/1916    promoted to Lieutenant
            24/09/1918    returned to Australia
            07/11/1918    Awarded MILITARY CROSS - London Gazette
                                for gallantry at Zonnebeke, in Belgium on 23/09/1917.
            After the end of WWI Beresford went to Ceylon to work on the family tea plantation.
            16/06/1930    He died at sea near Malta on his way to England.
            buried in:       Mays Hill Cemetery, Paramatta, NSW - Family grave
           

First Cousins:
2783   Lance Corporal Arthur Leonard Steel - 17th Infantry Battalion
           born Nov. 1897, East Devonport, Tasmania
           Father Arthur Wintle Steel and Mother Emily Bellingham Steel (nee Cairnes)
                                                        (5th daughter of grandfather WBC)
           Arthur lived with his parents at Stroud, NSW on enlisting.
           04/08/1915    enlisted at Gunnedah, NSW - 18 years 11 months of age 
           02/11/1915    embarked Sydney, NSW onboard HMAT A14 Euripides
                                as a Private with 17th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
           01/09/1916     promoted to Lance Corporal with 17th Battalion
           11/08/1918    killed in action, direct hit by enemy shell - France
           Originally buried in Orchard East of Framerville, with a small cross.
           Re-buried in:  Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France
                                Plot VI, Row C, Grave 16
           His name is commemorated on Panel 84 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

4778   Sergeant Howard Cairnes Steel - 20th Battalion
           Father Arthur Wintle Steel and Mother Emily Bellingham Steel (nee Cairnes)
                                                       (5th daughter of grandfather WBC)
           Howard lived with his parents at Stroud, NSW on enlisting.
           1946 - moved to U3/182 Sailor Bay Road, Northbridge, NSW
           08/11/1915  enlisted at Town Hall Recruiting Depot, Sydney, NSW - 19 years of age
           17/12/1915  took oath at Casula, NSW
           14/04/1916  embarked Sydney, NSW onboard HMAT A40 Ceramic
                              as an Acting Sergeant with 20th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
           19/06/1919  returned to Australia onboard HT Militiades
           22/09/1919  discharged from service
           11/04/1931  passed away
           Buried in:    Macquarie Park Cemetery

611918 Captain Arthur Adrian McKay - Australian Medical Corps
            Mother-in-law Theresa Holmes Cairnes
            Wife Mrs A McKay, they lived at 276 Walsh St, South Yarra, VIC on enlisting
            24/06/1918    enlisted in Melbourne, VIC - 32 years of age (b. 18/05/1886)
            17/09/1918    embarked onboard Australian Hospital Ship Kanowna
                                 as a Captain with Australian Medical Corps
            No record of his return - although he survived

79170   Sergeant Cuthbert Cairnes - Broadmeadows Camp, VIC (b.1885)
             Eldest son of Montgomery Cairnes and Alice Duncan Cairnes
             Wife Mrs Jessie Ann Cairnes, c/o Childrens Hospital, Perth, WA
                   lived at  132 Nicholson St, Subiaca, WA
            10/1915        enlisted in Home Service - still serving on this enlistment
            09/08/1918   enlisted in Melbourne, VIC - 33 years of age (b.11/03/1885)
                                appointed to Clerical service with Recruit Depot Battalion, Broadmeadow
                                due to varicose veins and hernia
                                remained in Australia for duration of war
            07/01/1919   discharged from service

397     Sergeant Henry (Harry) Montgomery Cairnes - 1st Field Artillery Brigade
           Father Montgomery Cairnes (b.1862 - dec 1894) and
           Mother Mrs Alice Duncan Cairnes, 12 Hamilton St, Subiaco, WA
                            30/06/1917 moved to 128 Nicholson Rd, Subiaco, WA
           24/08/1914  enlisted in Fremantle, WA - 24 years of age
           18/10/1914  embarked Sydney, NSW onboard Transport A8 Argyllshire
                              Driver with 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Battery 3
           01/07/1916  promoted to Sergeant
           16/07/1917  returned to Australia onboard HMAT Demosthenes
           18/09/1917  disembarked into Fremantle, WA
           19/01/1918  discharged from service

3038   Gunner George (Alec) Alexander Cairnes - 1st Field Artillery Brigade
           Father Montgomery Cairnes (b.1862 - dec 1894) and
           Mother Mrs Alice Duncan Cairnes, now living at 128 Nicholson St Subiaco, WA
           02/08/1915   enlisted in Perth, WA - 23 years of age 
           13/09/1915   embarked Fremantle, WA onboard HMAT Themistocles A32
                               as a Private with 11th Infantry Battalion, 10th reinforcements
           28/02/1919   returned to Australia onboard HT Anchises
           07/04/1919   disembarked into Albany, WA
           03/06/1919   discharged from service
           21/08/1972   passed away
           cremated:     Plaque in Western Australia Garden of Remembrance

Captain  Henry Francis Herbert ELVINS - Army Medical Corps
               Father James Elvins and Mother Bessie Cooke (nee Dick)
                        lived at 32 De Graves Street, Parkville, Victoria
              03/09/1916    enlisted in Melbourne, VIC - 41 years of age (b.14/01/1875)
              07/10/1916    marched in to 14th Australian General Hospital, Kashger, Egypt
              23/01/1917    sick with paratypoid - left Suez, Egypt
              16/03/1917    returned to Australia onboard HT Willochra
              25/04/1917    disembarked into Port of Melbourne
              11/06/1917    2nd enlisting in Melbourne, VIC - 42 years of age
              29/06/1917    embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard RMS Somali
              28/07/1917    Captain reported to Headquarters x Egypt in London
              27/04/1919   tonsilitis - admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital
              14/07/1919   embarked Alexandria, Egypt onboard HT Magalena for UK
              27/08/1919   granted furlo (leave - in reduction of long service leave to
                                  which he would be entitled on return to Australia)
              13/09/1919   returned from leave, in London
              29/09/1919   returned to Australia onboard HT Asconius, ex England
              21/11/1919   appointment terminated
              ___?             married - Ethel Maud Elvins (d. 03/12/1988)
              29/08/1960   passed away
              cremated:     Fawkner Memorial Park, Fawkner, VIC
                                  Garden of Remembrance, Wall 3

25/09/1946  Aunt Emily Bellingham Steel (nee Cairnes) noted she had four more sons
that enlisted and returned home safely.

First Cousins:
WWII  NX23054  Alan Bellingham STEEL  (b. 24/05/1901 Latrobe, Tasmania)
          30/05/1940   enlisted in Mosman, NSW (place of enlisting Paddington, NSW)
          last rank:      Lance Corporal with NSW L OF C A/CS OFFICE
          17/02/1944   discharged from service
 

James was described on enlisting as 22 years 4 months of age; single; 5' 5" tall; 8 stone
8 lbs; fair complexion; blue eyes; fair hair; Methodist

08/07/1915     enlisted at Mansfield, VIC
14/07/1915     place of enlisting Melbourne, VIC

15/10/1915     appointed to 6th reinforcements, 22nd battalion, Broadmeadows Camp

27/10/1915     embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses
                      as a Private with 22nd Battalion, 6th Reinforcement

24/02/1916     allotted to and proceeding to join 7th Infantry Battalion, ex Zeitoun
24/02/1916     taken on strength of 7th Infantry Battalion, Serapeum

26/03/1916     embarked to join British Expeditionary Forces, ex Alexandria
31/03/1916     disembarked into Marseilles, France

20/08/1916     shell shock, admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, France
                      transferred to 1st A.R. Station, France
23/08/1916     returned to duty, France

26/07/1917     granted furlo (leave) to England
10/08/1917     rejoined as Private with 7th Infantry Battalion, France

20/09/1917     hit by a shell and killed out right - received in action, Polygon Wood, Belgium

Originally buried in the field where he was killed, his grave was never relocated.

His name is commemorated on:-
                  - Panel 7 at The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium
                  - Panel    at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Medals:       1914/15 Star (20560); British War medal (22496), Victory medal (22328)
                  Memorial Plaque and Scroll ( 

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  21/01/2017.  Lest we forget.

An enormous thank you to Linda Cairnes and all the extended Cairnes descendants
for all their family details (see link attached).