Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Father

Captain Charles Sinclair Elliot Royal Australian Navy died of illness 30 March 1915 Largs Bay South Australia.

Brothers

C.Q.M.S. John Amyand Elliot, 162. 2nd Bn. Killed in action 2nd May, 1915. Age 24. Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli 16.

Captain Alban Charles Elliot M.C. 53rd Battalion AIF, returned to Australia 18 July 1919.

Lieut-Commander William Alexander Elliot M.I.D. H.M.S. Mashona R.N. killed in action at sea 28 May 1941 at age 44. 

Captain Gerald Augustus Elliot M.C. RAF.

The father Captain Charles Sinclair Elliot was born on 26 September 1853. He was the son of Amyand Powney Charles Elliot and Anna Maria Alexander. His father was a Captain in the Bengal Army India. He married Florence Louisa Dudley, and gained the rank of Commander in the service of the Royal Navy. Captain Elliot entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1869. He was on board H.M.S. Endymion - one of the famous Flying Squadron - the first British Fleet to visit Australia, and the last to sail (not steam) around the world. He served in the Egyptian campaign in charge of all transport arrangements at Suakim, and later at Trinkitat, being twice mentioned in despatches. and awarded the Khedive's medal and Egyptian star. In 1905 he was appointed Administrator of Norfolk Island, where he remained for 6 years (constituting a record for the island). On the outbreak of World War I he offered his services to the Naval Board and he died, at the age of 61, whilst a Captain in the service of the Royal Australian Navy, on the 30th March, 1915. He was at the time working at the Naval Staff Office, Largs Bay, South Australia and the cause of death was given as syncope (insufficient oxygen in the brain). He is buried in the Port Adelaide and Suburban Cemetery. He is not included on the Roll of Honour in Canberra or Commemorative Roll but is on the CWGC Roll as an RAN officer. Captain Charles Elliot, Royal Australian Navy, and all of his 5 sons were to serve during the Great War, two of whom also lost their lives, and the second youngest son was killed during the Second World War. The other two surviving sons had distinguished military careers as officers, both being awarded the Military Cross.

Lieutenant Dudley Sinclair Elliot the eldest son was born in 1890. He enlisted in August 1914, and served as a sergeant with the ANMEF, with 3rd Battalion (Tropical Force). This force of about 1500 men landed in German New Guinea in September 1914, principally to capture German radio stations. Dudley Elliot was made a 2nd Lieutenant in September 1915, and returned to Australia in February 1916 for furlough. He joined the AIF and left Australia in October 1916, was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1917 and joined the 35th Battalion in France July 1917. He was killed in action, 12th October, 1917, 27 years of age. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Belgium.

Dudley Sinclair ELLIOT was an officer in the AIF. He had been born in Plymouth, England on 14th January 1890. On his April 1916 Attestation Papers, he gave his occupation as ‘farmer’. However, he was appointed to the Traffic Branch of the Tramways as a conductor on 17th November 1912. In December 1914, he was working out of North Sydney Depot. 

Dudley Elliot left Australia on 19th August 1914 onboard HMAT ‘Berrima’ as part of the Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, 1st Battalion. This force took possession of German occupied territory in islands to the north of Australia. Dudley stayed in Rabaul working in the administration of the territories until he returned to Australia in Janary 1916 on furlough. He was then a 2nd Lieutenant.

During this time in Sydney Elliot enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force which was being raised to fight in Europe. He left Australia again on 25th October 1916 from Sydney, onboard HMAT ‘Ascanius’.   On his Attestation Papers he stated that he was married to Annie Caroline. He  gave his previous service with the AN&MIF and 6½ years’ service in the cadets. He was allotted to the 35th Australian Infantry Battalion. He gave as next of kin at various times both his mother at an address in North Sydney and his wife. His wife’s address varied between Bougainville and c/- an address in London, and ultimately c/- an address in Wynyard.

‘Ascanius’ reached Devonport, UK, on 28th December 1916. In February Elliot was sick with Influenza. Following his recover he spent several months at the School of Instruction, Tidworth. In June 1916 he was promoted to Lieutenant. In July he went to France and was taken in the strength of the 35th Australian Infantry Battalion. He was killed in action on 12th October. No details of the circumstances of his death survive.

Since Elliot has no known grave his name is recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.

Dudley Elliot and his wife had a son, Dudley Charles H, who was granted a pension of 20/- per fortnight from 2nd March 1918 to 2nd March 1934, presumably his 16th birthday. Annie came to Sydney after the war and sought her husband’s service medals. However, because of the changes of address, her location was not found.

- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board