Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Born 14 January 1875

Father James ELVINS and Mother Bessie Cooke (nee Dick)
lived a Malop Street, Geelong, VIC

Sibling:
Brother  HARRY ELVINS (b. Truro, SA - d. 1938 East Malvern, VIC)
1882 married
Sister-in-law 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

Nieces & Nephews:
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)
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)
James Hawkey ELVINS  b. March 1893 Yarrawonga, VIC - d. 20/09/1917 Belgium
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

Henry was related to a very long line of military men.

Next of kin in service:
Nephews:
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 Infantry Battalion

2644   Private James Hawkey ELVINS - 7th Infantry Battalion
           08/07/1915  enlisted at Mansfield, VIC
           27/10/1915  embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses
                              as a Private with 22nd Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
           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
           20/09/1917   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.

Great-Uncles (mother's side)
145    BOER WAR George Alexander CAIRNES
          - 6 Battalion Australian Commonwealth Horse
          He lived with his father 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 Alan 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

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)
           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."

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

Lieutenant  WWI - Charles Beresford Cairnes - British Army
                 C Battery 148th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
                 Father Arthur Wintle Steel and Mother Emily Beresford Steel (nee Cairnes)
                 Eldest son - 31 years of age on enlisting
                 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 Arrars, France
                 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.

2783   Lance Corporal Arthur Leonard Steel - 17th Infantry Battalion
           Father Arthur Wintle Steel and Mother Emily Beresford Steel (nee Cairnes)
           Arthur lived with his parents at Stroud, NSW on enlisting.
           04/08/1915    enlisted ___ - 19 years of age 
           02/11/1915    embarked Sydney, NSW onboard HMAT A14 Euripides
                                as a Private with 17th Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
           Last rank:      Lance Corporal with 17th Battalion
           11/08/1918    killed in action
           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 Beresford Steel (nee Cairnes)
           Howard lived with his parents at Stroud, NSW on enlisting.
           08/11/1915     enlisted ______  - 19 years of age
           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

397     Sergeant Henry Montgomery Cairnes - 1st Field Artillery Brigade
           Father Montgomery Cairnes (dec) and
           Mother Mrs Alice Duncan Cairnes, 12 Hamilton St, 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
           16/07/1917    returned to Australia onboard ____

3038   Gunner George Alexander Cairnes - 1st Field Artillery Brigade
           Father Montgomery Cairnes (dec) 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

79170   Sergeant Cuthbert Cairnes - Broadmeadows Camp, VIC
            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

Henry's previous service:
11/10/1907   Medical Officer with No.2 Victorian Battalion, Commonwealth Cadet Corps
                    to be Medical Officer No.3 Victorian Battalion, Commonwealth Senior Cadet Corps

Lived at 32 De Graves Street, Parkville, Victoria on enlisting.

03/09/1916   1st enlisted in Melbourne, VIC - 41 years of age

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)

2 daughters:  June Elvins
                     Patricia Elvins

09/08/1927   a Son - James Weston Elvins
                   ordained as a Methodist Minister in the Myrtleford-Bright parish, later working
                   at Stawell and Koonung Heights and with the Wesley Central Mission.
                   Later worked part-time ministry in many congregations including Cranbourne,
                   Dandenong North, St Columba's, Balwyn, Tallangatta and Grove, Box Hill.
                   - Rev Weston died at Baptcare Karana Community, Kew, VIC on 16/05/2016.

29/08/1960   passed away

cremated:     Fawkner Memorial Park, Fawkner, VIC
                    Garden of Remembrance, Wall 3

Submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  27/01/2017.  Lest we forget.