ELLIOTT, James

When James enlisted at Inverell in December 1915, he stated he was born at Temora NSW and that his father was William Elliott of Myall Brae, Delungra.  He was a twenty six year old farmer and both he and his father had taken up Closer Settlement blocks on Myall Creek Station in 1905.

James joined with the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs who departed from Inverell on 12 January 1916.  He became a member of the 33rd Battalion, C Company which trained at Armidale and Rutherford prior to sailing from Australia in May 1916.  After arriving in England the Battalion trained at Salisbury Plain as part of the 3rd Division which was sent to France in November.

During the Battle of Messines in June 1917 James was wounded and then for a second time in October when he was sent to England with a gunshot wound to his foot.  Three months later he returned to his unit and in April 1918 was gassed. This required his evacuation to England again until July.  The following month he was wounded a fourth time and invalided to England with a gunshot wound to his leg. In December he returned to his unit in France until March 1919 and then came back to Australia in May.

Whilst James was away at the War his father left the district in 1917. James sold his land at Delungra in 1923..

Private James Elliott’s name is recorded on the Delungra and Inverell Honor Rolls.