ELLICOTT, Richard and Victor

Richard and Victor were sons of John and Caroline Ellicott of Moree NSW. Both boys were born at Inverell where the family lived from about 1891 until 1900.

Richard first enlisted at Goondiwindi Qld in 1915 however he was discharged after failing the riding test. At the age of twenty five he enlisted again in Sydney in January 1916 and joined the 36th Battalion, B Company which departed Australia on HMAT A72 Beltana in May. After arriving in England the Battalion had further training until sent to France in November.

Richard was Killed in Action in France on 18 July 1918 and buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, France

Victor enlisted in March 1916 when he was twenty three years old. He joined the 33rd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement and left Australia on HMAT A68 Anchises in August. After six weeks training in England his Battalion was sent to France in November.

Victor was wounded in action in May 1917 and transferred to England for treatment of a gunshot wound to his thigh. He rejoined his unit in the field in February 1918. Two months later he was wounded in action again and subsequently died on 6 April 1918. He is buried at Picquigny British Cemetery, France. His few remaining effects were among those missing when the ship transporting soldiers’ possessions to Australia was lost at sea.