ELLIOTT, Joseph Thomas

Joseph, a son of Thomas and Catherine Elliott, lived at Elsmore near Inverell NSW. His Irish born father had lived in the district since the 1850s. At the age of forty-three Joseph enlisted at Inverell in October 1916. Elsmore citizens organised a ‘send off’ for him at Elsmore School prior to him attending a formal farewell for a large group of recruits at Inverell.

Joseph joined the 13th Battalion, 23rd Reinforcement and sailed from Australia for England on HMAT A72 Beltana in November 1916. He was ill with pneumonia upon arrival in January 1917 and transferred to hospital for eight weeks. Eventually he was declared medically unfit and returned to Australia where he was medically discharged in January 1918.

After the War, Joseph eventually worked in Sydney where he lived with his widowed Mother. He died in 1936 and was buried at the Field of Mars Cemetery.

Joseph has his name recorded on the Elsmore Roll of Honor and the Loyal Elsmore MUIOOF Lodge Honor board. He had been a member of this Lodge for many years.