F51

ELLIOT(T)

Parents

Thomas ELLIOT(T) = Ellen PRESCOTT

Married Tuesday 14 February 1893, Parish Church, St Peter, Blackburn¹

Thomas ELLIOT(T):

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Thomas Elliot c 1883

Thomas Elliot c 1893

Thomas Elliot c 1917

Ellen PRESCOTT:

⁵

⁶

⁷

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Ellen Elliot nee Prescott 1928

Ellen Elliot nee Prescott 1935

Children

Gladys Ellen ELLIOT⁹

Born Thursday 27 July 1893, 119 King Street, Blackburn¹⁰
Died Wednesday 22 November 1899, 119 King Street, Blackburn¹¹
Buried Monday 27 November 1899, Blackburn Cemetery CE A 574¹²
birth 5 mo after marriage of Thomas and Ellen
infant death

Reginald Thomas Prescott ELLIOT(T)

Born Thursday 21 March 1895, 119 King Street Blackburn
Christened Sunday 30 June 1895, St Peters, Blackburn
Died Thursday 21 March 1918, near Hesbecourt, Somme, France
Buried probably in an unidentified grave at Pozieres British Cemete
Occupation: Sign Painter, Soldier Territorial Army
Reginald Thomas Prescott Elliot was born at 119 King Street, Blackburn March 21st 1895 and was baptised at St. Peters Church on Sunday, June 30th 1895. As a boy he attended St. Peter's School in Byrom Street. By 1911 Reg's fathers saddle making business at King Street had got into difficulties and the family had moved house to 73 Havelock Street. On leaving school at the age of 13 Reginald became apprenticed to a painter and decorator and later he joined the Territorial Army. By this time the family had moved house again to 21 Stansfeld Street.
At the age of 19, soon after the outbreak of the war, Reginald was called up to join the 1/4th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment with a regimental No.1677. He left home on August 5th 1914 waving goodbye to his mother and girlfriend Ada. By August 20th the battalion had marched to Bury and were stationed at Chesham Fold Camp. Pte. Elliot wrote a short letter home from Bury on September 7th saying that he had finally received orders to travel to Egypt.
Text of letter (the lower left corner of the letter is missing):
"YMCA Bury Sept 7th 1914
Dear Mother,
we have received orders this afternoon to go to Egypt. I've bought a shirt thinking that the shirts etc. (sent by you) will not land in time, for we go in the morning. Remember me to Aunt Bella and Auntie Martha. I will let you have, later, the address of our barracks. I hope you will excuse the lead as [ 3-4 words missing ] engaged for about two hours [ 3-4 words missing] with lads writing home [ 3-4 words missing] father and Connie and [ 3-4 words missing] how long we will be [ 3-4 words missing] the lads are glad we are [ 3-4 words missing] have had three false alarms [ 3-4 words missing] wishes and love to all [ 3-4 words missing] loving son"
Reginald travelled by train with the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, 126th Brigade to Southhampton on September 9th and embarked on H.M.T. DESEADO the following day and the ship sailed that afternoon. They docked at Alexandria, Egypt at dawn on September 25th and travelled by train to Cairo arriving that evening. Quarters were established at the Citadel barracks.
The winter of 1914-15 was spent training in preparation for an expected Turkish attack on the Suez Canal. They also played a lot of football. Dysentry in the camp was a widespread problem which caused a few deaths. A Turkish attack on the Canal eventually came on February 3rd 1915 from across the Sinai Desert. The well prepared British lines and the failure of the Arab tribes to ride to their support forced the Turks to retreat a week later.
On the 16th April 1915 the Division travelled to Port Said. On the morning of May 6th 32 officers and 844 other ranks set sail on H.T. GALEKA. Three day later on May 9th they disembarked at the W Beach "Lancashire Landing" beachhead on the Gallipoli Peninsular joining the invasion force that had taken at ANZAC Cove and Cape Hellas at enormous cost two weeks earlier. The front by this time on Cape Helles was stuck just short of the village of Krithia some three miles inland. An offensive by the East Lancashires on June 4th captured some ground but there was almost no overall progress through that stifling hot summer and balmy autumn.
On October 17th the East Lancashires sailed on the SS ERMINE to rest at the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force base at Mudros Bay on the island of Lemnos. By November 15th and the onset of the early freezing winter they were back at W Beach.
On December 28th Pte. Elliot left "Lancashire Landing" for the last time aboard the PRINCESS ALBERTA and returned to Mudros Bay. By January 9th 1916, the Gallipoli Peninsular had been completely evacuated. On January 15th the East Lancashires sailed on H.M.T. ARCADIAN arriving at Alexandria on the morning of January 17th. From Alexandria they took a train to Cairo then tram cars and arrived at Mena Camp that evening.
For the next year the East Lancashires moved from camp to camp in the Suez Canal area digging trenches and establishing supply bases. On April 5th 1916 an officer and 25 other ranks including Pte. Reg Elliot were transferred to the 126th Brigade Machine Gun Corps. He may have also been promoted to the rank of Corporal at this time which is thought to be related to his part in bringing down an enemy aeroplane. His promotion does not seem to be recorded in official documents but the insignia can be seen in a photograph taken in Blackburn while on home leave during the latter part of 1916. On February 23rd 1917 the East Lancashires left Egypt from Alexandria aboard the TRANSYLVANIA landing at Marseilles, France March 2nd.
In France Reginald was transferred to a machine gun section in the newly arrived 2/5th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment and with a new regimental number of 200265. The 2/5th East Lancs joined the 66th Division, 198th Brigade. Reginald was killed near the village of Hesbecourt on his 23rd birthday, 21st March 1918, during rear-guard actions following the German Spring (Michael) Offensive which pushed the British Expeditionary Force back across the old 1916 Somme battlefield. War Diary for 2/5th through March 1918 WO95/3141

See http://www.1914-1918.net/bat22.htm for account of Battle of St Quentin, 1st Some 1918

Reginald Elliot is probably one of 1,374 unidentified soldiers buried at Pozieres British Cemetery on the road from Albert to Bapaume. There is a memorial in the cemetery with his name inscribed. The names are grouped by regiment. A headstone in Blackburn Cemetery also reads "Pte. R Elliot son of above [Thomas Elliot] killed in France March 21st 1918 aged 23 years"
The British War Medal and Victory Medal (ref H/1/102 B6 1419) and the 1915 Star (ref H/1/258 25) were posthumously awarded. The notification of the British War Medal and the Victory Medal refers incorrectly to No1677 Pte. Elliot, East Lancashire Regt. The 1914/15 Star and Victory medals held by Reg Cooper. Location of BWM is unknown. RTC has commemorative plaque and scroll

No record found in "Burnt Documents"

War Diary 2/5 Bn East Lancashire Feb 1917 to July 1918 WO95/3141 read but need to copy

War Diary 198 Infantry Brigade HQ 1918 jan 1919 may WO95/3139 need to read
War Diary 126 Infantry Brigade 1/4 Bn East lancs WO95/4315 need ti read
Diary of the R T Elliot Memorial, Western Front Expedition
1-4 August 1999

The Expeditionary Force:
Connie and Fred Pickup, Martyn Pickup, Nora and Reg Cooper, Andrea Cooper and John Pearl

An idea was conceived during 1998 for a long overdue family visit to the Somme area of France to see the Pozieres British Cemetery memorial to Great-uncle Reg Elliot who was killed in the area during the Spring Offensive of 1918.

The family gathered at my house in Woking on Saturday 31st July 1999. First to arrive was Cousin Andrea who flew in to Heathrow after attending a TB research conference in Portugal. The "Old Contemptibles" (my parents Connie, Fred, Uncle Reg and Aunt Nora) arrived later that afternoon from Blackburn. Cousin Dawn and partner Adam and children also came for the gathering on their way on holiday.

The evening was fortunately fine and warm and we had a barbecue in the garden including Cumberland sausage and black pudding "imported" from Cockermouth. The children bivouacked in tents which took some pressure off the sleeping accommodation.

The following day, Sunday 1st August, East Lancs and KOYLI WW1 cap badges were issued and we set off in a two car convoy to Gatwick Airport to collect Andrea's man US Army Capt. John Pearl who traveled in from Fort Collins, Colorado. From Gatwick we continued to Folkestone where we caught the Shuttle train to Calais the drove, on the correct side of the road, to the town of Peronne and checked into the Hotel St. Claude. An excellent dinner was had in the courtyard of the hotel. Insults of the 'Allo 'Allo variety were traded between Reg and the waiter.

On Monday the first stop was the Historial de la Grande Guerre museum which was just a short walk from the hotel. Another short walk took us to the "Le Pont de Blackburn" which was a bridge paid for by the people of Blackburn, Lancashire. According to intelligence gleaned by Mrs "Mata Hari" Pickup, the bridge was officially opened 12th Ocober 1924 in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackburn (Alderman J TT and Mrs Ramsey). The deputation from Blackburn also coincidentally stayed at the Hotel St.Claude during their visit.

Leaving Peronne later that morning, we traveled the route taken by the 2/5th and 4th Bn East Lancashires on their way to the Front in February 1918. Radio communications between the cars on walkie-talkies helped with the navigation. We crossed the Somme river over the Pont les Brie on the Amiens to St.Quentin road (crossed by the East Lancs on 25th February 1918) then headed northeast through pretty rolling hills and through the small villages of Cartigny, Hancourt (an overnight camp for the East Lancs) and Hervilly (198th Brigade HQ) to Hesbecourt. Hesbecourt was where the 2/5 Bn where billeted in part-ruined barns and where Reg Elliot was probably killed by shellfire on the foggy morning of 21st March 1918.

We drove on eastwards to the nearby former 1918 front-line villages of Templeaux-le-Guerard and Hargicourt. There were no East Lancs graves found in the numerous small cemeteries in the area that we looked in but it was not an exhaustive search.

Having failed to secure provisions before the long French shop lunch break we were thirsty and stopped for a beer in a caf� in Roisel. We then followed to line of the retreating East Lancs back to Peronne along the Cologne river.

After finding an open supermarket outside Peronne we stocked up and headed towards Pozieres. We picnicked on the way by a pile of rusty unexploded shells and grenades. A leg bone found in the field nearby looked convincingly human.

Pozieres British Cemetery was the next stop. Pozieres is an imposing cemetery on the Albert-Bapaume road which is mostly a memorial to the missing of March 1918. Some 14,600 names are inscribed on the surrounding walls. Reg Elliot was found on panel 42 and the inscription for Nora's grandfather, Tom McGrew was found nearby. A grave was found which contained an unknown soldier of the East Lancs Regiment. It could easily have been the remains of either of the men.

Before returning to our hotel in Peronne we stopped at the large Lochnagar Mine Crater which was detonated beneath the German front line at 07:28 on 1st July 1916.
The next day, Tuesday, we returned to the 1916 Somme battlefield and drove into the town of Albert. The Musee de Abris housed in tunnels beneath the town, and the famous Golden Madonna and the Basilique were seen. Driving north after a picnic in Albert station car park we arrived at the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme area who fell between July 1916 and 20th March 1918. We checked some of the 73,000 inscriptions for familiar names and regiments including the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry which was granddad Frank Pickup's regiment. Frank Pickup survived the War but suffered from TB caught in the trenches.
The Ulster Tower Memorial was next followed by the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park. We had an interesting guided tour of the preserved trenches at the Newfoundland Memorial Park and walked from the British front line across no-mans's land to the German front-line and the infamous Y-ravine beyond.

From Beaumont-Hamel we drove north through Auchonvilliers. We were too late in the day for tea at Avril Williams tearooms as we had planned and so pressed on along the Serre road and down a dusty track to the Sheffield Memorial Park and the simple Accrington brick built memorial to the East Lancs "Accrington Pals". Through the trees and down a shell cratered slope we found the Railway Hollow Cemetery were there were many East Lancs graves including one spookily for a Cpl. F Pickup! We returned to Peronne through Maricourt, a devastated village also adopted by Blackburn in 1921. We also stopped at a German Cemetery at Rancourt.

On the Wednesday morning we breakfasted in the hotel and drove eastwards back through Roisel and crossed over the old front-line along the line of the A26 road and made our way to the large American Cemetery at Bony. The rows of white marble crosses date from September 1918 when the area was retaken.

We then drove back to Calais for the Shuttle train. Overnight camp was established back in Woking. Vodka and caviar (spoils from a recent business trip to Russia) and barbecued chicken was served up by the "Catering Corp" outside on a warm but rainy evening.
The Expeditionary Force was demobilised the following morning when I had to go to work.

Martyn
8 August 1999
The War Diary of R T Cooper
Somme, 30th July - 4th August 1999

The Call Up
Nora and I travelled down to Connie's on the Friday for an overnight stay with them. It was a scorching hot day and we were able to picnic on the shores of Windermere during the midday heat. Many more people had the same idea! It was still a million times better than work! We arrived at Connie's in time for a refreshing cup of tea on the patio and stayed there until quite late when Fred produced one of his excellent evening meals.
We set off on Saturday morning about ten o'clock and had a decent drive down the M6 and M5, again in scorching weather. Nora and I set off before Connie and Fred so that I could take it easy and they could make sure they had everything and all was secured at their house. As pre-arranged we met up again at Warwick services in time for a picnic lunch. Here the surroundings were not exactly Lake District but a welcome break non-the less. We found out later that Dawn and her party had also picnicked there not long before us. It was hot driving but the traffic was not heavy even on the dreaded M25! So we arrived at Martyn and Alison's in good time, late afternoon. Dawn and her family had just arrived and were unpacking and only a few minutes later Connie and Fred arrived, they had enjoyed a more leisurely picnic than us.
We all gathered in Martyn's back garden. Andrea was already there, Martyn having picked her up at Heathrow that morning from her flight from her business/pleasure trip to Portugal. We all enjoyed big hugs and kisses; it was good to be all together once again. Martyn and Adam (Dawn's new partner) busied themselves erecting the tents the kids (Holly and Tom, Natanya and Hannah with Natanya's friend Asha) were going to 'sleep' in during the visit.

Base Camp and Entertaining the Troops
Field Marshall Pickup M.D the leader of the expeditionary force had arranged base camp entertainment for his troops and camp followers for that first morale boosting evening. Firstly he had arranged a visit to a show in downtown Woking where his daughter Holly was starring in the World Premier of the new sci-fi musical "The Trouble with Time" (Holly is credited with naming this extravaganza!). When the time came the F.M marched his force down the mainstreet, the long way round, to give the full effect to the townspeople of Woking. The force soon became scattered once in the imposing auditorium but finally came together in an orderly fashion in good time for the rising curtain. The curtain rose on the Professor's laboratory with the impressive Time Machine attracting wondrous glances from the mainly youthful audience. We were quickly transported backwards and forwards in time with the young cast entertaining us with words and music. Highly suitable for a journey in time that the Force was about to embark on as well as the cast themselves! We left the auditorium in good spirits and marched back happily if not in good order. Lovely group photos were taken around the town square and fountain to record the all too rare occasion we are all together.
Back at base camp we all helped to position the extensive garden furniture for the F.M's super Catering Corps to provide the much anticipated BBQ. When everything was set up we all enjoyed each other's company very much. Martyn set us off with a delicious starter of bacon wrapped tiger prawns kebabs. We all devoured these like a swarm of locusts! Washed down with whatever was the favourite tipple of the evening. The kebabs were followed by excellent burgers, filling everyone up. However I could not come all this way without bringing a supply of Cockermouth's award winning Cumberland sausages and black puddings. I was allowed to BBQ these on Martyn's range and despite everyone being pretty full by now, all was devoured even to Alison's plaintive plea for the last piece which she did not get! A luscious fruit salad was enjoyed by all those who can always find space for a sweet! Despite all the catching up we had to do on our various news's we did not stay up long after such a long day for us all. The children bivouacked in the tents and the grown-ups just about filled each room. I'm not sure how much sleep the kids had because I could hear them when I was going to sleep and they woke me up in the morning.
Despite all the people all together with different goals we quickly packed the two scout cars to the gunwales to set off for Gatwick to pick up John our American observer. We bid a very reluctant farewell to Dawn, she and the rest were going to Thorpe Park to get thoroughly frightened and made sick on all the rides on offer there. Dawn and Adam and family were then going on to the south coast to visit friends of both of them for a good weeks holiday. Alison took her family to Thorpe also but she was bound for work on the Monday with Holly & Tom fully booked up with their various holiday activities.

Embarkation
We had a few anxious moments at Gatwick because the arrivals monitor did not list John's flight! We queued at the information desk to find out why. We were told that the only flight from the U.S had landed and hopefully he would be on it. At the Arrivals gate where loads of people seemed to have been pouring out ever since we arrived- minus John of course, we waited! Finally Andrea's face lit up and she was off- long before we saw him. Andrea rejoiced the rest of the Force heaved a sigh of relief! - we had a Chunnel train to catch! John's feet hardly touched before we were hot foot on the M25 again. We were off to Old England's shores, to the new Channel Tunnel railhead and we just made it in time!

Storming the Beaches
We went through all the border formalities despite having a 'foreigner' on board. Driving onto a Tunnel train was a new experience for me but I managed to negotiate the tricky bits O.K despite my apprehension. All the cars were in single file with " engine off, hand-brake on & first gear engaged". There were three or four cars per coach- I didn't know we were in separate coaches until a metal roller door rolled down behind me - a good job we did not suffer from claustrophobia. We got out to stretch our legs - "Do NOT walk between the parked cars" we are sternly told! Just one of the messages delivered over the loudspeakers throughout the journey- in two languages. We read all the posters on the walls-- there's nowt to look at outside! About half an hour later we again saw the light of day. We assured John that he was now on French type soil - the continent of Europe. He was suitably impressed! Again there was no problem about the formalities of entry and before you could say "Jacques Robinsonne" we were on the toll road A26 bound for REIMS.

Billeted Behind the Lines in Peronne
The Field Marshall had obtained 'walkie-talkie' equipment prior to the embarkation and these proved invaluable on our expedition. We in fact were walkie-talkied into the first 'rest area' to stretch our legs and visit the first French loo- if you wanted! And also to get the feeling of French soil under our feet at long last. We had already seen a huge sign at the roadside proclaiming that here was the historical " Field of the Cloth of Gold" but it was just green like the rest! However we were beginning to get the feeling that we were 'over there'. We sped easily along this splendid, smooth, quiet toll road for an hour or so then crossed onto the A1 for a while to then plunge onto an ordinary French country road. I followed the F.M closely so as not to make any mistakes. All went well there was nothing on the roads France was closed for the holidays! This was my first driving excursion on the continent and I was pleased with the gentle baptism. Forward to our next goal - Peronne. Here the Field Marshall made his first error, but not a serious one, we just could not find ze 'otel! We finally parked hull down on a ridge and the Away team was despatched to recce. Soon word came back that the natives were friendly and our billets were secure. HQ was duly set up in the 'otel St. Claude de Peronne! We entered the building via the traditional pavement cafe and climbed the dark wooden spiral staircase - so beloved of Hitchcock and his followers. For me it was a steep climb in that warm stifling atmosphere and yet again Nora and I had drawn the highest floor. Fortunately we had with us this time our own Sir Galahad in Capt. John Pearl, who fearlessly recovered our effects from the vehicles and kindly brought up our heavy suitcases-without even breaking sweat, thank goodness. We were made very welcome and Monsieur busied himself fixing up the tables for seven hungry and tired troopers. Our rooms were seventies decor but were adequate. The huge original windows overlooked the courtyard where we were to dine for the rest of our stay. We had in fact wondered if the rooms would still be the same as they were when the Mayor of Blackburn and his Mayoress stayed here on the occasion, in 1926, when they officially opened the Pont Blackburn! This brand new bridge had been paid for by the good people of Blackburn to help restore the town and indeed the area from the devastation caused by WW1. Although of itself the bridge is not big it provided at the time the essential link, across the Somme, between the two halves of the town. The bridge was also built at the time when the once extremely prosperous town of Blackburn(King Cotton in those days) was in the grip of the twenties slump. Despite the slump the bridge was completed and still both towns enjoy twinning as they did all those years ago. This small bridge not only spans the Somme it spans the Channel and beyond!
Although we had arrived quite late, for a small provincial town, there was no problem here about producing a most delicious and satisfying evening meal. We wallowed in the luxury of a five star meal under the stars on a warm summer evening. No hassle about drink driving, arranging taxis, paying the bill, tipping the waiters this was all for another day, tonight all we had to do was to negotiate the spiral stairs to find Nirvana at the end of that magical day.
Who knows what we talked about all that evening. I just lay in bed for a while just thinking of our conversations, undoubtedly it had been about our anticipation of tomorrows journeys and findings, hopefully following Reg's last trail. Despite all the excitement and the heat I soon fell asleep and slept soundly to awake refreshed ready for what the new day would bring. Some of the Force said they did not sleep so well because of the heat - ah well. However we all managed it down for breakfast in good time.

The Historiale and Pont Blackburn
Out in the courtyard under the awning once again. The sun was up and a good forecast a promising day lay ahead. Toasted French rolls and butter and jam with that deeply satisfying French cafe au lait to wash it down--paradise. What to do today? Well a spell of 'au pied' was in order after all the riding of yesterday so we sauntered out of ze 'otel across the road and entered the only shop that appeared to be open! Fortunately it was the Information Bureau and we were able to get what we wanted. Connie wanted information to take back to her colleagues in the Blackburn Town Hall and was able to chat-up the handsome young Frenchmen who were behind the counter there. I got the tickets for the new museum in Peronne- the Historiale de la Grande Guerre.

Back out into the streets once more we set off in the hot sun for our first target the Pont Blackburn for our first photocall. There the full Expeditionary Force stood 'sur le Pont Blackburn' - proudly and perhaps with a moist eye or two. Only two of the group was not from Blackburn- one from way off Missouri, our observer Capt. John and of course one from the outer reaches of Oswaldtwistle, Nora.

After several group and individual photo's we crossed the bridge to enjoy the beautiful view, which opened up along the now tranquil pools and banks of the Somme, redolent of lazy sunny days and tales of the riverbank. Frenchmen with very long fishing poles catching very short fish! Swallows constantly wheeling , diving and skimming the mirror like surfaces of the pools- the only sounds being the chirping of the birds as they chased the flying insects and the occasional plop! of a fish or perhaps Monsieur Ratty. We just stood there listening to the chattering of the swallows, swifts and martins until F.M Martyn said " I think we should 'do' the Historiale de la Grande Guerre in Peronne now"

We all languidly retraced our steps. Fortunately we did not have to walk back through town because there was a riverside walk. What a delightful walk that turned out to be, it took us to the view of the building that the architect had obviously designed it for. For here was a view of a river almost completely framed by weeping willows with this graceful white modern building sailing out of the break in the willows like a gliding swan. The clear skies above put the final touch to this most perfect of pictures. An extra bonus for us was that Dawn had been to a presentation of his design by the architect and was very impressed by his style and philosophy. We took more photos.

The Historiale was a cool oasis on this warm day after the walk in the hot sun. This was a different , new type of museum. The rooms were large and bright and open, no dusty dark exhibits here, only open spaces full of all the paraphernalia of war but shown off with great skill and every medium known to man was used. Even the now ubiquitous video monitors were there showing the whole story as if it were happening now. The full story was there for all the world to see - and cry. One of the exhibits took my eye and I kept returning to it , why? To pluck up courage to touch it! You see we knew from the little our mum told us about Reg was that he had been 'promoted' to firing a 'machine gun' and we still had a notebook, which had come back with his effects, with hand written instructions on the use of a machine gun in it. Connie had also been doing some excellent detective work and found a friend in the East Lancs Regiment Archives. He was able to tell her that according to their records Reg probably died firing a Lewis gun in the front line in a village called Hesbecourt (not very far from where I was now standing)
I finally plucked up courage and descended into the small depression in the floor, which housed the various machine guns. I stepped over a German gun and just gently touched the Lewis gun stock. The alarms sounded of course but I did not care I had touched it and perhaps Reg had also touched it eighty-one years ago, sorry it took so long. It is also possible that by some strange co-incidence Nora's grandfather could also have touched it. You see, that same account we had for Reg was also true for him! They were both recorded in the same place and both went missing at the same time, the terrible carnage of the final German bombardment and assault in March 1918. Both came from the same class of people in Blackburn. Nora's grandfather was a mature family man at the time and I like to think that he would have been a good strong companion to Reg during those terrible times.

To the Front of Spring 1918
Field Marshall Pickup M.D 7654321 gathered up his troops and despite the hot burning sun charged the enemy along the line that the East Lancs fought during those fateful days in 1918. We drove along peaceful country lanes surrounded by pleasant green fields dotted with woods and those ubiquitous 'tractor wheels' of black plastic covered straw. It was almost impossible to imagine that this scenery was only some seventy years old and not centuries old as it now looked to us. The trees looked mature to us and any buildings we saw looked at least medieval in age. Certainly to the casual traveller. Finally to Hesbecourt, a small sleepy village with absolutely no one about. We drove through to a small well cared for military cemetery where several East Lancs soldiers had been buried at this advanced point. Strangely here we saw the first signs of life, one huge tractor which happily for us turned off before it reached our badly parked vehicles and then screaming down the middle of the road came a young lad on one of these 'angry bee' mopeds bent on reaching the next world as swiftly as possible! Back to Hesbecourt we retreated where we stopped to take photos. Connie went off on her own and felt sure she had found where Reg had last been, so took photo's to record the scene for her memories. We found a small cemetery in the village, which held soldiers as well as villagers. We spent a few minutes here just reading the history more or less of this tiny community so far from our home but yet now so near. Still no villagers turned up- we left not knowing whether there was life there yet.! Even when we stopped right on the edge of the village to take group photo's by the village sign no one stirred even though a house was right next to the sign!

The Retreat
It was extremely hot around Hesbecourt and we had not set up provisions for this theatre of operations. Not only that there were no watering holes to be found not even in any of the built up areas we passed through. Finally we came to a reasonable sized town even here the shops all seemed to be closed. I thought I spotted a likely shop and radioed forward. The F.M pulled into what looked like the market square and we parked next to some 'energetic' Frenchmen playing boules. We walked back down the main street hopefully, I at least found a chemist shop open so I went in for a toothbrush(I had forgot to pack mine!) I went into the shop without the slightest idea what toothbrush was in French. I had expected there to be rows of the things a la Boots- but ne'r a sign of them did I see. The shop was 'bare' obviously the people here were queuing up for their medicines. Just as it came for my turn I was saved because I noticed just behind the assistant was a small shelf containing toothbrushes. I pointed happily and made some idiotic franglais remark. At first all seemed well as she got the brush I had pointed to but then she shook her head. Oh no, how am I going to cope now? She smiled and pointed to a sign on the packet - I understood what it said -douce-yes I had pointed to a soft one! No self-respecting male would demand a soft one - not in France that's for sure!! Medium I intoned, no problem monsieur. She reached out and proudly presented with a medium one. I wandered away towards what I thought was the exit, thinking of all sorts of things, when a voice, whether it was in my brain or from someone in the shop I don't know, made me pause and I noticed that my East Lancs cap badge was missing! I feverishly looked around and saw it lying just where I had been served. I promptly retrieved it and made a rapid exit from where I came in. As I walked on to catch up to the rest of the Force I noticed for the first time that what I thought was an exit was a clear glass plate window, in an archway, right down to the ground!

Sept Bier, Monsieur! avec Crisps!
I met up with the Force who were in disarray! The open shop had been only a paper shop yet there where I now stood was a pub! I went straight in and everyone followed tout de suit as they say over there. I learned later that the pub had been spotted but everyone had been reluctant to enter-until I 'boldly' came along.! We got decently watered and de-watered as you might say. The toilet, whilst it had more than its fair share of flies, was vastly superior to previous ones I've seen over there! Thus fortified we pressed on to Peronne. Here we prosaically visited the supermarket on the outskirts to pick up the much-needed provisions and also let me get my photo's developed. This supermarket was in sharp contrast to the toilets we had just visited- it was bright sparkling and clean. Actually it was quite pleasant to be in, especially an anti-shopper like me!
From there we hit the trail once more and found a shady corner of some foreign field to perform the very English ritual of picnicking. We all got our goodies out and started to relax until Uncle Fred discovered a cache of unexploded shells and grenades not far away! Despite, or perhaps because of , Auntie Connie's stern warnings he picked up a grenade and pretended to throw it!! Not only Connie was speechless! Andrea was plainly not amused! Fortunately it did not go off. Connie quickly disappeared and so did Nora! John and I went for a short walk around and found a deep ditch with nothing in it more exciting than an old pram. We found Connie and Nora sheltering in a leafy glade, which turned out to be a monument to a single soldier of the Alpine Regiment. Even by this peaceful secluded glade we found more shells. These were salutary lessons which were reinforced later at the Newfoundland Park where the guide there informed us that an average of twenty five people per year still die from WW1 armaments! He also told us that all the tractors and similar farm vehicles had armoured bases fitted to protect the unsuspecting worker from explosions. Only this year a huge explosion was heard in a field and when the police went to investigate they found a huge crater and a sorry looking tractor and no sign of a body. The policemen eventually plucked up courage to go and tell the wife of her loss. They got to the farm and found the kitchen door open and through the open door sat at the kitchen table with a glass of wine in each hand was- yes the farmer himself shaking all over like leaf.

The Memorial at Pozieres
At last we reached our second objective - Pozieres Cemetery and Memorial to the U.K men who had died locally and had no known grave. Here we found a beautiful, immaculate garden. The walls of this garden however told a story not of beautiful flowers planted here but of the flower of youth so hideously snatched from these fair fields. These walls were covered with the names of the young men who had simply disappeared - mostly in the spring of 1918 but a few months from the end of this tragedy. All neatly carved, by Regiment , by alphabetical order and regimental rank but not by the love they had lost. We had travelled half way round before we came to the East Lancs tablets. Our eyes followed the lists down and even the early letter E took us agonising moments to find, then there it was ELLIOT R T .
It was the next panel before Nora reached her Grandfather, at long last, McGREW T J.
Photographs were taken , some with meticulous care and some with just loving care. We lingered awhile, the place was peaceful the weather warm. We all made an entry into the Book of Remembrance and some read the book full information about the cemetery and the local history. We felt pretty close to Reg & Granddad for those few moments and no one was eager to dash off.

The Somme, July 1916 Battlefield
We finally set off again Major Martyn had found a new goal, a hole in the ground. Again we were off down a country lane and arrived at a huge crater- this was it, the Grand Mine ' Lochnagar Crater' at Ovilliers- La Boiselle. This huge hole in the ground was made by the British Army in the first critical moments of the disastrous Battle of the Somme 1st July 1916. Why disastrous because no battle before or since fought by the British Army had incurred more casualties and all for no gained ground! However no major battles even disasters like this have no effect and WW1 experts are quick to point out that without this action the French Army at Verdun would have been annihilated and German soldiers would have completely overrun the British Army from the rear. Because this crater is so symbolic both in physical size and monumental failure every 1st of July a special commemoration service is held here . All the wreaths and poppies still there from this years service was ample evidence that this act of folly and sacrifice had not been forgotten. It was difficult to imagine that exploding this mine, along with two others, under the German defences killing thousands of them was a precursor for a total defeat for the British troops in this sector, along with all the other sectors on the Somme. Several mistakes were made, which was worse is anyone's guess. First an Officer said over the telephone lines, which were being monitored by the Germans, "Good Luck for tomorrow, chaps" which of course ensured that they were as prepared as any defence could be. Then the Lochnagar mine was detonated five minutes early for some reason. This of itself need not have been disastrous but the other orders were obeyed. The others went off on time but more significantly the soldiers obeyed, with great discipline, the order to advance slowly at the stroke of 7-30am.with no bullets 'up the spout'. Despite their heavy losses the Germans were given the time to recover and set up their field guns to virtually wipe out the slowly advancing infantry. A sad day indeed. A few photos were taken here just to record the sheer size of this relic of human folly. It was time to retire and regroup-back to St Claude and sanity.

We had not planned originally to eat at the 'otel but the combination of full days and most shops appearing to be closed , we accepted the open arms of welcome at the St Claude with pleasure. This was a good choice! We could get ready at a fairly leisurely pace and go down to our own table with no hassle at all. The HeadWaiter was typically French and the meal excellent. A very pleasant and civilised way to spend a warm evening under the stars.

Albert
Tuesday morning dawned bright and early and we went down for our toasted rolls etc with that lovely cafe au lait! Where to today? General Martyn briefed us on Thiepval & Beaumont - Hamel. Thiepval, the huge tower-like construction designed by Lutyens, we had seen the previous day rising majestically through the trees on the commanding ridge above Pozieres. This beautifully designed building was to be even more imposing from close up. However our first destination that unusually wet morning was the British command post for the Somme campaigns the garrison town of Albert. Here we found a pleasant, if wet, town totally dominated by the huge basilica which in turn is dominated by the golden Madonna & Child statue on top. In front of this impressive building is a pleasant new towns square complete with fountains and seating areas. At the side of this building is the almost secretive entrance to the famous underground museum the 'Musee des Abris'. We paid our money and descended not only into the bowels of the earth but back in time to the 1914/18 trenches of the Somme. The tunnels were full of tableaux depicting trench life, rats and all! It was interesting to see the different life styles from the fair opulence of the Germans & to a lesser extent the French to the Spartan Tommy's existence. The intervening walls were covered with photos and written accounts of the battles. The town of Albert was shown in all its glory and then in it's almost total destruction. Only the carcass of the basilica with the golden statue hanging precariously off its tower seemed to be left in the end. The statue became a sort of rallying symbol. As long as it didn't come tumbling down Albert would be 'free'. It was a close run thing and the statue stayed and so did the British.

Very Public Conveniences
The exit from this museum took us into a small park, which despite the wet weather was very pleasant. It was full of flowers, shrubberies, exotic birds and of course WW1 armaments. The most fascinating item there for me and perhaps the rest of our Force was the toilets! Fortunately for me I wandered off on my own and came upon the toilets by myself. By this time I needed them but the question which immediately sprang to mind was how? They consisted of white ceramic receptacles stuck on the wall at a fairly convenient height but on an outside wall!! In a public park for all to see! No one was around, thank goodness for the holidays! I quickly selected the least public receptacle and did what a mans gotta do! In contrast to this apparent heathen construction the ornate staircase which lead down from the street level to the front of this park was beautiful and cried out to be used for photo's. Several were taken to try to get the tower and statue(now in pristine gold condition) at the top of the stairs for a fully representative picture of Albert.

The Field Marshall had set up Albert base camp in the railway station car park. So, tired and hungry now we retreated to base camp for sustenance. On the route back I spotted a shop open which looked suspiciously like a patisserie. I could not miss a chance like this and crossed a large square to get there whilst the others plodded off to the vehicles. Oh, the magic of the smell and visual delights of a French pastry shop. I ate all the goodies in my minds eye in a flash! However I soon recovered my composure and indicated my choices to the young assistant and set off happily loaded down with all the goodies. Although not a picturesque place by any means the General ordered a picnic in the car park and we supplemented our English leftovers with French food. Despite cries of "I'm on a diet" everyone tucked into the custardy, creamy, gooey pastries I had just foraged on the way back. The rain held off and the sun actually burst through to give us a pleasant half hour or so, undisturbed, yes in the station car park no trains, no cars! Time to go, muttered the major and the Force packed - up and sallied forth.

Thiepval, Ulster Tower, Newfoundland Park
The next objective was Thiepval and the weather had now relented so we could wander around this huge cemetery with its dominating Lutyens tower. Martyn looked for more East Lancs names and Fred looked up the names of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. For some reason his father had been posted to this ' foreign' regiment and Fred just wanted to see the names of his old comrades. His father survived the war but contracted T.B in the trenches. As usual we had the place to ourselves but just as we came away a huge English coach drew up and a crowd of sightseers surged passed us to pay their respects also.
The next monument was not far away. It was the Ulster Tower. A newish tower designed to copy a tower in Ireland near where the men had trained. This tower was built to commemorate the soldiers of the north and south of Ireland who had fought and died side by side in the Somme. Particularly in that first disastrous offensive when they were the only ones to make their target advance but they too fell victim to that terrible day and not many survived. This was a lovely site and because it was new, had all the modern conveniences of the latest toilets, snack bar, souvenir sales and an excellent audio-visual display telling the story of their heroic actions. Although I wanted a souvenir of our visit I didn't want battlefield relics. A poster on the wall showing the whole Somme area and local sights and birds took my eye and decided to have one as my souvenir. "We do not 'ave any more of those, I am so sorree monsieur". I looked into her eyes...."you can 'ave ze one on ze wall...." My smile said it all and before I could answer she had grabbed a chair stepped up lightly on it and unpinned the poster from the wall. Whether she had been so pleased to assist me to get rid of the poster or as a genuine desire to please a customer I shall never know but it was refreshing, to say the least, to feel satisfied with the service in this day and age. The poster now has pride of place on the study wall.
The next target was the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial Park. This was the area bought by the widows of the Newfoundlanders to ensure the land where they all died was kept in perpetuity in their memory. Here the trenches had been left, although now time and weather had softened the landscape so much that the soldiers would no longer recognise it. Here nearly all of the total manhood of the then separate Colony of Newfoundland perished in a few minutes, again on that dreadful disastrous day in 1916. What new horrors could we find here? Well for the first time we were welcomed by a guide and advised that a guided tour would soon take place and we could join if we wished. The guide was a very pleasant young Canadian lad who knew his stuff and presented it well. He made us relive that morning with the Newfoundlanders in graphic detail. We walked over the trenches towards no mans land as he described how the battle was fought and lost before it had hardly been started. The Newfoundlanders were actually ordered to advance over the brow of a hill where the German machine guns who had already killed the first wave and had them clear in their sights. The allied soldiers had been told to walk and not fire a shot - no one made it across no-mans-land. We made it across O.K but now it was a bright clear sunny day and best of all no one had even a toy shot gun let alone a high precision machine gun! We mounted the German lines and learned how well they were constructed so that the Allied bombardment supposed to obliterate them had little or no effect. The Germans here also had the luxury of a hidden gorge(Y-Ravine) in which they could move and store men and material almost with impunity. At the enemy positions however we came to another pristine memorial this had been erected to the men of the Black Watch who had in fact finally stormed this position and won it . We were now at the far end of the Park and the guide left us to our own devices. It was still hot but fortunately a line of trees had been planted on the trail back and we found it a pleasant stroll.

Field Marshall Martyn again rallied his flagging troops, his next rendezvous was with Avril Williams! We charged off dust and dirt flying and we screeched to a halt at the Avril Williams Tea Shop! We despatched Capt. John to see if there was enough room for our whole platoon. He seemed to be gone a long time but eventually returned with the crippling news that the place had just closed and we were given the cold shoulder! This has happened to us many times in England, which is bad enough, but in France this is the ultimate insult!

Pals at Railway Hollow
"We are now looking for the Accrington Pals Memorial." The disembodied voice from the back seat brought me back to normality. It was Second Lieutenant Martyn trying to rally his troops after the setback at the Williams salient. His vehicle swerved violently off the road and I followed extremely cautiously because I had seen no suitable sign. "You stay there while I scout on ahead," said the walkie-talkie. I was only too pleased to concur as he disappeared over the ridge in a cloud of dust and shingle. "O.K come on up this is it." I proceeded very slowly this was a bad cart track never mind a bad road. We eventually arrived at the Sheffield Memorial which we had been looking for and had only announced itself on the actual wall of the cemetery and not on any of the road signs. Here we found the Accrington Pals Memorial resplendent in the deep red Accrington bricks well known in East Lancs. Nora took her photos and signed the visitor's book. Nora went to the Accrington High School for Girls and was thus thanking those lads for helping to secure her education in freedom. Whilst the memorial was nice and new it was sad to see that there were no poppies or other flowers on it. Obviously no one from the district had been here during the recent 1st July services, all the others seem to have some momentos on them. We had nothing with us and there seemed to be no wild flowers about in these highly cultivated adjoining fields. It was sad that we could only leave our thanks for their sacrifice rather than a nice floral tribute.

Down the still shell holed bank behind the Pals Memorial was the 'Railway Hollow Cemetery' where we found many more East Lancs graves including eerily enough Cpl. Pickup F. ! We had wondered why there were all these small cemeteries all around, all beautifully cared for, as well as the huge ones which were well known. The reason is that the British Army policy is to bury their dead where they fall or obviously in the nearest bit of convenient ground and record the spot for the future.
On our way back to Peronne HQ we passed through the tiny village of Maricourt. This name is well known to Blackburners because it too was included in the twinning assistance after the war. When the town fathers of Blackburn asked what they needed most in the way of practical help, the villagers said that they desperately needed a harvesting machine to ensure their survival in the winter. The people of Blackburn provided that machine and the villagers survived. There was no evidence of these traumatic times as we cruised through a peaceful country village.

The next village was totally unknown to us but F.M. Martyn insisted that we stop here. This was Rancourt the home of one of only a few German cemeteries on the Somme. Here was the final resting place of thousands of German soldiers both known and unknown. This place was different from the Allies, still well kept but much more sombre and each dark grey tombstone marked the place of at least four soldiers. We were surprised to see several stones marked with the Star of David. Where the actual stone came from we never found out but they were covered in fossils making very unusual patterns around the sombre letters. There was also a huge area filled with the stone panels recording again the enormous number of names of soldiers who had simply disappeared.

Back to the Billet
It was in a more sombre mood that we returned to our HQ that night , late again. We had, thanks to the F.M, packed more into a day than certainly Nora and I are used to. The lateness of the hour again determined the venue of dinner. For my part this was like coming home to dinner - good food in a relaxing atmosphere. Again I was the butt of the Head Waiter's 'Frenchness'. We all thought he had taken a shine to Nora and realised I was her husband and was suitably jealous! This thinking was born out by the impressive portions Nora got on all her servings. The size of her sweets would have had a Billy Bunter swooning with delight. Needless to say we all enjoyed ourselves and went to bed in a happy and contented mood.
Our last day! Up soon, our usual toast and coffee being enjoyed for the last time. Andrea and John paid our bill and we all bid a reluctant farewell to the St. Claude on that Wednesday morning the fourth of August 1999. Connie wandered around town taking last minute photos and picking up more information from the Bureau in response to requests from her helpful former colleagues at Blackburn Town Hall. We had a bit of a struggle fitting everything back into the vehicles but we made it, much to everyone's surprise.

The Doughboys Turn Up Finally
We set off for the Tunnel Train, however Field Marshal Martyn decided we could do a short diversion in honour of our American observer to the nearest American Cemetery. We crossed the A26 toll road that we needed to get to the Tunnel and headed eastward through Roisel again. It seemed quite a way to the cemetery but we eventually arrived in very hot sunshine. Again there was no one else about at another gloriously grand monument kept pristine white and green by loving care. The entrance was huge and was built to the glory of the military might of U.S.A rather than the wish for peace design of the European ones. The entrance gate contained a beautiful quiet cool chapel where some of us tarried awhile and the others went off to inspect more and more brilliantly white gravestones. The rearguard of the Force glanced anxiously at the time and soon Fred volunteered to go over the ridge, where our vanguard had disappeared, to rescue the situation. They all came into view eventually and we set off home to Blighty again. The reason for the delay was that they had found the curator of this cemetery who was an old American soldier who had to be there all the time but got very few visitors to talk to. Obviously John and Company could not say Hello-Goodbye so they chatted a while. Pity it could only be short.

Back to a Land Fit for Heroes
Only one problem remained Sergeant Martyn did not know the way! We cruised around for some time going further away all the time. Andrea had just said she had spotted a sign that we were at last on the correct road when Corporal Martyn stopped and informed us he was turning around and going back to pick up the trail further back. To much protestation from Andrea I too turned around and followed our leader! Although this was a big mistake we carried on with stiff upper lips and stout hearts-we were British by gad we could do it! We must have driven through every hamlet, village and small town in northern France before we actually came to a sign, which said A26 this way! We weren't the first and we certainly won't be the last Brit's to find it difficult to find one of those scarce entries onto a French toll road. We had been able to see the road we wanted for miles but of course because of the toll collecting requirements entries are few and far between. Once on the toll road I informed Private Martyn (walkie-talkies still working O.K) that he was at liberty to go AWOL and leave vehicle No.2 to wend it's own way to the train-this he did in a cloud of smoke! I enjoyed the easy ride, these toll roads are quiet and smooth ideal for long distance cruising. This return journey had started maddeningly or hilariously depending on your character. I wondered later if Uncle Reg and Granddad had conspired to trick us to keep us there longer and have a bit of sport, rather than the poor private getting it wrong!! This seemed to be reinforced when Fred admitted to us later that he had persuaded Corporal Martyn to turn round because he 'just felt that was the correct way to go'!!

Despite being left behind we seemed to be getting our boarding cards at more or less the same time for the same train-the one just after the one we had originally booked on. We all went into the duty free together . Nothing there for me and Nora but the others bought a few 'essentials'. We entered the queue to board the next train as asked for by the announcer. The final act on French soil was about to begin. We again had no trouble with emigration despite Capt. John's gross over-acting his American up-bringing! However with just several cars in front, our line was stopped and the Tannoy announced we were destined for the next train. We were only mildly annoyed and no more would have been said had not the man and the woman in the Jaguar in front not got out and started to remonstrate with the 'stupid French officials'. Needless to say the frogs were implacable. Having got nowhere there the 'lady' passenger came shouting up to our car "All you men should go down there and demand we get on this train!!" My immediate reply was " I'm sure they will be more frightened of you than me dear!!" She paused and I am sure she said "Ummm I think you are right". Her husband - a retired Colonel if ever there was one- continued to harangue the 'jumped-up' Napoleon without success. With his wife not succeeding to recruit reinforcements and with no Bleucher troops coming over the ridge retreat was in order and Napoleon had won this battle of Calais!

We waited patiently for the next train and boarded and were whisked off to Blighty in no time at all. Although we were off the train long before the Field Marshall we waited for them at Dover . They finally arrived and we set off for our British HQ in Woking. The reason for our being first on England's shores was that the Field Marshall's 'tank' was classed as a large vehicle and ended up at the rear with the HGV's. Again, via the airwaves, I sped him on his way and they were soon out of sight. In fact they were only just disembarking when we drove up . They had been held up in traffic. We hadn't.

Demobilisation
Field Marshall Martyn gathered his troops together and with a curt "Job well done chaps" stood us down. However he still had one more treat up his sleeve! He had recently returned from the Russian front with spoils of caviar and vodka! Everyone helped demolish the caviar, which was delicious, and some managed a little vodka. The now famous Martyn catering corps then proceeded to produce BBQed chicken , wine and all the trimmings to end a tiring day pleasantly. Even the heavy downpour could not dampen our spirits because we were able to eat outside under the glass awning they have at Chez Martyn & Alison. Because Dawn and her family were not with us this time there was more room to bed down and we were soon hitting the sack exhausted by all our adventures.
I woke next morning out of a deep sleep wondering if the last few days had been real or just a lovely dream! Writing this later I still look on it as a dreamtime perhaps because I had wanted to make that journey so long ago, never thinking I would have such good companions with me to share it. Anyway it was now time for pastures new- where to now? No Field Marshall to lead- only yours truly! Perhaps I had a baton in my knapsack.

Personnel
The members of Somme Expeditionary Force were as follows:-
Field Marshall/General/Captain/Corporal/Private etc. Martyn M.D. Pickup M.Sc. M.B.A F.G.S
The Narrator R.T. Cooper C.Eng. M.I.E.E
Uncle Fred Mr. F. Pickup
Auntie Connie Mrs. C.M. Pickup (nee Cooper)
Nora Mrs. N. Cooper (nee McGrew)
Andrea Dr. A.M. Cooper B.Sc.(Hons) Ph.D.
Capt. John E. Pearl (U.S.A) Himself.
Other characters in this narrative were played by themselves.

Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the detail derived from Martyn's Diary. He also acknowledges the detail derived from Mrs. N. Cooper's Journal (unpublished) and several Transatlantic phone calls to Dr Cooper. Acknowledgement is also due to D.A. Cooper B.Sc.(Hons) B.Arch. R.I.B.A for her assistance on architectural detail and encouragement to produce this account of the Expedition.
Text of a letter from 19 year-old Pte.Reg Elliot, 1/4 Bn. East Lancs Rgt. to
his mother sent as he was about to leave for the war.
(The lower left corner of the letter is missing):

"YMCA BURY
Sept 7th 1914

Dear Mother, we have
received orders this afternoon to go to Egypt.
I've bought a shirt thnking that the shirts etc (sent by you)
will not land in time, for we go in the morning.
Remember me to Aunt Bella and Auntie Martha.
I will let you have, later, the address of our
barracks. I hope you will excuse the lead as
[ 3-4 words missing ] engaged for about two hours
[ 3-4 words missing] with lads writing home
[ 3-4 words missing] father and Connie and
[ 3-4 words missing] how long we will be
[ 3-4 words missing] the lads are glad we are
[ 3-4 words missing] have had three false alarms
[ 3-4 words missing] wishes and love to all
[ 3-4 words missing] loving son"

Reginald Elliot 1914

Reginald Elliot 1917

Reginald Elliot c 1903

Reginald Elliot 1916

Hesbecourt 1999

Pozieres Cem 1999

John Eric Hardwick ELLIOTT

Born Sunday 13 November 1898, 119 King Street Blackburn
Christened Wednesday 18 January 1899, St Peters, Blackburn¹³
Died Sunday 21 December 1941, County Mental Hospital, Whittingham
Buried probably unmarked grave in cemetery at Whittingham
Occupation: Medical Orderly RAMC¹⁴
John (Jack) Eric Hardwick Elliot was born at 119 King Street, Blackburn November 13th 1898. His father was a saddler and he had an older brother Reg and a younger sister Connie. He probably went to the nearby school at St.Peter's, Byrom Street, Blackburn. A dated birth certificate suggests he was was working at the age of 13.

Jack joined the Royal Army Medical Corp as a medical orderly (Pte J E Elliot RAMC 86426) late 1917 as he turn 19. Family legend has it that he was on a ship sunk in Mediterranean.

On 15th April 1917 The Anchor Line troopship "Cameronia" was sailing between Marseilles and Alexandria with 2650 British soldiers onboard. At 5:20PM and 150 miles east of Malta the ship was torpedoed by U-33 patrolling from its base in Cattaro (modern-day Kotor), Montenegro. The "Cameronia" sank in 40 minutes with the loss of 129 passengers and 11 crew. Most of the deaths were caused by capsizing lifeboats. Some survivors were picked up by "HMS Rifleman" but because of the danger of further attacks those remaining could not be picked up until the following morning when a sloop (HMS Hydrangea) arrived from Malta.

Ships Log HMS 'Rifleman' (ADM53/57833)
36deg47'N 15deg58'E Sunday 15th April 1917
5:23pm SS 'Cameronia' torpedoed. 5;30pm let go two depth charges.5:42pm lowered all boats. 5:52pm went along portside forward of 'Cameronia' took off survivors. 5:58pm shoved off. 6;03pm went alogside starboardside forward took off remainder of survivors. 6:13pm shoved off. 6:15pm SS 'Cameronia' sank, Co as requisite for protecting boats and searching for submarine. 7:20pm attacked supposed periscope, let go three depth charges, failed to fire. 8:36pm 12 knots s/e80degW (mag). 8:46pm a/e S80E (mag). 10:04 sighted searchlights to SSE (mag). 10:38 sighted HMS 'Hydrangea''s searchlights ESE (mag). 10:55 Met 'Hydrangea' and led her to boats Co as requisite for picking up boats. Arrived Grand Harbour (Malta) 1:40pm Mon 16 April and disembarked survivors.

Memorial to drowned of Cameronia is at Chatby nr Alexandria

The evidence that Jack was on the "Cameronia" is mostly circumstantial. It seems likely that Jack was part of the 143rd Field Ambulance RAMC enroute to Alexandria and then to Salonika in Greece and the Macedonian front. The 143rd Field Ambulance was formed up on March 19th 1917 which fits Jack's mobilization date of 17th February 1917 plus a months training time. This unit was part of the 28th Division, 228th Brigade which was in Salonika at the time and was being joind by various battalions also formed in March and presumably being transported in the Mediterranean through April.

Another possibility is the HT "Arcadia" sunk by UC74 also on 15 April 1917 enroute Salonika to Alexandria sunk NE of island of Melos 279 lost of 1335. Memorial Mikra nr Thessalonika Greece. A lot of RAMC dead (est about 50) including two from Blackburn. Rescue by Q-ship Redbreast. UC 74 commanded by Wilhelm Marschall later Admiral the fleet commander of the Scarnhorst

Another possibility is the "Transylvania" (see Reg Elliot for earlier voyage of the Transylvania) On the 3rd. May 1917 the 14,315 ton Anchor Line ship, Transylvania, left Marseilles bound for Alexandria carrying about 200 officers and 2,860 troops escorted by two Japanese destroyers Matsu and Sakaki. The following day Transylvania had reached the Gulf of Genoa where, close to Cape Valdo, she was torpedoed by the U63. see http://www.harboro.ndirect.co.uk/rayworth.htm

From CWGC (shows that Transylvania was enroute to Salonika) : From the Summer of 1917 until late 1918, the Mediterranean lines of communication for the British Salonika Force ran the length of Italy from Taranto in the south-east, to Turin in the north-west. On 4 May 1917, the Hired Transport "Transylvania", proceeding to Salonika with reinforcements, was sunk by torpedo off Cape Vado, a few kilometres south of Savona, with the loss of more than 400 lives. The bodies recovered at Savona were buried two days later, from the Hospital of San Paulo, in a special plot in the town cemetery. Others are buried elsewhere in Italy, France, Monaco and Spain. SAVONA TOWN CEMETERY contains 85 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, all but two of them casualties of the "Transylvania". Within the cemetery is the SAVONA MEMORIAL, which commemorates a further 275 casualties who died when the "Transylvania" went down, but whose graves are not known.

A search of the dead in Savona Memorial shows a lot of RAMC lost on Transylvania (81 of 359 listed on Savona memorials and graves)

The War Diary 143rd Field Ambulance June 1917 to Dec 1918 (WO95/4924) has no obvious ref for JEHE. Earlier War Diaries for 143rd not found. Cover of diary suggests 143rd moved to 'Black Sea Troops' Later diary for 143rd is WO95/4953 but this has not yet been read.

The 228th Brigade was broken up on October 4th 1918.

Late 1918 to late 1919 JEHE seems to have been at the 33rd Combined Casualty Clearing Hospital, Palestine? By August 1919 and through 1920 he was in the No.2 Egyptian Stationary Hospital in Ludd, Palestine. War Diary No.2 Egyptian Stationary Hospital (WO95/4749) Monthly Return Ending 31/8/1919 reads "84623 Pte Elliott J E H reported for duty from 33rd CCH on 29/8/19". There were 216, mainly Egyptian, patients in the hospital that day. The regimental number shown does not seem to be correct. 33rd CCH is likely the 33rd Combined Clearing Hospital, Haifa (this needs research for earlier refs to JEHE). The No2 ESH Diary ends Dec 1919 with no further mention of JEHE

He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals (ref RAMC/101B107 8320). The medals are held by RTC. Medal Roll (WO329/2098) gives no additional information. There is an unusual record next to above on index microfiche - need to recheck

Probably as a result of experiences during the war he became "shell shocked". He lived with his with sister Connie and her family for a while and possibly worked infrequently as a general labourer. He was prone to "wander" and probably lived the life of a vagrant at times. Later Jack lived at Whittingham Mental Hospital, Lancashire. He died in 1941 of dysentery at the age of 42. No record has been found in the "Unburnt Documents" (WO364) suggesting Jack did not get a medical disability pension. No record has been found in the "Burnt Documents" either.
The family were not told of the funeral date and did not attend. The place of burial unknown but probably at Whittingham. A visit to Whittingham Feb 2000 found the hospital being demolished. A graveyard was found nearby which was associated with the hospital. The gate was locked. A search found many graves in the boggy ground but few gravestones. No marker for JEHE was located.

John Elliot c 1918

John Elliot c 1923

Whittingham Hospital

Constance Martha ELLIOT = Thomas COOPER > Family

Married Saturday 17 July 1926, Parish Church St Luke Blackburn

Constance Martha ELLIOT:

Constance Elliot 1915

Constance Elliot 1920

Constance Elliot 1926

Constance Cooper nee Elliot 1960

grave of Constance Elliot/Cooper r/h curbstone Blackburn Cemetery

Thomas COOPER:

Thomas Cooper 1926

Family

original Marriage Cert. Ellen described as Helen

Thomas aged 31 and Ellen aged 32 at marriage

Constance, John and Reginald Elliot c 1911

Elliot family c 1917

Elliot plot Blackburn Cemetery CE E3408

Sources

1 : ; Primary evidence
Marriage Cert
2 : ; Primary evidence
Birth Cert 1862 March 8e 277
3 : ; Primary evidence
Death Cert
4 : ; Primary evidence
Contract (Indenture) for apprenticeship to George Irwin

1881 Census RG11/4194 16 saddler
1891 Census RG12 3404 80 saddler (own business)
5 :
Birth cert (issued Prescot 18 Sept 1917). Place of birth described as Pecks Hill (actually Peckers Hill)
6 : ; Secondary evidence
MI on Thomas Elliot headstone in Blackburn Cemetery reads " also Ellen wife of Thomas Elliot died March 13th 1937"
also death cert
7 : ; Primary evidence
Funeral Service Last Rites
8 : ; Secondary evidence
family knowledge
9 :
email from Maureen Moorcroft 10 Apr 03
10 :
FreeBMD ref birth Sept 1893 Elliot Gladys Ellen Blackburn 8e 428
B Cert
11 :
email from Maureen Moorcroft 9 Apr 03
FreeBMD ref death Dec 1899 Elliot Gladys Ellen 6 Blackburn 8e 268
DCert age 6 cause of death convulsions
12 :
email from Maureen Moorcroft 9 Apr 03
13 : "Baptism Cert, St Peters 1899"
Baptism Cert
St Peters Blackburn
Jan 18 1899
14 : "Extract From Unit Register Pte JEH Elliottt 86426 RAMC"
Extract From Unit Register
Pte JEH Elliottt 86426 RAMC
Single
Mobilized 17/2/1917
Field Service 1 yr 8 mo
Total Service 2 yr 6 mo
born 1898
Service Category 1XA
Medical Category BII
permenantly retained for Army of Occupation
dated 28/8/1919 Haifa
14a: "Army Form z.21 Certificate of Transfer to Reserve on Demobil"
Army Form z.21 Certificate of Transfer to Reserve on Demobilization 6/3/1920
86426 Pte Elliot John Eric Hardwick
Royal Army Medical Corp
Attested 16/9/1916
called Up 17/2/1917 to RAMC
served overseas
14b: "Army Form Z.9 Nominal Roll dated 1/1/1920"; Primary evidence
Nominal Roll dated 1/1/1920
86426 Pte Elliot, John Eric Hardwick
Royal Army Medical Corps
No.2 Egyptian Stationary Hospital, Ludd, Palestine
15 :
worked for a short while Birtwhistle & Oddie, Wharf Street Mill in 1945

Superscripted numbers are references to source citations at the bottom of this page.

ELLIOT(T)

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