Eliasson, Carl Alfred

No.16402 – Sapper Carl Alfred Eliasson – 4^th Division Signal Company

Carl Alfred Eliasson was born in Melbourne Victoria in 1893 to John and Anna Eliasson. The family moved across to Western Australia while Carl was two years old and took up residence in John Street North Fremantle. Carl was educated at Fremantle State School and after leaving school took up work with the Post Office, firstly as a messenger and then as a Telegraphist.

On the 28^th May 1916 he enlisted into the AIF at the Perth Drill Hall. He was passed as fit with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 5 ½ inches tall; weight of 136lbs; chest measurement of 33-38 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. Carl was sent to No.75 Depot and remained there until the 21^st July when he was allotted to the 21^st Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion.

He trained with this group for a few months but because of his experience as a Telegraphist on the 16^th October 1916 he was pulled out of this group and sent to the Depot Signalling Company. On the 8^th December 1916 he was allotted to the 8^th Reinforcements to the 4^th Division Signalling Company. On the 29^th December 1916 Carl embarked from Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Persic” and set sail for England.

After the long sea voyage Carl arrived at Devonport England on the 3^rd March 1917. After they were disembarked Carl was marched into Perham Downs Camp. Carl trained in England for the next few months but proceeded to Folkestone Harbour when orders came through for his departure to France. On the 16^th May 1917 he arrived at the Royal Engineers Depot at Abbeville. He trained here for a few more weeks and finally marched out to join his unit on the 7^th June 1917.

The 4^th Division Signal Company were then in service in Belgium in the Messines sector. Carl arrived in time to take part in the Battle of Messines and also served through September & October 1917 in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 4^th Division spent November in Passchendaele sector and in December were sent to Peronne. In January 1918 they returned to Messines and remained there till March 1918.

On the 7^th March Carl was granted leave to England, returning on the 21^st March 1918, the day of the German Spring Offensive. The Germans had broken through the Third and Fifth British Armies and were advancing strongly towards the vital city of Amiens. The 3^rd and 4^th Australian Divisions were soon sent down to the Somme to try and stop their advance. They succeeded in stopping the Germans with the 4^th Division were in action at Hebuterne, Dernancourt and later Villers-Bretonneux.

In July 1918 the 4^th Division took part in the capture of Hamel and from August to September 1918, the 4^th Division were constantly in the line. The infantry of the 4^th Division AIF fought their last action in September 1918 but the signaller’s war continued as they were stationed with the Australian Artillery batteries and also the 27^th United States Infantry Division.

On the 17^th October 1918 the 4^th Division signallers were at work when the Germans sent mustard gas shells in their vicinity. This resulted in Carl and another signaller being evacuated with gas poisoning. He was sent back to the 3^rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen and was then transferred to England where he was admitted to the Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol. The Matron K Underwood later wrote that Carl was;

“admitted to Hospital from France October 20^th. “Gassed” was rather poorly on day of admission. Voice very husky and tightness of chest. Poultices applied. Temperature was high till the day previous to his death. On the 22^nd he became delirious and very restless, and was so for the following two days when he became much quieter. His breathing on the 23^rd was very laboured and he was cyanosed whereupon oxygen was administered to him very frequently. On the 24^th his pulse became very weak and heart stimulants were given. On the night of the 24^th he was much quieter, but very weak and remained so until the following afternoon when he died. As he was unconscious for 24 hours before he died, and was very quiet during that time, he had no suffering. He was given a military funeral and was buried in Arnos Vale Cemetery, in the part thereof reserved for soldiers. A beautiful floral wreath was given by the nursing staff and patients of the ward in which he was a patient. I want his friends to understand that although they were not with him, he had kindly women around him and everything possible was done for him, both by medical officers and nurses”.

Carl died on the 25^th October 1918 and was interred on the 31^st October 1918 at Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol. A burial report was made for the records which stated that;

“The deceased soldier was accorded a full military funeral, Firing Party, Bugler and pallbearers being in attendance. The coffin was draped with the Australian flag and surrounded by several beautiful flowers, and conveyed to the graveside on a gun carriage. The Reverend C.S. Walles of Bristol War Hospital officiated at the graveside and the Last Post was sounded. The grave will be turfed and an oak cross erected by the AIF London. Administrative Headquarters AIF London were represented”.

After the war his family moved from North Fremantle to Leederville and it was here that Anna Eliasson received her son’s effects and war medals.

Due to Arnos Vale Cemetery undergoing a change, the soldiers buried there, including Carl, are now listed on a Memorial panel within the Cemetery.