Elkington, Albert Ernest

No.6755 – Private Albert Ernest Elkington – 11^th Battalion AIF

Albert Elkington was born in Charters Towers Queensland in 1894 to William and Sarah Elkington. The family moved across to Western Australia while Albert was still young and took up residence in Kalgoorlie. He attended Boulder State School and also spent two years at Christian Brothers College Kalgoorlie. While at school Albert was also a member of the 88A Cadets of the Citizen Military Forces.

The family soon moved to Fremantle, taking up residence at 50 Carnac Street Fremantle. Albert worked for the WA Government Railways as a Fireman, beginning his employment on the 6^th January 1913.

On the 10^th July 1916 Albert went to the Perth Drill Hall to enlist in the AIF. He was passed as fit with the medical examiner finding him to be 5 feet 6 inches tall; weight of 124 lbs; chest measurement of 33-35 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. After a few days in No.80 Depot, Albert was assigned to the 23^rd Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion and a month later was put into the 22^nd Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion. He trained with them in WA through September and October 1917. In early November they received their orders to depart and on the 9^th they boarded the H.M.A.T. “Argyllshire” in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England.

After the long sea voyage Albert arrived at Devonport England on the 10^th January 1917. After disembarking he was sent to the 3^rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp. Albert was to spend the next five months here training while also being granted periods of leave to see the sights of England. On the 3^rd May 1917 he departed from Folkestone England and sailed across to France, joining the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. He only spent a few days here and was taken on strength of the 11^th Battalion on the 10^th May 1917.

The 11^th Battalion had just come through the Bullecourt Battle with heavy casualties so Albert and his group filled many gaps in the ranks. The 11^th Battalion were then to embark on their longest rest of the war when they were pulled out of front line service until the end of August 1917. On the 30^th May Albert was sent to Hospital with an undiagnosed complaint though was back with the unit by the 9^th June. On the 17^th June Albert got into trouble for missing a Church Parade for which he was given 5 days of Field Punishment No.2.

Albert stayed with the Battalion for the remainder of 1917. He got through the Third Battle of Ypres unscathed and also the Flanders winter of 1917/18 when the 11^th Battalion garrisoned the front line trenches near Messines. On the 27^th January 1918 Albert was granted leave to the UK, returning to Belgium on the 9^th February. On the 19^th March 1918 Albert was wounded in action by a gas shell. He had ingested some gas and was sent back to the 1^st Field Ambulance and then to the 6^th Casualty Clearing Station. From here he was evacuated back to the 3^rd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux where his condition was deemed serious enough for evacuation to England. On the 25^th March 1918 he was admitted to Horton County Hospital in Epsom. He spent just over two weeks in this hospital and was then transferred to the 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital. His condition had improved greatly as on the 15^th April he was granted a period of furlough until the 1^st May 1918. After this furlough was finished he was to report to No.4 Command Depot at Hurdcott. It seems he reported 45 minutes after his expected arrival at 11am and was admonished by a Major Howard.

Alfred remained at No.4 Command Depot until the 15^th July 1918 when he was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade at Suton Veny Camp. At this camp Albert went absent without leave from the 30^th July to the 1^st August 1918. He was given 2 days of Field Punishment No.2 and had to forfeit 4 days pay. On the 8^th August 1918 Albert left England and proceeded over to France where he marched into the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre. On the 15^th August 1918 he rejoined the 11^th Battalion where they were taking part in the Battle of Amiens. A week later on the 23^rd August 1918 as the 11^th Battalion were about to embark on another assault on the Germans, Albert was in a sunken road on the left of Proyart when a German shell exploded killing him instantly. From reports he had no injuries on him but had apparently been killed by the shell concussion.

Albert was buried in Proyart Wood Military Cemetery but after the war the graves here were exhumed and placed in Heath Cemetery Harbonnieres. Albert lies in plot III.G.18. Albert’s parents now living at the ‘Anchorage’ 57 Howard Street Fremantle received his effects and war medals.