Ellement, Herbert
No.1930 – Private Herbert Arthur Ellement - 28th Battalion AIF
Herbert was Victor’s younger brother, having been born in Geelong in 1893. The family moved to Western Australia and took up residence in Holland Street East Fremantle. After finishing school in Fremantle Herbert found employment as a Gardener.
He enlisted in the AIF in June 1915 and was assigned to the 3rd reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for the next few months but their embarkation orders soon came through and Herbert embarked from Fremantle aboard the HMAT Anchises on the 2nd September 1915.
Herbert arrived in Egypt just over three weeks later but he hardly had any time there as he was quickly packed off to the Dardanelles. Even though the 28th Battalion had arrived after the August battles they were losing a steady stream of men to sickness and Turkish fire so reinforcements were needed.
Herbert arrived at Anzac on the 12th October 1915. The 28th Battalion were stationed in the northern sector at Cheshire Ridge. Two days after joining the Battalion Herbert was severely wounded. His mate Will Sheldrake wrote;
It was strange going through the sap last night, bullets were flying all around and the great height on both sides of us didn’t look too inviting, we realise we are well among it now, and intend to give a good account of ourselves if we get the opportunity…I have had the bad luck to lose my mate Bert Ellement, he was severely wounded by shrapnel about 11am and I assisted him to the Field Ambulance tent about halfway to the beach. Bert and myself were sitting down talking to one another when the shell burst overhead. How I escaped without getting hit was a miracle.
Herbert was admitted to the 16th Casualty Clearing Station where his wound was treated and then sent to a hospital ship. Herbert arrived in Alexandria, four days later on the 18th October. He was admitted to the 15th General Hospital where he remained for the next two weeks. Herbert was then shipped to England for more medical treatment.
On the 10th November 1915 Herb was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital in Wandsworth. He would remain here under treatment for the next few months. On the 11th March 1916 Herbert was sent to Portland where he boarded the HMAT Suevic for the journey to Australia. Herbert arrived back in Fremantle on the 22nd April 1916.
On arrival home Herb was sent to No.8 AGH for more medical assistance. He was discharged from the AIF on the 10th July 1916 and was awarded a pension of 60/- per fortnight from the military.
In 1919 Herbert married Louisa Hibberd in Fremantle and they resided in the suburb of Spearwood, just south of Fremantle. This was a market gardening region and Herbert grew several vegetables for market, but specialised in onions. He was also a member of the Onion marketing board in WA.
Herbert died in 1951 aged 58 and is buried in the Methodist section of Fremantle Cemetery.
Photo below of Bert Ellement and his mates in the 28th Battalion Reinforcement group