Jack Elson

Trooper

Secondary Memorial:

Hastings War Memorial

Conflict:

WW1

Additional Information:

Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Elson, of Wimbledon, Dannevirke, Napier.

References:

CWGC

Archives New Zealand

NZ WAR GRAVES

Public Contributions:

JACK (JOHN) ELSON TROOPER 11/249 WMR Jack Elson was born on 10 January 1893. His mother was Jane Grey Smith and his father Henry Herbert Elson. The couple married at Oringi Station near Dannevirke on... 10 July 1885. (Jane's father, Alexander Smith, was the manager at Oringi.) The family moved to Waipukurau and this was where Jack and his two siblings were born. By the time of Jack's birth, his older brother had already died. His younger brother, Alexander Smith Elson was born three years after Jack's birth. When he was four, Jack's mother died of tuberculosis. When Jack was five, his father remarried. Henry Elson and his new wife Jessie Bennett had five more children. The school records are not available but it is assumed all Jack's education took place at Waipukurau. On leaving school he probably became a farmhand at Takapau. He joined the B Squadron of the 9th Wellington Mounted Rifles and attended training at Otane. From his army records we learn Jack had moved to Hastings to work for Robert Holt and Son as a farmhand. Although he listed Hastings as his last address, he still managed to squeeze Waipukurau on the history sheet. Jack enlisted on 12 August 1914 as John Elson; perhaps he assumed that he had been registered by this name at birth. He gave his birth date as 21 January 1895 but he was two years older and therefore 23 years 6 months, not the 21 years 6 months as listed. He was given regimental number 11/249 and joined the Wellington Mounted Rifles as a Trooper. He was five foot eleven inches, with a dark complexion, blue eyes, black hair and an Anglican. Jack served 42 days in New Zealand before leaving on 16 October 1914 for Egypt, on either the Orari or Arawa. He served in the Egyptian theatre for 228 days before being sent to the Balkans where, according to his army records, he served for 111 days. This of course meant he was fighting in Gallipoli. Jack died at Anzac Cove on 27 August 1915. He was killed in action and, as he has no known grave, he is remembered at Hill 60 (New Zealand) Memorial. In New Zealand his name is recorded on the War Memorial at Hasting. It appears his medals ended up in trust with the Waipukurau Borough Council as his father and a 'Mrs Crombie of 313 Queen, Street Hastings' were not located. He is described on 'Cenotaph' as the Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Elson, of Wimbledon, Dannevirke, Napier. As noted earlier, Jessie Elson was actually his step-mother but she had raised him since he was five. Jack's only full blooded sibling, Alexander Smith Elson, died on 18 April 1918 aged 22 in Waipukurau; the cause of his death is unknown. It is not known if Jack is remembered by the families of his half brothers and sisters but this document hopes to acknowledge the sacrifice of one New Zealand soldier who died at Gallipoli and ensure he is not forgotten. Robyn Spurdle. (Jack's mother, Jane Grey Elson (nee Smith) and my grandmother Martha Smith (nee Smith) were sisters.) REFERENCES NZ BDM on line website NZ Army records Cenotaph database website Waipukurau Cemetery Records CWGC website Read More

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Casualty

Service Number:

11/249

Name:

Jack Elson

Rank:

Trooper

Date of Birth:

10 January 1893

Place of Birth:

Hawke's Bay, Waipukarau,

Next of Kin:

H H Elson (father), Takapau, New Zealand

Date of Enlistment:

12 August 1914

Enlistment Address:

Hastings, New Zealand

Occupation on Enlistment:

Farmhand

Employer:

R Holt and Son

Armed Force:

Army

Unit:

NZEF, New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, Wellington Mounted Rifles, 9 (East Coast) Squadron

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Date of Death:

27 August 1915

Day of Death:

Friday

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:

Main Body

Embarkation Place:

Wellington, New Zealand

Embarkment Date:

16 October 1914

Transport:

HMNZT 6
HMNZT 10

Vessel:

Orari or Arawa

Destination:

Suez, Egypt

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Hill 60 (New Zealand) Memorial

Cemetery Location:

Turkey

Jack Elson

Public Contributions:

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Casualty Details

Embarkation Details

Cemetery