Gosford District Casualties of World War One

Bragg, Edmund Allen Service Number 1494

Killed in Action 19th May 1915 Gallipoli Peninsula

Gosford District Casualties of World War One

Eley, Samuel Thomas Service Number 3513

Killed in Action 18th May 1917 France

Gosford City Council gratefully acknowledges the voluntary efforts of

Benalyn Campbell

And Vivienne Tranter

in compiling this resource

The information in this file has been extracted from official records

held in the

The Australian War Memorial and

National Archives of Australia

(© Commonwealth of Australia [National Archives of Australia] 2013)

Further information on this soldier may be found online at:

Commonwealth War Graves

The AIF project

Content advisory: This file may potentially contain disturbing accounts of service-related injury and death, disease and family grief. Adult supervision is recommended for children

using these resources. Individual files should be viewed within the context

provided by wider research on service conditions in the 1st AIF.

This resource is presented by

Gosford City Council for research purposes only.

Please note that copyright for resources contained within remains with the original copyright owners.

NAME Eley, Samuel Thomas

SERVICE NO 3513

UNIT 14th Australian Machine Gun Coy.

RANK Private

AGE at Enlistment 24 yrs 11 mths

PLACE OF BIRTH Stone, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England.

ADDRESS Wyoming Estate, Gosford, NSW

OCCUPATION Railway Fettler

DATE OF ENLISTMENT 19 Oct 1915

PLACE OF ENLIST-MENT

Holdsworthy, NSW

PREVIOUS SERVICE

NEXT OF KIN Wife;- Helen Eley, Hagley House, Wyoming Estate, Gosford.

PHYSICAL DESCRIP-TION

Height-5’10½’.Weight-140lbs. Chest-38”. Complexion-Fair. Eyes-Dk Blue. Hair-Bown.

RELIGION C/E

EMBARKED Sydney 17 Dec 1915 per HMAT A35 “Berrima”

DISEMBARKED

NOTES

WOUNDED/ILLNESS

DIED 18 May 1917 - France

BURIED Re-interred Vaulx Hill Brit Cem. Plot 3 Row F Gve 20.

MEDALS British War Medal-27759, Victory Medal-27581. Memorial Plaque & Scroll-325024

DEPENDANTS Daughter;- Ethel Helen Eley

PERSONAL EFFECTS

WILL Executors;- Manasseh Ward & Frederick Cox, Gosford Witnesses;- A Harvey Jeweller & C F Ash Estate Agent, Gosford

CORRESPONDENCE

GOSFORD TIMES 5th November 1915 A Fighting Family

Mr. William Eley, foreman at the Narara Viticultural Nursery, who went into camp at Liverpool this week, and whose brother, Sam, also formerly employed at the nursery, has joined the colors, comes from fighting stock. He joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry as a mere lad, and left a few years ago with first-class dis-charhe certificates. He was on eof the ill-fated H.M.S.Bulwark’s maiden crew, the battleship that recently went to the bottom in Sheerness Harbor as the result of an explosion. Mr. Eley has two brothers Bert and Frederick, in the fighting line in Flanders, they having enlisted in Kitchener’s army at the out0break of the war. Writing of his experiences Bert says;- we are about three miles behind the firing line, and in a lovely

country which reminds me of old England. Out platoon are nearly all Stourbridge chaps; they are a happy lot, and we have jolly times at football. Some of the chaps have been sleeping out, but the nights are very cool, and the frogs make so much row it gets on our nerves, there are millions of them. To-day, the Ger-mans have been shelling a village quite close here. It is a daily occurrence to hear of the shells killing little children and civilians, and churches and hospitals seem favourite targets; the Germans have a lot to an-swer for. The day we came here we saw several shells drop on the top of a large hospital. The church I have been to see several times is a pitiful sight. If only some of the chaps who hang back could see these they would not hesitate to come and help us to smash the foe. I was on guard at a recent billet where we were shelled every day. I had a narrow escape, and Pte Thornes, of Stourbridge, was hit in the neck. He was much liked by all of us, and we hope he will get all right again. It is when you see a pal struck down that you long to crush the Germans. They have accounted for a few of our boys, but every one was British. The graves look so neat with the wooden crosses; we shall ever be proud of them, as they died fighting for old England. The heat does not trouble the Indian soldiers we have seen out here, but we find it very hot, and the roads are dusty. Houses here have very old thatched roofs. It seems such a shame that so peace-ful a country should be ruined. You can hear the shells coming through the air like an express train. Some-times they fire the houses, and all the people’s belongs are gone. We see very few German aeroplanes here, but heaps of ours, who are very daring. The Germans waste as many as a hundred shells at them, and they come through safely”. Pte Eley’s closing words are. “We want every available man out here to help us”.

GOSFORD TIMES 17th December 1915 Sargent W. Eley and his brother Sam, employees of Narara Viticultural Nursery, have been on final leave, and expect to sail for Europe immediately. Two of their brothers are in the firing line somewhere in France, so that the Eley family is doing its duty to the Empire.

GOSFORD TIMES 17th December 1915 Send off to Soldiers

Up-to-date seven employees and two State boya have enlisted from Narara Viticultural Nursery, and on Saturday evening five of the latest recruits- Sergeant W. Eley, Privates S.Eley, H. Spillane, Fred (“Dutchy”) Gavenlock and Harry Campbell-were entertained at a champagne supper at the Royal Hotel, provided by Mr. and Mrs Givney. Sergeant Eley was presented, on behalf of the employees, with a Morocco leather wallet, and a radium wristlet watch for the Superinten-dent of the Nursery, Mr. D.Jenkins, and Mrs Jenkins. To Pri-vates Eley, Spillane and Gavenlock were handed wristlet watches, the gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, the Superinten-dent explaining that Private Harry Campbell who enlisted that week, would also receive a watch on a later occasion, as would also every employees who enlisted from the Narara Viticultural Nursery.

GOSFORD TIMES 26th October 1916 Letters From Gosford Soldiers. “WE WANT MORE MEN” Private Eley, of Narara, writes to the Gosford War Relief League from France:- I want to sincerely thank you for par-cel. It is very thoughtful of the Gosford people to think of us over here. I am sorry to say Alick Archibald is wounded, but I think he is doing well; his brother George is well, they are in the same Battalion as myself. Have not seen any other Gos-ford boys. My brother is in the 54th Battalion, but have not seen him since he left Egypt. This is a beautiful country, and it makes one’s blood boil to see the awful devastation of war. Lovely churches all in ruins, the Huns seem to make them a special target. The French are a brave people-you see them working away in the fields just behind the firing line.

GOSFORD TIMES 31st May 1917 Roll of Honor ELEY- Killed in action 18th May, Private Samuel Eley, husband and father of Nellie Eley and little Ethel. He rose responsive to his country’s call, He gave his best, his life, his all.

GOSFORD TIMES 7th June 1917 RETURN THANKS

MRS. S. & W. ELEY wish to thank all friends who so kindly sent letters, cards and telegrams, especially to Mr.D Jenkins, Mrs and Miss K. Deasey, and Mrs H.B. Smith, in their recent sad bereavement.

GOSFORD TIMES 29th November 1917 Voluntary Workers

Gosford and Narara Branches of Voluntary Workers will attend (weather permitting) soldier Eley Bros’ orchard Wyoming, for digging and ploughing operations next Saturday.

Gosford Times 29th November 1917

A number of volunteer workers assembled at Eley’s, Narara, last Saturday afternoon and put in order the little orchard properties left by the two soldier brothers who went to the war last year, one of whom has made the supreme sacrifice

Gosford Times 29th November 1917 Narara Voluntary Workers

The Narara Voluntary Workers met at Mrs Eley’s orchard on Saturday last, and made great progress in cleaning up the or-chard. The following workers took part :- R. Hill, J. Campbell, J. Gallaher (horse and plough), T. Hodson, Albert Roffe, A. Saul, P. Fiddick, D. Jenkins, C. Braithwaite (Gosford), H. Kay, C. Newton (carpentering work at Mrs H. Campbell’s) and F. Daw-son. During the afternoon refreshments were supplied by the ladies of the Narara and Gosford Voluntary Workers, which were much appreciated. Funds are required by this Association for the purchase of manure for the soldier’s orchards, and will be acknowledged through the columns of the Gosford Times by Mr. R. Hill, Narara. Narara Voluntary Workers will meet at Mrs. Rose’s orchard at Wyoming tomorrow (Friday) at 1 o’clock. Ploughmen and hoemen wanted, about seven acres to work.

GOSFORD TIMES 16th May 1918 ELEY;- In loving memory of our dear brother, private S.T. Eley, who was killed at Bullecourt, May 18th 1917 We mourn for you in silence, But not with outward show For the heart that mourns sincerely Mourns silently and low. Inserted by his loving brother and sister-in-law, Will and Annie ELEY;- In loving memory of Private S.T.Eley, who was killed at Bullecourt, May 18th, 1917. God’s finger touched hin and he slept. Inserted by Sid and Sall.

GOSFORD TIMES 23rd May 1918 ELEY;- In loving remembrance of my dear husband, Private S.T.Eley, killed in action in France, May 18th, 1917, aged 26 years. Somewhere in France thay have laid him, In a hero’s grave he lies; He died for his loved ones and country. “Neath the flag of red, white and blue. Inserted by his loving wife, Nellie, and daughter, Ethel.

GOSFORD TIMES 15th May 1919 ELEY;- In loving memory of our dear husband and daddy, killed in action in France, May 18, 1917, Aged 26 years In life we loved him dearly In death we do the same. Never shall he be forgotten Inserted by his loving wife, Nellie, and little daughter, Ethel. ELEY;- In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Sam Eley, killed in action at Bullecourt, May 18, 1917. Though death divides, He lives in memory still. Inserted by his loving brother and sister-in-law, Will and An-nie. ELEY;-In loving memory of Private Sam Eley, killed in action at “Bullecourt” May 18, 1917. “Gone, but not forgotten” Inserted by Sid and Said.

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418

Abridged record/s courtesy of the National Archives of Australia (NAA) Series No: B2455 Item Barcode: 3537418