Selected Biographies

Elliston, Arthur Thomas – Born: Bulmer, Essex in 1885.  Parents: Thomas Elliston (Stockman) and Phoebe Mercy [née Butcher].  Home: 4 Gaol Lane, Sudbury, Suffolk (1891), living with George Carter (uncle) at 39 Lockington Road, Battersea, London (1901), Church Road, Bulmer, Essex (1911).  Occupation: Grocer’s Improver (1901), Agricultural Labourer (1911), Stockman for Harry Laflin of Park Farm, Long Melford [1916].  Married: Ada M. Poole in 1927.  Service Record: At the Melford Military Service Tribunal in March 1916 his employer Harry Laflin requested Arthur’s exemption.  As a farmer of 250 acres with 30 cows, Laflin argued that if Elliston was conscripted it would ‘put him in a muddle’.  The military advisors on the panel disagreed and allowed his man only one month’s exemption.[1]  Conscription should have followed shortly after; however, his unit is not known as no definitive military record can be found.  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1929.

Elliston, Harry John – Born: Elmswell, Suffolk on 30.1.1899.[2]  Parents: William Henry Elliston (Insurance Agent) and Margaret Amelia Jane [née Holmes].  Home: Rose Lane, Elmswell, Suffolk (1901), The Street, Elmswell (1911), Station Road, Long Melford (1939) to [1963].  Occupation: Great Eastern Railway Porter (1916), Railway Signalman (1939).  Married: Violet Blanche Pledger in 1922.  Service Record: Harry was conscripted on 14.10.1916 and placed on the Army Reserve until he was mobilised on 24.4.1917 as Pte.23012 with 32^nd Training Reserve Battalion.  On 12.5.1918 he was moved briefly as Pte.89344 to 13^th [Service] Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and posted to France, before transferring in the field as Pte.GS/77900 to 10^th [Service] Battalion, Royal Fusiliers [City of London] Regiment as part of 111^th Brigade, 37^th Division.  On 21.8.1918 the Battalion launched a large-scale assault on German positions at Ablainzevelle about eleven miles south of Arras.  During this attack Harry received a shrapnel wound to his right leg and was taken to N^o. 12 American General Hospital at Rouen in France, before receiving extensive treatment in Wales.  He was transferred to the Army Reserve in June 1919 while serving with 5^th [Reserve] Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.[3]  Died: Felixstowe, Suffolk on 3.8.1963.[4]

Notes – [1] For the Tribunal’s ruling see Suffolk and Essex Free Press 15.3.1916.  [2] Date of birth from the 1939 Register for Long Melford.  [3] Details of this action can be found in 10^th Royal Fusiliers’ War Diary [WO 95/2532/1].  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329], and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [4] Date of death from the National Probate Calendar.