Eley, Samuel Thomas by Central Coast Council

Gosford District Casualties of World War One Bragg, Edmund Allen Eley, Samuel Thomas

Service Number Number 3513 1494 Service 19th May 1917 1915 Killed in Action 18th Gallipoli Peninsula 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 (ÂŠ 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 ENLISTMENT

Holdsworthy, NSW

PREVIOUS SERVICE NEXT OF KIN

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

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

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 & Scroll325024

DEPENDANTS

Daughter;- Ethel Helen Eley

PERSONAL EFFECTS WILL CORRESPONDENCE

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

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 discharhe 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 Germans 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 answer 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 peaceful a country should be ruined. You can hear the shells coming through the air like an express train. Sometimes 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 Superintendent of the Nursery, Mr. D.Jenkins, and Mrs Jenkins. To Privates Eley, Spillane and Gavenlock were handed wristlet watches, the gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins, the Superintendent 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 parcel. 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 Gosford boys. My brother is in the 54 th 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 orchard. 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. Dawson. 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 18 th, 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 Annie. 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