Thomas Geoffrey Eliot
From Our Contribution
 courtesy Eliot family | |
 Canning Mills road Farm | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 25 Jan 1921 |
| Place of Birth | Belmont, Western Australia |
| Death | 30 Jan 2008, aged 87 |
| Place of Death | Hollywood Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 20 years, 5 months |
| Occupation | Fitter & Turner |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | 'Benmore' Albany road, Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs Marjorie Jane Eliot |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX15056 |
| Date of Enlistment | 15 Jul 1941 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit/Formation | 2/7th Australian Advanced Workshop |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 9 Sep 1941 ‒ 23 Sep 1941 |
| Transport Details | HMT Queen Mary Fremantle to Kantara, Egypt |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 29 Jan 1943 ‒ 19 Feb 1943 |
| Transport Details | SS Île de France Port Tewfik to Fremantle |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 17 Oct 1943 ‒ 21 Oct 1943 |
| Transport Details | HMT Duntroon Cairns to Buna, New Guinea |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 14 Sep 1945 ‒ 25 Sep 1945 |
| Transport Details | HMAS Kanimbla Lae to Brisbane |
| Journey Dates | 18 Oct 1945 ‒ 22 Oct 1945 |
| Transport Details | HMT Dominion Monarch Sydney to Fremantle |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (three times) |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
War Service
With prior service as a Corporal (W17052) in the CMF's Australian Army Ordnance Corp, on 15 Jul 1941 Tom enlisted in the 2nd AIF at Claremont. On 21 July he was transferred to the 2/2nd Army Field Workshop (?) based at Ascot Racecourse. From 4 - 10 Aug 1941 Tom was granted pre-embarkation leave, and then on 9 Sep 1941 he embarked on HMT Queen Mary which with the Queen Elizabeth comprised Convoy 12A for the Middle East. (From Tom's life story, related by his wife before her death, it appears that they were disembarked mid Suez Canal, so likely Kantara in Egypt.)
On 30 Oct 1941 he was taken on strength by the 2/1st Army Field Workshop. Tom required hospital treatment from the 2/7th Australian General Hospital at Kafr Balu in Palestine from 6- 17 Jan 1942 for a corneal ulcer. Released to the Australian Ordnance Training Regiment, he was returned to his workshop unit on 24 Jan 1942. On 6 April he was appointed Lance Corporal. Tom was again admitted to the 2/7th Australian General Hospital, this time at Buseilli east of Alexandria, from 27 - 31 Aug 1942, and although released to his unit he was again hospitalised on 3 Sep 1942. Treated for appendicitis, he was released on 7 September. On 7 Oct 1942 he was promoted Acting Corporal, but on 1 Nov 1942 Tom reverted to Lance Corporal. With the 9th Division being returned to Australia, on 29 Jan 1943 he embarked on L3 SS Île de France for Fremantle, disembarking on 19 Feb 1943.
On his return he married Marjorie Jane Williams on 26 Feb 1943 at Wembley. On 20 Apr 1943 Tom entrained in Fremantle for the eastern states (riding in cattle trucks as far as Adelaide), where the 2/1st Army Field Workshop was located on the Atherton Tablelands. On 8 Jun 1943 he was again promoted Acting Corporal, and transferred the same day to the 2/7th Australian Advanced Workshop. However, appendicitis had reoccurred and he was admitted on 30 Jun 1943 to the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital until 16 July when he was released to the 2/1st Australian Convalescent Depot. On 25 Aug 1943 he had returned to the 2/7th Australian Advanced Workshop.
Tom and his unit embarked at Cairns on HMT Duntroon for Buna in New Guinea on 17 Oct 1943, arriving there and disembarking four days later on 21 Oct 1943. After a month in Buna the unit moved to Lae. Tom was evacuated to the 2/11th Australian General Hospital on 11 Dec 1943 with malaria, and on 31 Dec 1943 he was released to the 1st Australian Corps Reception Camp, and returned to his unit the same day. Meanwhile, on 27 Dec 1943 his rank of Corporal had been confirmed. On 20 Feb 1944 he embarked on HMT Katoomba for Bowen in North Queensland, disembarking there on 27 February. He was then released on leave, arriving in WA on 8 Mar 1943, with leave until 3 Apr 1943.
Tom embarked for New Guinea again on 16 May 1944 at Townsville aboard the MS Gorgon, and disembarked at Lae on 22 May 1944. Tom was graded as Group 7 Fitter (General) on 14 Sep 1945, and on 25 September he boarded HMAS Kanimbla in Lae for Brisbane, arriving there on 4 Oct 1945, before reporting to Chermside. On 18 Oct 1945 he boarded the HMT Dominion Monarch in Sydney for Fremantle, arriving home on the 22nd. His records show him as transferred to the Western Command Discharge Depot within the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot as at 21 October where he was discharged on 10 Dec 1945.
Post War
• President of Kelmscott Cricket Club 1960 and 1961 • President Roleystone Cricket Club • Also President of Kelmscott Football Club for 7 years • Did the School Bus run for kids up in the Kelmscott Hills
Marjorie died on 1 Jul 2015 at Huntingdale, aged 92. They had four children: Wendy Coral 11 Jan 1944; Gilian Patricia 18 Oct 1946; Geoffrey James 2 Dec 1947; and David John 11 May 1950.
Notes
While family history speaks of his holding the rank of Sergeant, his military records have his rank as Corporal.