Gallipoli veteran’s grave unmarked no more – July 2023
AFTER lying in an unmarked grave at the Collie cemetery for 81 years, Gallipoli veteran George Francis Ellemor’s war service was recognized on Thursday 20 July 2023.
The service commenced with the opening address by Collie-Cardiff RSL Sub Branch President, Mr Gary Benton; “We are gathered here this morning to pay homage to a soldier of the Great War. Service No 300 Company Sergeant Major George Francis Ellemor 51st Infantry Battalion”. A prayer for the Fallen was recited by Pastor Shayne Goldfinch and CSM Ellemor’s grave was marked with a white cross constructed by members of the Collie-Cardiff RSL Sub Branch. At 1100hrs the ‘ODE’ was recited, Last Post rang out followed by a minutes silence and ‘Reveille’. A WW1 veteran now truly identified and at rest.
‘Lest We Forget’
ABOUT GEORGE FRANCIS ELLEMOR, 1892-1942
Military Service WW1
- At the outbreak of WW1 George Francis Ellemor was working with his brother Harry at the Worsley Timber Mill near Collie. Both brothers enlisted into the AIF in September 1914 and were posted into WA’s own 11th Infantry Battalion.
- On the 25th April 1915 at the Gallipoli landing both brothers went ashore with the 11th Bn.
- The brothers were both wounded at Gallipoli they survived and went on to serve on the Western Front in France. George was transferred to the 51st Infantry battalion prior to departure to France.
- George Ellemor was promoted to Company Sergeant Major, 51st Bn, in July 1917 in the field France. He was wounded on a second occasion in France.
- In August 1917 George was hospitalised in France with defective hearing and eyesight. No longer fit for active service he was returned to England for treatment.
- In December 1917, George Francis Ellemor was returned to Australia and discharged from service, medically unfit. (Defective hearing and vision resulting from wounds received at Gallipoli)
Post WW1-(1919 to 1942)
- George married in 1919.
- It is known that George represented the country party and stood for the pastoral seat of Cue in the WA elections 1921, his listed occupation being pastoralist.
- George was working as a carpenter in Collie in 1942 when he became ill and was hospitalised. He died in the Collie Hospital on 2 February 1942 and was buried in this gravesite on the 4th February 1942 – (Church of Christ section plot C72).
- He was survived by his only son, Maurice, who died in Perth in 1974.
Post the year 2000
- Fast forward to the year 2022 and Tania Roberts from the Collie Shire Local Studies section, whilst researching gravesites at the Collie Cemetery, kicked a jam jar containing a letter from George Ellemor’s elderly nephew, Colin Newington and his wife. The letter gave detail of the person interned in the unmarked grave (George Francis Ellemor). Tania contacted Mr Newington and found the Jar had been placed there some 20 yrs earlier.
- After consultation with the nephew, Tania contacted the Collie Cardiff RSL Sub Branch Secretary, Grahame Old, to see if something could be done to have the grave properly marked.
- The RSL sprang into action and as an interim measure RSL members Alan Bowers, Peter Tyler and William Goltz constructed and installed the white cross.
- The RSL has contacted DVA (War Graves) and requested an assessment of George Francis Ellemor’s service to see whether he is eligible for a War Grave Commemoration.
