I recently purchased the Victory medal of 1066 W H Elms which I have briefly researched.









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William Henry Elms was born at Albert Park Victoria and a clerk aged 19 years, he joined the AIF in 1915 with A Company of the 30th Battalion. He stated 4 years previous service with the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. A red head with a fair complexion, he soon earned the nicknames "Red" and "Bluey".

He embarked on HMAT Beltana on 9/11/1915 and disembarked at Suez on 11/12/1915. Embarked Alexandria 16/6/1916 and disembarked Marseille France on 23/6/1916. Promoted Corporal 8/9/1916.

Elms was evacuated sick on 3/11/1916 by the 38th CCS ( Casualty Clearing Station ) and eventually ending up in Connaught Hospital with Trench Feet. he spent about 2 months in hospitals before rejoining his unit in France on 11/2/1917.

Elms was promoted to SGT on 7/4/1917 and then Company Sergeant Major on 20/3/1918. He contracted Gonnorea 15/5/1918 and spent 18 days out of the line because of it and also had his rank dropped back to sgt. He rejoined his unit on 8/6/1918. He was listed MIA 23/6/1918 and then declared KIA on that date.

His Red Cross file containes a number of entried related to his death. He died at Morlancourt while a member of a raiding party of 60 men. He was shot in the head in no mans land and killed instantly.