John Minell Elliott was born in 1878, the fourth of the seven children of James Elliott (1835-1895) and Annie Mary Elliott née Minell (b.1852). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1878 in Marylebone Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). He was baptised on 18 August 1878 at All Saints Church, Margaret Street, Marylebone, where in the baptismal register his family were shown as living at 3 Winsley Street, Marylebone and that his father was a draper's assistant.
In the April 1881 census he was shown as aged 3 years, living at 1 Luton Street, Marylebone, with his parents and four siblings: Annie Elliott (b.1873); James Henry Elliott (b.1875); Henry Walter Elliott (1877-1953) and Eleanor M. Elliott (1880-1914), together with his paternal uncle Henry Elliott (b.1837). His father was described as a wool draper assistant.
He was shown as aged 13 years in the April 1891 census, living in two rooms in a wharf at 54a Redhill Street, St Pancras, London, with his parents, five siblings: James Henry Elliot, a carman; Henry Walter Elliott, a post messenger; Eleanor M. Elliott; George J. Elliott (1882-1955) and Alice M. Elliott (b.1886). His father was shown as a draper's assistant.
When the March 1901 census was undertaken he was shown as aged 23 years and a railway porter, boarding with his brother, George J. Elliott who was also a railway porter, at 38 Cumberland Market, St Pancras, London, the home of David Comber, police constable, and his family.
He enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) at Stratford, London on the 16 August 1902, service number 9178 and gave his occupation on enlistment as a Barman. He served for 8 years in both Malta and India as well as at home.
By the time of the April 1911 census he had left the army and was described as aged 33 years and a motor washer, boarding in a six roomed property at 30 Redhill Street, Regents Park, London, the home of William Dear, a coachman, and his family. In July 1912 he was appointed as a Postman in the West London Postal Service.
On 16 November 1912 he married Edith Mary Fleming (1890-1954) at the St Pancras Register Office. He was recalled to the colours on the 26 August 1914 and served in the 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own). He entered France on 10 September 1914 and was killed in action on 13 October 1914, aged 35 years. His body was buried near where he fell, but was subsequently exhumed and reburied in Plot 4, Row K, Grave 860 at the Meteren Military Cemetery, derrière le cimetière civil, Rue des 4 Fils Aymon, 59270 Méteren, France.
On 25 January 1915 his army effects totalling £2-19s-7d were sent to his widow. She was sent a further 4 shillings on 18 August 1915.
His widow, who remarried and became Mrs Edith M. Gindley and who lived at 3 Caerau Road, Newport, Monmouthshire, a weekly pension of 18s-6d for herself and their two children: Trevor John Elliott (1913-2006) who was born on the 24 October 1913 and George Henry Elliott (1915-1979) who was born on 17 January 1915. She was also sent his £5-0s-0d war gratuity on 5 June 1919. He was posthumously awarded the 1914 Star with the '5TH AUG.-22ND NOV.1914' clasp, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'ELLIOTT, J.M.' on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website, on the London WW1 Memorial website and on Page 116 of the 1914-1920 remembrance book of the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them