Elliott, Joseph Frank: Service no. 651627

Source: “Duty Nobly Done” page 286.

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Brother to Private Daniel Elliot, reg. no. 651389, also of the 18th Battalion, who died of wounds May 31, 1918.

Indigenous Soldier from the “Cape Croker Reserve” now known as The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation occupy Neyaashiinigmiing Aboriginal Reserve No.27.

Summary of Service for Private Joseph Frank Elliot, reg. no. 651627

Date	Event	Remarks
February 7, 1878	Born	Born Cape Croker, Ontario, Canada [i].
January 31, 1916	Enlisted	Enlisted with the 160^th Bruce Battalion at Cape Croker. His trade or calling was that of a stone-mason and he was currently residing at Cape Croker. He is widowed and listed his son, Alfred Richard Elliot[ii], as his next-of-kin. Note that he had another child who was also orphaned upon his death in action.
May 24, 1916	Admitted	Bruce General Hospital, Walkerton, Ontario.
May 24, 1916	Discharged	Bruce General Hospital, Walkerton, Ontario.
July 7, 1916	Vaccinated
August 30, 1916	Inoculated	Anti-Typhoid
August 28, 1916	Inoculated	Anti-Typhoid
September 6, 1916	Inoculated	Anti-Typhoid
October 1, 1916	Assigns Pay	Assigns $15.00 per month to his son Alfred, C/O Reverend McVitty. A Separation Allowance of $20.00 per month is paid from March 1916 to December 1917.
October 5, 1916	Examined	Examined by Medical Board at London, Ontario.
October 17, 1916	Unit Sails	Embarked in Halifax for Liverpool, England. Travelled on the S.S. Metagama.
October 28, 1916	Unit Arrives	Arrives Liverpool, England.
February 23, 1918	Struck Off Strength	S.O.S. from the 160^th Battalion, Witley, England to the 4^th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Bramshott, England.
February 23, 1918	Struck Off Strength	S.O.S. from the 160^th Battalion, Witley, England to the 4^th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Bramshott, England.
February 24, 1918	Taken On Strength	T.O.S. from 160^th Battalion with the 4^th Canadian Reserve Battalion at Bramshott.
March 28, 1918	Struck Off Strength	S.O.S. from 4^th Canadian Reserve Battalion to the 18^th Battalion.
March 29, 1918	Arrives	Arrives at No. 2 Canadian Infantry Base Depot, Etaples.
April 3, 1918	Arrives	Arrives at Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp.
April 12, 1918	Joins	Joins the 18^th Battalion “In the Field”. The Battalion is in Brigade Reserve south-west of Arras. The War Diary relates on that date: “Working parties repairing and improving trenches. Lieuts. W.K. ROONEY and E.L. ADDY and 4 o.r.s. wounded during enemy shelling. 60 o.r. arrived as reinforcements.”
August 28, 1918	Killed in Action	Instantly killed in action by an enemy shell. The Battalion was actively involved in offensive operations and the War Diary relates that action of that day: “Zero hour for this days operation was set for 12.30 noon. Bn. was in support of 20th Bn. Heavy casualties were suffered in the advance to the slope of the SENSEE RIVER, machine gun nests and wire in the German line being equally heavy. Capt. Mackedie was shot through the hand and instantly killed rushing a German gun post; Lieut. Cole, shot through the eye, was afterwards found dead; Major Graham and Lts. Lawrence [sic], Donaldson and Krug were wounded. Under terrific fire the Bn. was compelled to temporarily withdraw and take up a line in the sunken roads fronting the German wire East of the SENSEE RIVER. 52 O.R. arrived as reif. 3 O.Rs on leave. Approx. casualties all ranks, 10 killed & 70 wounded.”
August 1918	Buried	He is buried at the Quebec Cemetery, Cherisy at plot number A.34 with the epitaph: “HAS DONE HIS DUTY”. He is buried with five other comrades of the 18^th Battalion, all but one died on August 28, 1918.
May 21, 1921	Plaque Despatched	Plaque no. P18891 despatched to his son.
June 17, 1920	Scroll Despatched	Scroll no. 757119 despatched to his Son.

[i] Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.

[ii] Note that it is later indicated in the service record that his son’s contact information included C/O Reverend S.R. McVitty, Mt. Elgin Residential School.