Frank Thomas Elliott was born in 1894. His father Thomas Frank Elliott was a carpenter. Frank had one younger brother, Robert, born in 1896. They lived at 64 Ley Street, Ilford, at the time of the 1911 census.
Frank was a draper’s porter who worked in the department store known today (in 2015) as Bodgers. Frank and his brother Robert enlisted with the 4th Battalion, the Essex Regiment which was based in Gordon Road, Ilford. In 1915 the brothers took part in the Suvla Bay landing at Gallipoli, Turkey, where both of them were wounded.
They later took part in the First Battle of Gaza, Palestine, in March 1917. Frank was last seen slightly wounded and carrying water to his younger brother when he was again hit.
Frank was 23 years old when killed and has no known grave but is commemorated on the Gaza Memorial, Palestine. The Elliott brothers were among at least 28 Ilford men who died between 26th and 28th March during the First Battle of Gaza. Gaza was finally captured in November 1917.
Research by Patrick O’Mara and Redbridge Museum
Sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ancestry.com