John Victor Elderkin
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John was the son of William, a corn merchant, and Katharine Elderkin (née George). He was baptised in Islip on 18th September 1887. His father was born in 1849 in Thrapston Northamptonshire and died aged 50 in 1900 at Nottingham. His mother was born at Gayton, Northamptonshire. Married in the Towcester registration area in 1879, they had seven children, Thomas b.1880 Thrapston, Lydia Mary b.1881 Thrapston, William Walter b.1883 Thrapston, George Whiteman b.1884 Thrapston, Katherine Maud b.1886, Keyston Northamptonshire, John Victor b.1887 Islip Northamptonshire and Winifred b.1890 Islip. In 1901 John was a pupil at the Royal Masonic boarding school Lordship Lane Wood Green London. In 1911 the family was living at 13 Millicent Road West Bridgford. John's effects of £743/9s were left to his mother (Probate Nottingham 30/11/917).
He joined the Army on 6 September 1914 and served with 'A' Bty 59th Brigade Royal Field Artillery. His first engagement was in Egypt, where he took part in the defence of the Suez Canal and later was in severe fighting in Gallipoli. After the evacuation from Suvla Bay he returned to Egypt and encountered the Turks again on the Sinai Peninsula. He survived the Battle of the Somme but died of wounds received near Ypres.Bard Cottage Cemetery Grave Reference:III H 6
De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour: His Colonel wrote: ' As his Colonel in the 133rd Brigade I understood and valued him, I made him my adjutant and a right good one he was too. He was a beautiful character, loyal, keen and clever, but his best trait was his coolness.' A brother officer wrote 'I cannot say what a good officer and friend as well as a cheerful companion he was, brave, hard working and a sterling officer we all deeply grieve him and his memory will live on in A 59.'
