Lance Corporal ELLIOT ADAIR

Elliot Adair was born in Rotherwick on 6 September 1886.[1] In 1891 the Adair family was living in Tylney Hall Cottages in Rotherwick.  His father, Robert, a carpenter, and mother, Mary Ann, had five children: Robert (16) worked as a boy in foundry; Elizabeth (14) at home; George (12) at school; Harry  (10) at school; Ethel (7) at school and Elliot (4) at school[2].  The family moved to North Warnborough in 1893 and Elliot started at London Road Board School on 31 May and his older brother, Henry, who was born in 1881, on 7 June 1893.  However, both were ‘Removed’ on 9 June 1893, reasons for which are unknown.[3]  In 1901 Elliot, aged 14, was employed as a ‘Boots Domestic’ at the George Hotel in Odiham, where he was also living.[4]  By the time of the next Census in 1911, Elliot had joined the Army and was enumerated in India.[5]

Elliot’s Army career began on 10 February 1903 in Aldershot, when he enlisted into the Manchester Regiment for Short Service, i.e. 3 years with the Colours and 9 years in the Reserve.  He gave his age as 18 years and 7 months and his trade as a labourer.  He was also a member of the 1^st Odiham Volunteers. He was recorded as being 5 feet 4.5 inches tall; weighing 110 lbs; chest measurements – minimum 31 inches, maximum 33 inches.  He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair.  After six months service he had grown to 5ft. 6inches tall, his chest measurements were 32 – 34 inches and his weight 127 lbs.  He was declared fit for service in the Manchester Regiment.

His service record gives details of the ups and downs of his life in the Army.  In 1905 he extended his service with the Colours to 5 years; was awarded Class II pay and granted a Good Conduct badge.  At the beginning of 1906 he was granted Class I pay.  At the beginning of 1908 he was tried by the DCM and sentenced to 28 days detention for “failing to appear, etc.”; and “striking his Superior Officer”.  In 1910 his service with the Colours was extended to 12 years.

Elliot’s military history sheet details his service at home and abroad –

                10.2.03 – 17.2.05             Home

                18.2.05 – 26.8.14             India

                27.8.14 – 16.3.15             British France

                17.3.15 – 28.6.15             Home

                29.6.15 –  2.2.16               France

                 3,2.16  – 14.2.16              Home

Over these years he committed several minor offences, including drunkenness, insubordinate language and attempting to pass on cigarettes to a court martial prisoner. His health, on the whole, was good, but in India he suffered from bouts of malaria.  However, more serious was the blow to the chest resulting in contusion of the chest wall which he received while boxing in 1911.  This injury developed into a large swelling resulting in his discharge as a ‘time-expired man’[6].

Having been discharged from the Army and returned home, Elliot’s ‘patriotic nature would not allow him to keep out of the Army, and he voluntarily re-enlisted in the Black Watch Highlanders, and was soon seeing service in Mesopotamia, finally going to Egypt’.[7] 

Elliot was a Lance Corporal in the 2^nd Battalion of the Regiment and his service number was S/10768.  The 2^nd Battalion Black Watch embarked for Palestine on 1 January 1918, arriving at Suez on 13 January, where they joined the 21^st Indian Brigade, 7^th Indian Division.[8]  They were engaged in various actions, including the capture of ‘North and South Sister’ hills, raiding ‘Piffer Ridge’ and fighting in the Battle of Megiddo.[9]   The war in Palestine continued until 31 October 1918, but before then Elliot had died of wounds on 9 June 1918.

He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  He was buried in the Ramleh War Cemetery in Israel