A century on from the end of World War I we acknowledge their service …
Lest we forget.
Corporal Alfred Ellett
Born: 2 April 1897 Springvale. Died: 10 February 1958 Kooweerup.
Enlisted: 21 January 1916 aged 18
Served: Western Front
Known as Alf, the third Ellett brother to enlist was only 18 and needed his parents‘ consent.
When he left for Europe in May 1916, “the good wishes of all who know him” went with him as he went to “uphold the honour of Australia and assist in maintaining the integrity of the Empire against the worse than brutal rapaciousness of the unspeakable Hun”.
Alf was sent to the Western Front in March 1917 and was trained in the use of the Lewis light machine gun, which was being used as an early anti-aircraft gun.
In June 1918 was invalided back to England with severe appendicitis and remained in England for the rest of the War.
Alf took up farming again, and settled on a property in Island Road, Kooweerup.
He married Grace Rose Forscutt in 1922 and the couple eventually raised four sons.
Alf was one of the pioneers of asparagus growing and also kept poultry to “help matters along” while his asparagus matured. Similarly he planted potatoes between the rows of asparagus.
This is an extract from Patrick Ferry’s book A Century After The Guns Fell Silent – Remembering the Pakenham District’s WWI Diggers 1914-18.
For more details on this and other profiles in the book, head to the website www.pakenhamww1.com
