Elliott, Albert Ernest
Albert Ernest Elliott, M.A. Cantab, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. , Civil Surgeon, Field Force, South Africa. We regret to notice the announcement of the death of Civil Surgeon A.E. Elliott, from enteric fever, at Middleburg, South Africa, on December 1st. He was one of the first to offer his services at the end of last year, and was attached to No. 4 Field Hospital. His energy and devotion to duty were at once appreciated and he was sent to the front and was with the Hospital at Spearman’ s Farm during the battle of Spion Kop. At the time of his death he was attached to the 4th Brigade Division Royal Artillery, in medical charge of the 21st, 42nd, and 53rd Batteries and had recently been mentioned in despatches as always being in the firing line.
Mr. Elliott graduated B.A. Camb. in 1892 and M.A. in 1895. He received his medical education at St. Thomas’ s Hospital, and took the diplomas of M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.Lond. in 1898. He was a keen sportsman and a good all-round athlete, having won his Rugby Blue at Cambridge and his International Cap for England. Personally, the soul of honour and pluck, he was a man of whom the profession may be proud, and his untimely death at the outset of his career will be mourned by a wide circle of friends among whom he was deservedly popular.
Mr. Frederick Treves has been kind enough to send us the following tribute to Mr. Elliott’ s services: Mr Elliott joined No.4 Field Hospital at Frere some little time after the battle of Colenso. He accompanied the hospital to Spearman’ s Farm, and he helped to attend the wounded from Spion Kop and Val Krantz. He followed the hospital back to Chievely and thence on to Ladysmith. He was an admirable surgeon, most eager and most painstaking in his work and most thorough in all that he did. He was particularly unselfish and very kind-hearted. He had no idea of sparing himself, and if I saw a figure going round the tents at unusual hours of the night I knew it was Elliott. The soldiers were much attached to him and he to them. Nothing was too much trouble for Elliott, and his thoughtfulness for others was always making itself apparent. He was the very best of companions always genial, always ready, keen for everything that was going, whether it was an extra spell of work or a suddenly-devised expedition. It was a great pleasure to work with him, and I know well that everyone in No. 4 Field Hospital will deeply and sincerely mourn his death. As the soldiers would say, he was “ a really good sort.” British Medical Journal 15 Dec. 1900
Biographical
| Surname(s) | Elliott |
|---|---|
| First name(s) | Albert Ernest |
| Date of birth | 05 March 1869 |
| Family details | The youngest son of Thomas Elliot Esq. of Bassett Mount, Southampton and Mary Jane Mason |
| Previous education | Preparatory School in Hornsey; Cheltenham College; St. John’ s College, Cambridge |
| College | St Thomas' Hospital |
| Dates at college | 1895-1898 |
| Qualifications | B.A. Cantab. 1892, M.A. Cantab 1895, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.Lond. 1898 |
| Military unit | attd 4th Brigade Division Royal Artillery |
| Date enlisted | 1899 |
| War / conflict | Second Boer War (1899-1902) |
| Date of death | 01-Dec-00 |
| Rank at death | Civil Surgeon |
| Place of death | Middleburg, South Africa |
| Cause of death | Enteric fever |
| Burial place | Middleburg Cemetery, South Africa |
| Commemoration(s) | Eleanor Cross War memorial at Cheltenham College. |
| Notes | Resident Medical Officer at Queen Charlotte’ s Hospital |
| Sources | King’ s College London Archives; British Medical Journal; Wikipedia; 1881 Census |