Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Herbert Charles Elkin, a stone miner, born in the April quarter of 1868 in Tunstall, Staffordshire (son of Charles Elkin, 1841-1898 and Fanny Cottrill, 1843-1874) and his wife Mary Elkin (nee Gadd, married on the 15th December 1888 in Christ Church, Tunstall), born in the April quarter of 1868 in Steel Heath, Wem, Shropshire and baptised on the 7th June 1868 in Christ Church, Tilstock, Shropshire (daughter of William Gadd, 1844-1893 and Martha Batho, 1844-1924). Amos was born on the 30th April 1894 in Tunstall and was baptised on the 22nd May 1894 in Christ Church, Tunstall, his siblings were, Martha, born in the July quarter of 1889 and baptised as Martha Hannah on the 10th May 1889 in Christ Church, Tunstall, Alice Matilda, born on the 7th November 1890 and baptised on the 18th November 1890 in Christ Church, Tunstall, Herbert Charles, born on the 7th December 1895 and baptised on the 31st December 1895 in Christ Church, Tunstall and Fanny, born in the July quarter of 1898 and baptised on the 9th August 1898 in Christ Church, Tunstall, all his siblings were born in Tunstall, in March 1901 the family home was at 20, Prospect Street, Burslem, Wolstanton, Staffordshire. In April 1911 Amos was absent from the family home at 148, North Street, Hugglescote, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a coal mine chargeman, his mother and siblings, Fanny, Harriet Ann, born on the 22nd April 1902 in Church Gresley, Derbyshire, Florence May, born in the January quarter of 1905 and Ivy, born on the 30th March 1906, the latter two siblings were both born in Bardon Hill, Leicestershire, meanwhile Amos was employed as a coal pit pony driver and was residing at 10, North Street, Hugglescote, this being the family home of his married sister, Martha Knifton and her husband, John Samuel Knifton, a coal miner, born on the 1st October 1884 in Ibstock, Leicestershire and their son, Albert, born on the 7th September 1909 in Hugglescote and baptised on the 17th October 1909 in the Church of St. John the Baptist, Hugglescote. Amos’s younger brother Herbert fell in action on the 25th September 1915.
FAMILY NOTE: Amos also had the following siblings, Ellen Ann, born in the January quarter of 1892 and baptised on the 2nd February 1892 in Christ Church, Tunstall and who died in the July quarter of 1892 in Tunstall, Elizabeth Ann, born in the January quarter of 1893 and who died in the April quarter of 1893 in Tunstall, Wilmot, born in the January quarter of 1900 and baptised on the 2nd January 1900 in Christ Church, Tunstall and who died in the July quarter of 1900 in Tunstall, the latter three siblings were all born in Tunstall and Hilda, born and died in December 1909 in Hugglescote and interred on the 18th December 1909 in Hugglescote Churchyard.
The Brigade of Guards service records all exist, but were deposited in 2018 with the Ministry of Defence in Glasgow, the exception being the Scots Guards, whose service records are now in the possession of the Trustees of the Scots Guards Charitable Trust, and are free to access. The remainder of the Foot Guards records are available at the current cost of £30.00 per inquiry (2019). Therefore, the currently available information pertaining to Amos’s military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Coalville. Date not known.
Joined. At Caterham. Date not known.
Posted. To Grenadier Guards. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 17597.
Posted. To 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 24/5/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 30/1/16.
Buried in Rue du Bacquerot Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Amos nominated his father, Herbert as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 30 Jan-16 – In trenches as above. A thick mist all day, hardly a shot fired. Casualties, Nil.
The War Diary records: 31 Jan-16 – In trenches as above. A quiet day. 14th WELSH REGIMENT on our right and 3rd Battalion COLDSTREAM GUARDS on left. The Battalion relieved by IRISH GUARDS and marched to billets at RIEZ BAILLEUL. Casualties, 1 man killed, 1 wounded and 3 slightly wounded. The latter remained at Duty.
On Wednesday February 16th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 3, under the heading. – HUGGLESCOTE GUARDSMAN KILLED IN ACTION. – Army Chaplain and the Soldier’s Bravery. – Mr. and Mrs. Elkin, of 148, North-street, Hugglescote, the parents of Private Amos Elkin, No.17597, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, have been officially notified that he was killed in action overseas, on the 30th January. The Regimental Adjutant of the Grenadier Guards forwarded a map to the parents, showing approximately the position of his burial place, marked in black ink. The Rev. A. S. Crowley, chaplain of No.4 Field Ambulance, 1st Guards’ Brigade, also wrote: “I think you will like to have a line from me to tell you about your son. I expect you will already have received the sad news that he was killed in action while keeping sentry in the trenches on the 30th January. I went round to see some of the men in his platoon, and also the Sergeant-Major of his company. They spoke very well of him as a good friend and a keen soldier. Indeed, that day he had volunteered to go out on rather a dangerous patrol, between two lines, and would have almost certainly gone had he not been killed. His death must, I think, have been a painless one, and he knew nothing after he had been hit. “I buried him in what is called the Min Post Cemetery, reserved for British troops, about two thousand yards behind the firing line, beside several of his gallant comrades in arms. The Sergeant-Major of the battalion and several of the men were present, and his body was carried to the graveside wrapped in the Union Jack, and the service conducted with simplicity, but reverence. Let me please offer you my most sincere sympathy. I hope that the thought that he has given his life for his country and died a brave soldier’s death may help to comfort you in your great loss. His sacrifice, I hope may win him a high place in the kingdom of the God of Love – where it will be appreciated by our Saviour, who said, ‘Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.’” The only other son of Mr. and Mrs. Elkin, Lance-Corporal Herbert Charles Elkin, 11152, B Company, 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, is officially reported wounded and missing since the 25th September. He wrote last on 22nd September, three days before the battle of Loos, and said that as they were expecting a big battle his relatives need not send any parcels until he wrote again. Corporal Elkin had been soldiering for three years. He was 20 years of age, and was in the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment when war was declared.
[recognitum III-IV-MMXXII]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times Article - Friday May 7th,1915

ANOTHER ABSENTEE

Another absentee from his regiment was Pte. Amos Elkin, of the 4th Battalion Grenadier Guards, stationed at Chelsea and he was brought before Mr J. W. West at the Police Court on Wednesday and remanded for an escort which arrived and took him away in the evening. The soldier, it was stated, had been an absentee since April 25th and he was arrested by PC Langham at Hugglescote, where his parents reside.

Coalville Times article - Friday January 14th, 1916

CORRESPONDANCE

COALVILLE SOLDIER’S HUMOUROUS LETTER

“Dear Sir, - Just another line or two, hoping this will find you full of good spirits. Of course, I am not alluding to ‘Johnny Walker’ nor yet ‘Sloan’s Gin,’ nothing of the kind. Well, I am pleased to say that I have been out here now a matter of eight months and am still going strong. Sir, the last letter I wrote to you alluded to the young men who had not enlisted. I naturally thought that Coalville was swarmed with young men, but I find it is quite different. I have just been speaking to a young man who came back from Coalville on leave and he said that there is hardly anyone left in Coalville who were able to come. I was very much surprised, at the same time I was very pleased. He also told me that when he landed in Coalville the only men that he saw were two policemen and the sanitary inspector. It must be rather hard on the ladies, both married and single. But at the same time it shows that Coalville is doing its duty towards the country. I shall have to close my letter now as it is past time. Wishing you all every success in the New Year. There was a certain party from Coalville wrote and asked me my opinion of the war. I hope you will print this and tell them that I think the last five years will be the worst. Another party writes, “If you do not soon return I shall have to give up my licence.” From one of your regular readers.”

Pte. A. Elkin
2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards

Coalville Times article - Friday February 18th, 12/10/2017

HUGGLESCOTE GUARDSMAN KILLED

HIS BROTHER POSTED AS WOUNDED AND MISSING

The death of Private Amos Elkin, of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, was officially notified to his parents, Mr and Mrs H. C. Elkin, of 148, North Street, Hugglescote, on Tuesday. The letter, dated February 12th, was from the Regimental Orderly Room, Buckingham Gate, London, S.W., and stated that Elkin was killed in action overseas on January 30th.

Accompanying it was a map, marked in ink, showing approximately the position of the grave in which the deceased soldier was interred. There was also a letter from Lord Kitchener, expressing the sympathy of the King and Queen. The bereaved parents have received a further letter from the Rev. A. S. Chindley, Church of England chaplain, No. 4 Field Ambulance, who wrote: “I think you will like to have a line from me to tell you about your son. I expect you will already have received the sad news that he was killed in action while keeping sentry in the trenches on January 30th. I went round to see some of the men of his platoon, and also the sergeant-major of the company. They spoke very well of him as a keen friend, and good soldier. Indeed, that day he had volunteered to go out on a rather dangerous patrol between the lines, and would most certainly have gone had he not got killed. His death must, I think, have been a painless one, and he knew nothing after he had been hit. I buried him in what we call the Min Post cemetery, reserved for the British troops about 2,000 yards behind the firing line beside several of his gallant comrades in arms. The sergeant-major of the battalion and several of the men were present, and his body was carried to the grave side wrapped in the Union Jack, and the service conducted with simplicity but with reverence. Let me please offer you my most sincere sympathy. I hope that the thought that he has given his life for his country, and died a brave soldier’s death, may help to comfort you in your great loss. His sacrifice, I hope, may win him a high place in the Kingdom of the God of Love, where it will be appreciated by our Saviour, who said, “Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.” If you would like me to do so, later on, when it is possible for them to take a photograph, I will apply to the Graves Registration Commission, asking for a photograph for you.”

The deceased soldier, who is 21 years of age, joined the army on the outbreak of war in August, 1914, prior to which he worked at the South Leicestershire Colliery. His father, Mr Herbert Chas. Elkin, is a miner employed at the Ibstock Colliery.

Mr and Mrs Elkin have one other son, also a soldier, Lance-Cpl. H. C. Elkin, of the 2nd Leicesters. Unfortunately, he has been posted as wounded and missing since September 25th last. The last letter received from him was dated September 22nd, three days before the battle of Loos, in which he stated that as they were expecting a big battle, his relatives need not send any parcels until he wrote again. He had previously served in the army, and is 20 years of age. Photos of the two brothers will be published in our next issue.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 25th, 1916

MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday evening last, Mr R. Briggs, of Nottingham, preached a special sermon to a fairly large congregation in the Coalville Unitarian Hall, and referred to Private Amos Elkin, who was killed in action overseas on the 30th January. He used to attend the services of the Unitarian Hall before the war, Mrs Elkin, the soldier’s mother, being a member of the congregation. Mr Jones played the “Dead March” in “Saul,” and the congregation sang “Beyond the smiling and the weeping.”

Coalville Times article - Friday March 10th, 1916

LOCAL NEWS

Mr and Mrs H. C. Elkin, of 148, North Street, Hugglescote, on Tuesday received a nice card from Lord Aberconway, in memory of their son, Private Amos Elkin, of the Grenadier Guards, recently killed in action in France.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 8/10/2017