BANDMASTER W.A. ELLIOTT, LRAM, ARCM
History taken from his Army Records and documentation

My father was born on 3rd November 1902 in Lahore, India. His father was the Station Master at Lahore Station working for the East India Railway. By the time my father was born his father had died. Reason not known.

My father died on11th November 1973 and could not have died on a more fitting day than Armistice Day. His departure from the Lancashire Fusiliers was premature due to the partition of India in 1947. He had another 13 years to serve and never accepted life as a civilian.

His records show that he enlisted in Karachi, India, in 1919 with the Duke of Wellingtons and went on various postings abroad until he joined the Lancashire Fusiliers in Tientsin, China, in 1935 as a Bandmaster. Also during those intervening years 1923-1932 he attended the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, where he gained the LRAM and ARCM. He also won the coveted ILES CUP for the best original composition for brass bands which was presented to him at the Banquet of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Musicians by the Master, Sir Ian Marsh, KCMG., DL., JP., on the 15th May 1931.

My father and mother married on 9th June 1924. The eldest son, William Frank, was born in England 1925 followed by myself in 1932 then two more sons who were also born in England. The next brother in line, Ronald Ernest, was born in Tientsin 1938 followed by twins girl and boy in Quetta 1940 and lastly a girl in Cawnpore 1943. In all, he had five sons and three daughters.

He came back to England after partition in 1947 and served another two years before leaving the Army in 1949.
He always taught music sometimes full time and sometimes part time. Just before his death in 1973 he formed and conducted the Nottingham Youth Orchestra and was justly proud when one of his outstanding pupils won a place with the International Youth Orchestra.

China
1935 to 1938

. Band in Peking, China do not know the occasion.	Sgts Mess Silver in the Mess Teintsin 1937 "ILES CUP" is shown at the far right hand end of the mantlepiece."	. HMS Euryalus Bell outside the barracks
Marching to Church Sunday with Choristers following, Tientsin 1937	" Bandmasters from each of the three concessions held in China by the American, French and British governments.	Snow at the entrance to the barracks. Bitterly cold. Tientsin is Northern China on the borders of Russia
Bandmaster WA Elliott, RSM Edward Smith, VC in civvies, French Bandmaster 1937	RSM E Smith VC,and Bandmaster Bill Elliot in China 1937.	My father at Keislings Restaurant, Tientsin Sunday lunch time taking a bow - 1937
Mum and Dad in Keislings taking a drink	Signed photo RSM Edward Smith VC to my father put your mouse on this photo to see it coloured	Bandmaster WA Elliott, LRAM, ARCM, and RSM Edward Smith, VC
Hazel on a trike with Gwen Fig inside the married quarters concession. It was walled and gated.	Hazel sitting in a rickshaw which was taking her to afternoon tea with an American family in the American quarters, as my father was very friendly with many of the American Officers. They loved the British families.	The Americans are also present at a party - the extreme left hand girl being carried is Hazel. The other children were also families within the contonment.

India
1938 to 1943

1938 - Hazel aged 6 winning the Garrison swimming race in Quetta swimming baths	1940 - Children Frederick Charles aged 4 (deceased) Hazel June aged 8. and Edward Joseph aged 6 outside our bungalow in Quetta	1940 - My father's classic Riley, much sought after, from left, Fred, Ted, Hazel and Ron outside our bungalow in Quetta
1940 - Bandmaster Elliott carrying Ronald Ernest aged 2 . Frontline: Frederick Hazel and Edward.	1940 - Quetta - First fall of snow for over a century. L to R Hazel Elliott, Freddie Jones, Beth Parker and Mary ? This snow was on the parade ground/football ground. The barracks are in the background and on the far right is the cookhouse which had three chimneys. It was nicknamed "The Queen Mary"	1941 - Quetta - Wilf Jaggard. He was a Band Sergeant in my father's band in China, Tientsin.

2nd India Tour
1945

1945 - Lucknow - Band and Drums	1945 Lucknow - My father put on a Variety Show in Lucknow - dancing, singing and recitals. I did a tap dance dressed in Army Uniform.	Lucknow - - Same show - my father conducting the band.
1945 - Lucknow - This very sad morning when the four eldest children left for boarding school in the Simla Hills. Back Row Mrs. Maud Lilian Elliott, William Albert Elliott, Hazel Elliott Middle Row: Margaret Rose (twin), Ronald Ernest, Edward Joseph, Frederick Charles (deceased) George Thomas (twin) Front: Rosemarie	1945 - Ranikhet (Hill Station) Bill Elliott, Mrs. Elliott and RSM Price with (children) George, Marie and Margaret	Circa 1947 - My eldest brother William Frank, followed in my father's footsteps with a Military career starting in the Irish Guards and then going to OCTU and joining the Royal Artillery eventually becoming a Captain.