THE search for the life story of one of Rosewood’s fallen, Private Merlyn Elliott, has met with success.
Military historian Eddie Habben put out a call through the Moreton Border News for anyone with information about Private Elliott in the story.
Private Elliott was the son of Walter Thomas Elliott and Winifred Muriel Elliott (nee Moore) who lived in Matthew Street, Rosewood.
He enlisted in the Australian Army in 1952, and was allocated to the 3rd Royal Australian Regiment.
While serving with his regiment in Korea, Private Elliot was killed in action on May 25 1953. His body was interred in the Tanggok Military Cemetery in Korea before it was later disinterred and buried in the United Nation’s Memorial Cemetery, which is also in Korea.
But that was all that was known about him, according to Mr Habben.
In response to the article, the Moreton Border News was contacted by Donna Read, who said she was very surprised to read the article about Private Elliot, who was her brother.
Donna said she now lives in Ipswich and holds onto many memories of her brother, who will always be close to her heart.
“I was absolutely shocked when I read the article in the paper about my brother.
“I just thought how nice it was to recognise his service after all of these years, I was lost for words.
“My brother, Merlyn was known to everyone as Mick. He was gentle and kind and he spoilt me as I was the youngest in our family of seven children.
“Mick would come home to Rosewood from the Army on occasion and he would attend the local dances with other army mates, he enjoyed being social and he also always spent time with me.”
Donna was born in Nurse Stubbs’ hospital in Rosewood.
“We all attended school at St Brigid’s, when the nuns were still there.
“We spent a lot of time at St Brigid’s, and the church. I played the organ there for special occasions and my brother Graham Elliott became a priest, not at St Brigid’s, but in other areas.
“From an early age I really had a passion for music. I recall Mick buying me a piano which was just lovely and I went on to learn how to play it.
“Mick was 25 when he passed away, and I still remember the dreaded knock on the door from the police to inform my parents of his passing. I was only eight years of age.
“The picture of the police is still so clear in mind, I can still see them walking to the front stairs of our home in Rosewood, to inform my parents of the awful news.
“My mother screamed so loud, I think everyone in Rosewood would have heard her, it was a terrible shock that left a hole in all of our hearts.”
Mick was not the only sibling in the family who enlisted in the Army. His brother Ronald also enlisted and was posted to Townsville.
Donna said she recalls her mother saying that after Ronald came home from the army, he was never the same.
“Over the years, I have travelled to the Canberra War Memorial to place a poppy in Mick’s memorial, and I have always thought that it would be so nice to bring Mick’s body home, so that family can visit him,” she said.
“Voicing my thoughts on bringing Mick home, was important though unfortunately it cannot be, so laying a wreath for him and just always remembering how special he was is important.
“During an outing to a memorial service one day I actually came in contact with a man who was with Mick the night that he passed away.
“Mick was not supposed to go out on the night that he lost his life, though he did, the man told me that Mick was handed a hot toddy, which is a drink, and off he went, sadly never to return.”
Mr Habben is now working with Donna to bring Merlyn’s story to life. It will be shared in Volume three of the Military History of Rosewood once complete.
