William (Bill) Elliot

William (Bill) Elliot (NZD 1353) served on HMNZS Gambia as an Able Seaman during WWII.

William (Bill) ElliotBill Elliot went straight from school into the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy in 1935. He completed his basic training at HMS Philomel and passed with first prize in the advanced class of the school in 1936. He later served on HMS Dunedin, HMS Leander and HMS Achilles

He joined the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Monowai and was later posted to HMNZS Gambia. On the Gambia he served in the Far East alongside warships from The United Kingdom, the United States and the Free French Navies. Bill was in the British Naval Base at Trincomalee, Ceylon for V E Day. He took discharge from the navy shortly afterwards.

On his return to New Zealand Bill apprenticed as a plumber and went on to establish his own successful business. He also worked for the Otago Hospital Board and was the resident plumber at Wakari Hospital.

Sources

The Chatsford Chat - 2014