Robert John Elliott was one of four children born to Robert and Elizabeth Elliott (nee Wilde). Their children in full were:

Samuel James Elliott, born in London on 6th June 1895
Mary Jane Elliott, born in New Tredegar on 29th November 1896
Robert John Elliott, born in New Tredegar in 1900 and
Rachel Elliott, born in New Tredegar in 1904.

Robert (Snr) originally came from Bettws, Carmarthenshire and travelled to New Tredegar in search of work, just like many other families at the time of the ‘coal rush’. Elizabeth was originally from New Tredegar.

Robert’s older brother, Samuel Elliott also served in the forces as Private 12463, South Wales Borderers. Samuel originally enlisted in the army on 6th June 1913, his eighteenth birthday, but was discharged after a short while as being physically unfit, since he had an enlarged heart with irregular heartbeat. When he tried to re-enlist on 6th June 1915, his 20th birthday, miraculously, he was declared fit for active service with the South Wales Borderers. He survived the war and was eventually discharged on 3rd December 1919, but again, no longer physically fit for active service.

Roberts John’s sister, Mary Jane Elliot married a David John Beynon. They had two children: David R Beynon in 1915 and Samuel R Beynon in 1916. Sadly, the children were to grow up not knowing their father who was killed on the 28th August, 1916, in Greece.