Given the 6-year discrepancy between the stated age of James Elcoat on his attestation form and that of the James Elcoat in the archival records it might be possible that two Geordies of that name lived in Footscray in 1916. Notwithstanding that this database is constructed using the principle of definitive accuracy, it is not unlikely that he changed his age to improve his chances of acceptance into the AIF.
James Elcoat was born on 23 August 1884 in Wallsend, Northumberland. Arriving in Melbourne in August 1913 he began playing for his ethnic club, Northumberland and Durham United in the following season. He was a first grade forward and either he or his brother Joseph was appointed to the committee in 1915.
His service was relatively smooth – a little AWL, some drunkenness – until he was wounded in action in March 1918 and returned to Australia three months later. This injury to his thigh subsequently necessitated amputation and probably inspired his participation in the charitable Limbless Soldiers Association.
He married Annie Edwards in 1918 in Victoria and died in 1953 in Braybrook at the age of 69.