Vincent Joseph Elliott was born in Ballarat and a Bricklayer by trade when he enlisted in the 57th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements on 7 March 1916 at the age of 21. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 4 April 1916. Shortly after his arrival in Egypt he was hospitalised with influenza and myocarditis and thereafter was dogged by ill health. He was hospitalised several times while serving with the 57th and 58th Battalions in France, suffering from bronchitis, laryngitis, scabies, pharyngitis and Trench Fever, a highly contagious condition caused by lice which thrived in the unhygienic trenches. In July 1918 he was admitted to hospital in England where he remained until the war's end. He was discharged with an unspecified disability in March 1919.

Tree No. 2215