Elijah was born in 1864 in Derby and enlisted at the age of 18 years into the Derbyshire Regiment. He served with the 2nd Battalion, including during the Sikkim Expedition of 1888.  

It is recorded in “I'm 95” (February 1890) as being awarded good conduct pay of 2d on the 4th of January 1890 serving with "C" Company. Elijah was again mentioned in “I’m 95”,  when he came 3rd in the “C” company shooting match, earning himself 4 rupees in December 1890.   

In September 1891, he returned to England due to time expired, during the trooping season 1891-2, amongst other men of his company aboard the “Euphrates” from Bombay. 

However, Eligah further served with the 2nd Battalion in the Tirah Expedition of 1897. He then joined the 1st Battalion in March 1900, on the outbreak of the Boer War (1899-1902), at Springfontein, and was posted to “J” Company. Elijah then proceeded to Schomerburg for "Railway Employ" on the 1st of June 1900. 

He was invalided home from South Africa on the 14th of September 1900