Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918
Return to Elliott-H-E-Lieut-Col page 1
POPULAR OFFICER RETURNS,
Brigadier-General Elliott.
The Argus Monday 30 June 1919
Among those who returned by the S.S. Orontes on Saturday was Brigadier-General Elliott, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., D.CM. (South Africa), Order of St. Anne of Russia, and the Queen's (four clasps) and King's (two clasps) South African medals, who is regarded as one of the most popular of Australian officers. He was met at the ship's side by the State commandant (Brigadier General Brand), Captain Wright, and Mrs. Elliott, and was driven direct to his home at Surrey Hills.
In spite of the lateness of the hour - it was half-past 8 p.m. before the troops were disembarked - the general's motor car was stopped at the junction of St. Kilda road and Alexandra avenue by several hundred citizens of Essendon and members of the South African, 15th Brigade, and 7th Battalion Association, and he was warmly cheered. An address of welcome was presented by Mr. Henderson, an ex-mayor of Essendon. In acknowledging the welcome Brigadier-General Elliott said that he
would take the earliest opportunity of renewing his acquaintance with his friends of Essendon, and his comrades of the various associations.
When interviewed later Brigadier-General Elliott, was disinclined to recount his experiences on Gallipoli and in France. "You already know my opinion of the Australian as a comrade and a fighting man," he said. "When I say that they quite held their own in the firing line with the best of the Allied troops that expresses everything."
The repatriation of the Australian troops under the direction of Lieutenant-General Sir John Monash was, Brigadier-General Elliott stated, proceeding satisfactorily. He added that he had certain suggestions to make regarding the organisation of the Citizen Forces, which he did not desire to make public until he had presented his report to the Acting Minister for Defence.
Brigadier-General Elliott. who had previously seen service in South Africa, where he gained the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Queen's and King's Medals, enlisted for active service in 1914, and was given command of the 3rd (Victorian) Battalion. He distinguished himself on Gallipoli and in France, being mentioned in despatches on four occasions. It was while in Egypt that he gained the sobriquet of "Pompey," and he has ever since been affectionately known to the men under him by that nickname.
In March, 1916, Brigadier-General Elliott was appointed to the command of the 15th infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Force. He is a well-known Melbourne solicitor, and prior to enlistment was in command of the 58th Infantry Regiment, Essendon.
The Argus Monday 30 June 1919
Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1483638
NOTES FOR SOLDIERS. (1919, July 29). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954), p. 6. Retrieved April 4, 2011, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4711441
A popular figure with the people of Essendon, Pompey Elliott was asked on numerous occasions to unveil war memorials and honour boards all over the district:
6 Aug 1919 Essendon Town Hall
19 Apr 1920 Holy Trinity Church of England Kensington
8 May 1920 Christ Church Essendon
15 Sep 1920 Ascot-Vale-Presbyterian-Church
23 Apr 1921 Moonee Ponds West State School
22 Aug 1921 Essendon High School
30 Apr 1922 Maribyrnong-Bagotville Hill Memorial
25 Apr 1929 Essendon Memorial, Queen's Park
Mentioned in correspondence:
Garner G L Sgt 411 Elliott wrote to Henderson about George Garner after he was wounded in action.
McArthur A J Pte 475 Elliott wrote about the death of Alex McArthur.
Barker H A Pte 43 Letter mentions Colonel's return to Peninsual 9 Sep 1915
McGregor F R Pte 444 Letter mentions Colonel telling them he would never send them where he would not go.
One Thousand Days with the AIF
Mentioned in these publications:
'Pompey' Elliott, by Ross McMullen
For Empire
Trooping to the Middle East, by Marilyn Kenny
Gallipoli Diaries,
Bandsman Vosti's Diaries: War and Peace in Essendon 1917-1920,
War Service Commemorated
Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour Wounded
Supreme Court Memorial Board
“Send off to the Essendon Boys”
Patriotic Concert, Essendon Town Hall, 1914
Supreme Court Memorial Board
"Presented to the City by the Essendon Citizens Military Association to the Honor of
Brig Gen H E Elliott, CB, CMG, DSO, DCM, OC 7th Battalion, AIF, formerly OC
58th Bn CMF (Essendon Rifles) in recognition of gallant servicesrendered to his
King and Country in the Great European War, 1914-1919".
This honour board hung in the old Essendon Town Hall, but is now in the
keeping of the Essendon Historical Society.
SOLDIER'S TRIBUTE TO HIS WOMENFOLK.
"First of all I must thank you for associating my mother and my wife with my welcome home," said Brigadier General H. E. E. Elliott, C.B., C.M.G, D.S.O., D.C.M., in acknowledging a presentation made to him last Thursday on behalf of the Essendon Citizens' Military Association. "In honoring my mother and my wife I feel sure you in tend to pay homage to all those mothers, sisters, and wives who so loyally gave their dear ones, and through the long years of the war worked for them, prayed for them, and waited heroically for them to come back. A great-deal of the success—so far as my military career may be termed a success—is due to my mother. (Applause.) From her I learned conceptions of fairness, justice, equality, and right, which through out my association with the military forces I have endeavored to apply to the men under my command. She, like many other mothers, shared the sorrow and pride of the war, for her youngest son fell at Polygon Wood. If through-out this war I have been able to wear before my men a cheerful countenance and to keep up their spirits in the darkest and most dangerous hours, that has been in a great measure due to my wife. (Applause.) Her letters were rays of sunshine penetrating the darkest clouds we ever experienced. Mothers', wives', and sisters' letters brought to we men in the field glimpses of home, and kept us firm and steadfast in the resolve that no enemy foot should ever be placed in this fair land of ours.'' (Cheers.)
At a farewell gathering at Essendon, Brigadier-General Elliott proceeded, he
asked that the mothers who had entrusted sons to his care might give him the blessings of their prayers. They could draw their own conclusions from facts, but out of 12 battalion commanders who left with the first division
he was the only one spared to go right through the war. The others had been killed or invalided home. He would ever remember the day when, on H.M.8. Queen Elizabeth, General Sir Ian Hamilton pointed out to senior officers where they were to land on Gallipoli, and said, "Gentlemen, we are now about to at tempt something the like of which has not been accomplished since the battle of Hastings. We are to land on a hostile coast, under the eyes of an expectant army. If we fail we cannot escape appalling disaster. If we succeed we shall achieve a greater glory than was achieved by the army of Wolfe at Quebec." A few days later the Australians made the attempt, and succeeded. (Cheers).
After recounting numerous deeds of bravery accomplished by Essendon soldiers, Brigadier-General Elliott made an appeal to everybody to be patient with men who had gone through so much. Government help could, after all, be only temporary, and if all the returnedmen were to be absorbed into ordinary life the task would rest largely with, the private employer. "No one could be more down on lawlessness, even among these men, than I am," he said. "We must, at all costs, maintain respect for law and order. Given that, we must make all possible allowances for these men, and try to realise how much they have done for us." (Applause.)
SOLDIER'S TRIBUTE TO HIS WOMENFOLK. (1919, August 2). Western Star and Roma Advertiser (Toowoomba, Qld. : 1875 - 1948), p. 4. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article98196482
The memorial stone for Senator Major-General Harold Edward "Pompey" Elliott at Burwood Cemetery.
(Photos courtesy of: Rod Martin, 2011)
Detail from the memorial.
Detail from the memorial.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.