Service number | 121 |
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Ranks Held | Brigadier General, Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Temporary Brigadier General, Corporal, Private |
Birth Date | 1878-06-19 |
Birth Place | Australia: Victoria, Charlton |
Death Date | 1931-03-23 |
Death Place | Australia: Victoria |
Final Rank | Major General |
Service | Australian Imperial Force |
Units |
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Places | |
Conflicts/Operations |
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Gazettes |
Biographical information The Oxford companion to Australian military history in 1995 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1918-11-07 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-11-08 Published in London Gazette in 1917-01-01 Published in London Gazette in 1917-06-01 Published in London Gazette in 1918-06-03 Published in London Gazette in 1917-07-18 Published in London Gazette in 1919-07-11 Published in London Gazette in 1917-02-15 Published in London Gazette in 1901-03-25 Published in London Gazette in 1916-01-28 Published in London Gazette in 1918-05-28 Published in London Gazette in 1917-12-28 Published in London Gazette in 1918-12-31 Published in London Gazette in 1917-01-04 Published in London Gazette in 1919-01-07 Published in London Gazette in 1901-05-07 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1918-10-24 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-06-29 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-06-29 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-10-30 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1916-04-06 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1918-04-18 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-05-23 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1919-05-23 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-07-25 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-10-04 |
Major General Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott
Harold 'Pompey' Elliott was a senior First World War officer, businessman, and politician. He was born on 19 June 1878 at West Charlton, Victoria. Elliott joined the University of Melbourne's officer corps while a student but left to enlist in the 4th Victorian (Imperial) Contingent and fight in the Boer War.
Elliott proved himself a skilled and courageous soldier; he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Mentioned in Despatches, and once received Lord Kitchener's congratulations for his defence of a post. Equally successful as a student and athlete, Elliott returned to university, earned a number of scholarships and prizes, played football, and was a champion shot-putter. He was called to the Victorian and Commonwealth Bar in 1907 and established a firm of solicitors. He married Catherine Campbell in 1909 and in the meantime had joined the militia as a 2nd Lieutenant. By 1913 he had reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was given command of the 58th Battalion. The army was Elliott's passion and he immersed himself in military lore.
When the First World War began Elliott was given both command of the 7th Battalion and the nickname 'Pompey' that stuck for the rest of his life. He landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, was shot in the foot, evacuated and did not return until June. Once back he quickly gained a reputation for courage and leadership. Four of the seven Victoria Crosses awarded at Lone Pine went to Elliott's battalion.
A short-lived command of the 1st Brigade was followed in March 1916 by promotion to Brigadier General and command of the 15th Brigade. Through no fault of Elliott's, the brigade's first action on the Western Front, at Fromelles, was a disaster in which over 5,500 men were killed or wounded in one night. Elliott wept as he met survivors coming out of the line.
But war also energised Elliott. Careful of men's lives, he was sometimes reckless with his own. A frank, outspoken man, he clashed with his superiors and was considered a difficult subordinate. In battle he proved to be an excellent, sometimes inspirational, leader. He expected to be given a divisional command and the denial of his ambition in May 1918 remained a source of bitterness until his death. For the rest of the war he led with characteristic zeal and in January 1919 he received the fondest of farewells from his brigade.
In the 1919 federal election he successfully stood for the Senate as a Nationalist; he was re-elected in 1925. He also took command of the 15th Militia Brigade. Alongside his political and legal career, Elliott was involved in the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia. His protests at having been denied higher command continued and were rejected by the Military Board and the Minister for Defence.
Only in 1927 was Elliott promoted to Major General and given command of the 3rd Division; however, his bitterness, expressed in correspondence to his superiors, remained. In March 1931 he died by suicide.
Rolls
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 1st Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 15 February 1917 on page 1600 at position 2
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 25 July 1917 on page 1542 at position 8
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 5th Australian Division
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
First World War Embarkation Roll:
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 7th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 7th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 07 January 1919 on page 313 at position 1
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 23 May 1919 on page 893 at position 29
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 7th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- Staff
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 28 May 1918 on page 6200 at position 16
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 24 October 1918 on page 2055 at position 32
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 58th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- Victorian Imperial Bushmen
- Conflict
- South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War)
- Rank
- Corporal
- London Gazette
- 25 March 1901 on page 2103 at position 2
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 28 December 1917 on page 13563 at position 20
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 18 April 1918 on page 841 at position 24
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 03 June 1918 on page 6452 at position 3
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 07 November 1918 on page 2110 at position 4
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 7th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
- London Gazette
- 28 January 1916 on page 1208 at position 83
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 06 April 1916 on page 862 at position 18
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 04 January 1917 on page 195 at position 1
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 29 June 1917 on page 1392 at position 35
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 18 July 1917 on page 7214 at position 6
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 08 November 1917 on page 2938 at position 7
-
First World War Nominal Roll:
- Unit
- 7th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Brigadier General
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 7th Australian Infantry Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 31 December 1918 on page 15225 at position 25
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 23 May 1919 on page 878 at position 54
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- Victorian Imperial Bushmen
- Conflict
- South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War)
- Rank
- Corporal
- London Gazette
- 07 May 1901 on page 3114 at position 2
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Brigadier General
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 5th Australian Division
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Colonel
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 11 July 1919 on page 8826 at position 23
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 30 October 1919 on page 1657 at position 71
-
Pre First World War Conflicts Nominal Rolls:
- Unit
- Victorian Imperial Bushmen
- Conflict
- South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War)
- Rank
- Private
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 01 June 1917 on page 5419 at position 12
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 04 October 1917 on page 2622 at position 34
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 15th Australian Infantry Brigade
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Temporary Brigadier General
- London Gazette
- 01 January 1917 on page 5 at position 3
- Commonwealth Gazette
- 29 June 1917 on page 1389 at position 3
Timeline
Date of birth | 19 June 1878 | West Charlton, VIC. |
---|---|---|
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) | 1898 | Enlisted as a private in a squadron of the 4th Victorian Contingent, the Imperial Bushmen. |
Date commissioned | 1900 | Obtained a commission as a lieutenant in the 2nd Berkshire, but chose to remain with the Australians. |
Date of honour or award | 1900 | Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his particpation in an attack on a Boer force which resulted in the capture of 33 men and 54 horses. |
Other | 1900-05 | Arrived in South Africa and promoted to corporal. |
Date returned to Australia | 1901-07 | |
Other | 1901-08 | Sailed again for South Africa and joined the Border Scouts. |
Date and unit at appointment (Officers) | 1904-03 | Enlisted in the 5th Australian Infantry Regiment and commissioned as a lieutenant. |
Date promoted | 1911 | Appointed major and second in command of the Regiment. |
Date promoted | 01 July 1913 | Appointed lieutenant colonel and commanding officer of the 58th Battalion, Essendon Rifles. |
Other | 1914-08 | Selected to command the 7th Battalion when the AIF was formed. |
Date of enlistment | 17 August 1914 | |
Date of embarkation | 19 October 1914 | |
Date promoted | 01 March 1915 | Appointed to brigadier general and given the task of organising the 15th Brigade. |
Date wounded | 25 May 1915 | Wounded in the ankle at Gallipoli and evacuated. |
Other | 02 June 1915 | Returned to the 7th Battalion. |
Other | 1915-08 | Evacuated to England with pleurisy. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 13 August 1915 | |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 31 August 1915 | |
Other | 22 November 1915 | Returned to the 7th Battalion. |
Other | 18 December 1915 | Evacuated from Gallipoli with a sprained ankle. |
Other units | 24 January 1916 | Appointed to command the 1st Brigade. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 1916-03 | |
Date promoted | 1916-03 | Appointed Brigadier General and commanding officer of 15th Brigade. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 12 October 1916 | |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 1917 | |
Date of honour or award | 01 January 1917 | Gazetted Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG). |
Date of honour or award | 15 February 1917 | Gazetted Russian Order of St Anne - 3rd Class. |
Date of honour or award | 1917-03 | Awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 09 March 1917 | |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 27 June 1917 | |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 08 March 1918 | |
Date of honour or award | 03 June 1918 | Gazetted a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 25 September 1918 | |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 27 September 1918 | |
Date of honour or award | 07 January 1919 | Gazetted French Croix de Guerre. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 31 January 1919 | |
Date returned to Australia | 05 May 1919 | |
Date returned to Australia | 15 May 1919 | |
Other | 1919-09 | Reappointed to command the 15th Militia Brigade. |
Other | 1921 | Requested to be placed on the unattached list. |
Other | 1926 | Again reappointed to command the 15th Brigade. |
Date promoted | 1927-08 | Promoted to major general and appointed to command the 3rd Division. |
Date of death | 23 March 1931 | Died from a wound to the arm, an inquest returning a verdict of suicide. |
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