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Harold Edward “Pompey” Elliott

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Harold Edward “Pompey” Elliott Veteran Famous memorial

Birth
Charlton, Buloke Shire, Victoria, Australia
Death
23 Mar 1931 (aged 52)
Malvern, Stonnington City, Victoria, Australia
Burial
Burwood, Whitehorse City, Victoria, Australia GPS-Latitude: -37.8530946, Longitude: 145.0995663
Plot
Methodist 3, Section K, Grave 3D
Memorial ID
View Source
Australian Army Major General and Politician. A decorated World War I veteran, he rose in rank to command the Australian 15th Brigade and the 3rd Infantry Division. He received his secondary education at Ballarat College in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. In 1899 he joined the Australian Militia, serving in the 2nd Boer War in South Africa until 1902, and received an officer's commission. After returning to Australia, he attended Ormond College at the University of Melbourne, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and then a Master of Laws Degree. He then passed the Victorian bar and established a law practice, H.E. Elliott and Company. He remained in the militia and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel when World War I broke out in July 1914. After joining the Australian Imperial Force, he commanded the 7th Infantry Battalion that traveled to the Middle East the following October. In April 1915 he took his unit to Gallipoli, Turkey and saw combat action at the Battle of Lone Pine in August of that year. The British and its allies were ultimately forced to withdraw from Gallipoli and his unit returned to Egypt to defend the Suez Canal. In 1916 he was assigned to the Western Front, promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and took command of the Australian 15th Brigade. His unit fought at the Battle of Fromelles in France (July 1916), the Battle of Polygon Wood in Belgium (September to October 1917), and the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin in France (August to September 1918), and helped to break the Hindenburg Line the following month. During his wartime service, he was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath, the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. The Distinguished Service Order, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Volunteer Decoration, the Russian Order of St. Anna, and the French Croix de guerre. He was also mentioned in dispatches (one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy) on eight separate occasions. After returning to Australia in 1919 he was elected to the Australian Commonwealth Parliament as a senator from Victoria and in 1927 he was promoted to the rank of major general. He suffered from what is now referred to as "post traumatic stress disorder" as a result of his combat exposure in World War I and committed suicide at the age of 52 and was interred in Burwood Cemetery, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. His war experiences were featured in the four-part Australian television documentary series "The War That Changed Us" (2014).
Australian Army Major General and Politician. A decorated World War I veteran, he rose in rank to command the Australian 15th Brigade and the 3rd Infantry Division. He received his secondary education at Ballarat College in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. In 1899 he joined the Australian Militia, serving in the 2nd Boer War in South Africa until 1902, and received an officer's commission. After returning to Australia, he attended Ormond College at the University of Melbourne, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and then a Master of Laws Degree. He then passed the Victorian bar and established a law practice, H.E. Elliott and Company. He remained in the militia and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel when World War I broke out in July 1914. After joining the Australian Imperial Force, he commanded the 7th Infantry Battalion that traveled to the Middle East the following October. In April 1915 he took his unit to Gallipoli, Turkey and saw combat action at the Battle of Lone Pine in August of that year. The British and its allies were ultimately forced to withdraw from Gallipoli and his unit returned to Egypt to defend the Suez Canal. In 1916 he was assigned to the Western Front, promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and took command of the Australian 15th Brigade. His unit fought at the Battle of Fromelles in France (July 1916), the Battle of Polygon Wood in Belgium (September to October 1917), and the Battle of Mont Saint-Quentin in France (August to September 1918), and helped to break the Hindenburg Line the following month. During his wartime service, he was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath, the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. The Distinguished Service Order, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Volunteer Decoration, the Russian Order of St. Anna, and the French Croix de guerre. He was also mentioned in dispatches (one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy) on eight separate occasions. After returning to Australia in 1919 he was elected to the Australian Commonwealth Parliament as a senator from Victoria and in 1927 he was promoted to the rank of major general. He suffered from what is now referred to as "post traumatic stress disorder" as a result of his combat exposure in World War I and committed suicide at the age of 52 and was interred in Burwood Cemetery, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. His war experiences were featured in the four-part Australian television documentary series "The War That Changed Us" (2014).

Bio by: William Bjornstad



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: William Bjornstad
  • Added: Feb 12, 2015
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/142514024/harold_edward-elliott: accessed ), memorial page for Harold Edward “Pompey” Elliott (19 Jun 1878–23 Mar 1931), Find a Grave Memorial ID 142514024, citing Burwood Cemetery, Burwood, Whitehorse City, Victoria, Australia; Maintained by Find a Grave.