From the Archives, 1993: A national hero long gone, but not forgotten

First published in The Age on March 24, 1993

A national hero long gone, but not forgotten

It felt strange to stand in the Burwood Cemetery yesterday and hear the ‘Last Post’ played over the grave of Major-General Harold Elliott, known to everyone as Pompey. Once, he was a national hero; this generation hardly knows him.

Harold ‘Pompey’ Elliott outside a German headquarters captured in the August 1918 Somme offensive.Credit:Australian War Memorial

Still, it was a privilege to be in the company of one of Pompey’s old soldiers from the 11th Battalion of the 15th Brigade of the first AIF, which Pompey commanded.

What did the 15th Brigade do? Try FromeIles, the Somme, Bullecourt, Polygon Wood, Villers-Bretonneux and Amiens. Pompey led his men to glory through all of that, and even when they resented him they loved him.

“It is literally true,” wrote the war historian C.E.W. Bean, “that Pompey could do with soldiers some things that no other leader in Australia could have done.”

Yesterday was the 62nd anniversary of the day in 1931 that Pompey committed suicide.

Tom Brain, 95, of Hampton, at the grave of Major-General Harold “Pompey” Elliot, at Burwood Cemetary.Credit:The Age Archives

The one old Digger from his command at yesterday’s commemoration ceremony was Tom Brain, 95, of Hampton, who said he believed that be was the last man left of the original 11th Battalion. As he put a wreath on the grave, he said: “That one’s from the boys.”

Mr Brain is proud that when he received one of his three wounds in France and got to a casualty station, he found Pompey dressing the wound of another soldier. “It was only 25 yards from the front line,” he said.

Harold “Pompey” ElliotCredit:Australian War Memorial

From what one has read of Pompey, this was not an unusual act. He made a point of visiting his men in the front line at dawn every morning. He had a huge frame, a quick temper and inexhaustible energy. When two of his battalions suffered 1452 casualties on the first day of the assault on Fromelles, tears streamed down his face. He had argued against the attack, but had been overruled.

Mr Brain is also proud that Pompey once swore at him. “How old are you, son?” Pompey asked, and Mr Brain replied: “Nineteen, Sir”. He was only 18 and had enlisted under-age. “You’re a bloody liar,” Pompey said.

When Australian soldiers mutinied in 1918 against the plan to break up battalions, which had become more close-knit than families, only one battalion, the 11th, stayed firm and swallowed its pride. Pompey had told them to do this. He was the only leader whose men obeyed him fully. C.E.W. Bean says the men of the 11th did not want to break his heart.

Pompey initially distinguished himself in the Boer War, where he served in the 4th (Imperial) contingent and won the Distinguished Conduct Medal. During World War I, he was wounded at the Gallipoli landing, leading the illustrious 7th battalion. Pompey returned in time to lead it at Lone Pine. Of the seven Victoria Crosses won there, four went to men of the 7th.

It may be that this is where Pompey’s trouble began. He was told after Lone Pine that his name was at the top of the list for awards, but none came. Later in France, his resentment became an obsession when, despite his brilliant achievements, be was passed over for promotion. He warred with some of those above him, often for just reason, but it did him no good.

At war’s end, he came home full of honour, resumed his legal practice, became city solicitor for Melbourne and topped the Victorian poll for Senate candidates for Victoria. He was so well known that any school child named Elliott was almost automatically nicknamed Pompey, a name given to him by his soldiers.

Why he was called Pompey is not known. Ross McMullin, who wrote the 1991 Labor Party history, ‘The Light on the Hill’ is also writing Pompey’s biography. He said yesterday that the name Pompey may have been meant to carry a hint of ancient Roman splendour.

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