- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 410
Major David Elliott (RHA)
(Filed: 09/07/2004, The Telegraph)
Major David Elliott, who has died aged 84, started the Second World War as a conscientious objector; but after seeing action as a stretcher-bearer in France in 1940 he transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery and went on to win two MCs.
While serving as a lieutenant with 7 Medium Regiment RA at Medenine, Tunisia, in March 1943 Elliott found himself manning an observation post (OP) for 48 hours throughout a German attack.
Pinned down in a shallow trench under continuous shelling, he covered the withdrawal of the forward troops and brought down fire on five enemy tanks on the ridge in front of him.
Elliott's OP was located by the German armour, which shelled him over open sights; but he sat tight, and continued to bring down a heavy and destructive fire on the attackers. For this action he was awarded the first of his MCs.
David Scotchford Elliott was born on May 20 1919 at Dunsfold, Surrey, and educated at Cranleigh. Conscientious objectors were treated with greater toleration in the Second World War than in the First, and the tribunals applied the law more fairly. At the outbreak of war, Elliott became eligible for CO status and enlisted in the TA as a stretcher-bearer.
He went to France with the 141st (County of London) Field Ambulance RAMC as part of the BEF. His experience of the fighting in Belgium and France, followed by the evacuation at Dunkirk, persuaded him to join the combatants: "I wanted to shoot back at the blighters," he said.
In 1941 he was commissioned, and volunteered for service in North Africa. On his arrival in Egypt the following year, he was posted to the 107th Regiment (South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry) RHA.
The following year he was sent on a gunnery course, and was fortunate to miss the battle of "Knightsbridge", in which his regiment was ordered to stand and fight to the last round and the last man. German armour eventually overran their position, inflicting very heavy casualties.
The remnants formed a battery, 107th (SNHY) Medium Battery RHA, within the 7th Medium Regiment and, equipped with 5.5 inch guns, fought at the battle of El Alamein. While they were in Tunisia waiting to invade Sicily, they put on a one-act comedy to relieve the boredom. Elliott, who had an important role, made his grand entrance from the wrong side of the stage, but succeeded in raising more laughter than the whole of the rest of the play.
In 1944 the regiment returned to England from the Italian campaign to prepare for D-Day. Promoted captain and given command of a troop, Elliott accompanied his unit to France in July 1944 and took part in the break-out from Normandy, the clearing of the Scheldt Estuary and the eventual capture of Arnhem.
On March 26 1945, during the exploitation of the Rhine crossings north of Wesel, Elliott was in a semi-armoured vehicle and was acting as OP Officer. In order to obtain the best observation, he had to put himself in a very exposed situation. As he was bringing artillery to bear on the German guns and positions, he came under heavy shell fire.
Despite the considerable danger, he chose to move about in the open in order to inflict the maximum damage on the enemy. He set an example of courage and resolve which was an inspiration to those around him, and was a steadying influence on the members of his crew. He was awarded an immediate Bar to his MC.
In January 1946 Elliott was promoted major and commanded a battery in BAOR. He returned to England later that year, and, after demobilisation, took over the family farm in Surrey. There he built up a pedigree herd of pigs which became one of the best breeding herds in the country and from which stock was exported all over the world.
Elliott became chairman of the Surrey National Farmers' Union in 1958. The following year, he organised an appeal on the part of Surrey farmers to raise the money to build three arches, known as the Agricultural Arches, to support the west gallery of Guildford Cathedral.
He served for many years as a governor of Cranleigh and its sister school, St Catherine's. He was chairman of the Cranleigh Group Riding for the Disabled, playing a leading part in the purchase of a farm for the group which was opened by Princess Anne in 1985.
David Elliott died on May 8. He married, in 1947, Margaret Wroot, who predeceased him; he is survived by a son and a daughter.
(Filed: 09/07/2004, The Telegraph)
Major David Elliott, who has died aged 84, started the Second World War as a conscientious objector; but after seeing action as a stretcher-bearer in France in 1940 he transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery and went on to win two MCs.
While serving as a lieutenant with 7 Medium Regiment RA at Medenine, Tunisia, in March 1943 Elliott found himself manning an observation post (OP) for 48 hours throughout a German attack.
Pinned down in a shallow trench under continuous shelling, he covered the withdrawal of the forward troops and brought down fire on five enemy tanks on the ridge in front of him.
Elliott's OP was located by the German armour, which shelled him over open sights; but he sat tight, and continued to bring down a heavy and destructive fire on the attackers. For this action he was awarded the first of his MCs.
David Scotchford Elliott was born on May 20 1919 at Dunsfold, Surrey, and educated at Cranleigh. Conscientious objectors were treated with greater toleration in the Second World War than in the First, and the tribunals applied the law more fairly. At the outbreak of war, Elliott became eligible for CO status and enlisted in the TA as a stretcher-bearer.
He went to France with the 141st (County of London) Field Ambulance RAMC as part of the BEF. His experience of the fighting in Belgium and France, followed by the evacuation at Dunkirk, persuaded him to join the combatants: "I wanted to shoot back at the blighters," he said.
In 1941 he was commissioned, and volunteered for service in North Africa. On his arrival in Egypt the following year, he was posted to the 107th Regiment (South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry) RHA.
The following year he was sent on a gunnery course, and was fortunate to miss the battle of "Knightsbridge", in which his regiment was ordered to stand and fight to the last round and the last man. German armour eventually overran their position, inflicting very heavy casualties.
The remnants formed a battery, 107th (SNHY) Medium Battery RHA, within the 7th Medium Regiment and, equipped with 5.5 inch guns, fought at the battle of El Alamein. While they were in Tunisia waiting to invade Sicily, they put on a one-act comedy to relieve the boredom. Elliott, who had an important role, made his grand entrance from the wrong side of the stage, but succeeded in raising more laughter than the whole of the rest of the play.
In 1944 the regiment returned to England from the Italian campaign to prepare for D-Day. Promoted captain and given command of a troop, Elliott accompanied his unit to France in July 1944 and took part in the break-out from Normandy, the clearing of the Scheldt Estuary and the eventual capture of Arnhem.
On March 26 1945, during the exploitation of the Rhine crossings north of Wesel, Elliott was in a semi-armoured vehicle and was acting as OP Officer. In order to obtain the best observation, he had to put himself in a very exposed situation. As he was bringing artillery to bear on the German guns and positions, he came under heavy shell fire.
Despite the considerable danger, he chose to move about in the open in order to inflict the maximum damage on the enemy. He set an example of courage and resolve which was an inspiration to those around him, and was a steadying influence on the members of his crew. He was awarded an immediate Bar to his MC.
In January 1946 Elliott was promoted major and commanded a battery in BAOR. He returned to England later that year, and, after demobilisation, took over the family farm in Surrey. There he built up a pedigree herd of pigs which became one of the best breeding herds in the country and from which stock was exported all over the world.
Elliott became chairman of the Surrey National Farmers' Union in 1958. The following year, he organised an appeal on the part of Surrey farmers to raise the money to build three arches, known as the Agricultural Arches, to support the west gallery of Guildford Cathedral.
He served for many years as a governor of Cranleigh and its sister school, St Catherine's. He was chairman of the Cranleigh Group Riding for the Disabled, playing a leading part in the purchase of a farm for the group which was opened by Princess Anne in 1985.
David Elliott died on May 8. He married, in 1947, Margaret Wroot, who predeceased him; he is survived by a son and a daughter.
