HORRORS OF WAR: Author Carole Wilkinson says the horror of Fromelles never left Elliott, and was largely responsible for his suicide in 1931. Photo: Lachlan Bence.
A replica set of medals and awards won by the legendary and mercurial Harold ‘Pompey’ Elliott has been unveiled at the Ranger Barracks Museum in Ballarat.
Born in Charlton and educated in Ballarat and at Melbourne University, Elliott was a soldier, solicitor and senator for Victoria as a member of the Nationalist Party (not to be confused with the Nationals).
He was renowned as a passionate advocate for the welfare of his men, as an inveterate critic of incompetence, a brilliant tactician – but also as a person of fiery and erratic temper.
His medals were donated to the Australian War Museum, but later disappeared. They have never been recovered.
The Mystery of Pompey’s Medals will be the subject of ‘Weekender’ in Saturday’s The Courier.
Caleb Cluff
Senior Journalist, The Courier
