Major James McGregor Elmslie, born in Waverley, South Taranaki, served in the Boer War and World War I. Photo / Supplied by Andrew Honeyfield
Last year, Kem Ormond wrote about innovative ways to cut boxthorn hedges, which included a brief mention of a Taranaki farmer who used a “sword”. That farmer got in touch with Kem, unearthing a story about the war hero who owned it.
Roger Honeyfield was the farmer and the “sword” mentioned in the original article turned out to be his great uncle’s World War I cavalry sabre.
His name was Major James McGregor Elmslie, and he was Honeyfield’s maternal grandfather’s brother.
“Sadly, it snapped in half, which was a pity as it was a family heirloom,” Honeyfield said.
“I had it welded, but it was never the same again.”
Elmslie was born on August 21, 1876, in Waverley, South Taranaki, and was commanding officer of 2nd Squadron, Wellington Mounted Rifles.
He served in the Boer War, also known as the South African War (1899-1902), and went on to serve in World War I in Gallipoli, where he was killed on Chunuk Bair aged 38.
Elmslie was buried beside his friend and fellow combatant, Major Selwyn Chambers from Havelock North.
He was the son of Anne Elmslie and the late Peter Elmslie of “Hillside”, Waverley, and husband of Martha Jean Elmslie.
During the Boer War, James rescued an Australian soldier under fire.
At Gallipoli, he was respected as a great leader and was recommended for the Victoria Cross, but was unlucky not to be awarded it because General Godley did not approve of awarding the VC to any commissioned officer.
Elmslie and his men were instrumental in taking “Table Top”, the commanding position below Chunuk Bair, on August 6 and 7, 1915.
They held this post as Colonel Malone led his men up to Chunuk Bair the next day.
Elmslie and his men joined the fierce fighting on Chunuk Bair on the night of August 8 to reinforce the losses of Colonel Malone’s infantry.
Elmslie was shot through the neck and shoulder on the morning of August 9 as he was running forwards to occupy a vacant trench.
Picking himself up, he dived into the trench, his men following him.
His last words were: “I can’t help you much more, boys, but go on, you are doing splendidly.”
On May 22, 1929, the Patea Mail published a tribute to Elmslie. It reads as follows.
Waverley
Honouring the brave
Striking tribute to late Major J. Elmslie
A sterling tribute has been paid by the ex-service comrades of the late Major J. Elmslie to the memory of this gallant soldier who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War.
On Wednesday last Messrs W. A. Hurley and T. Wilson, of Waitotara, waited on Lt-Col Foley, M.C., who is in charge of the Mounted Rifles camp at Waverley, and asked him to accept on behalf of the regiment a fine silver cup to be competed for annually by the machine gun section, comprising a corporal and two other ranks, who are each to receive miniature cups suitably inscribed, one to be found annually by the regiment and the remainder by Messrs Hurley and Wilson.
The cup, which is an exceptionally fine specimen of the silversmith’s art, is inscribed as follows: “The Major Elmslie Memorial Challenge Cup, presented by ex-service men 2nd Squadron, Waitotara District, for best light automatic gun section, 1929”.
The late Major Elmslie, who had a fine record as a soldier and a man, was beloved by the men who served under him, and who have taken steps to see that his name is kept alive in the regiment.
A keen soldier, the late Major Elmslie was one of the first in this country to volunteer for active service when the South African War broke out, proceeding to the front as a private with the 2nd Contingent.
After serving through the war he returned to New Zealand with the rank of sergeant and rejoined his old troop the Wairoa Mounted Rifles, remaining with it until it was merged into the Queen Alexandra’s Mounted Rifles under the new Territorial scheme.
Later on he took command of B Squadron, a position which he held until some 10 months before the outbreak of the Great War.
Immediately when war was declared, Major Elmslie, who had been on the reserve list, volunteered for active service and left with the main body as officer in command of the 2nd squadron Wellington – M.R.
During the time the squadron was in Egypt, Major Elmslie, with his wonderful knowledge of men and horses, brought his squadron to a high state of efficiency, and no finer body of men than those under him landed on the Gallipoli shores.
On the peninsula, he rapidly made a name for himself as a leader of men, his work whilst in command of his squadron in the memorable action on “Old No 3″ post being particularly good.
Fine work was also done by his men when the regiment broke through the Turkish line on the night of August 6 and took the famous “Table Top” hill.
Major Elmslie and his squadron were amongst those who reached the top of Chunuk Bair on the fateful August 8, when, with the Auckland Regiment, they held the line in face of terrific fire for 48 hours, Major Elmslie making the supreme sacrifice during the action.
He was buried the next day on “Old No 3“ post, together with Major Chambers of the 9th Squadron, who had been killed at “Table Top”.
Always quiet and unassuming, the late Major Elmslie was implicitly trusted by his men, and it was largely through his outstanding personality that his squadron performed so well, and it is only fitting that his memory should be perpetuated as long as the regiment lasts.
Sources:
Patea Mail, Volume L, May 22, 1929, Page 3
Excerpt from the book The Elmslies of Waverley, written by his grandnephew, Andrew Honeyfield.