Maj. James McGregor Elmslie

Ewen McGregor Elmslie was born at Waverley in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island on 28 November 1889 (reg. 1889/16145). His parents were Peter Elmslie (1846-1917) and Ann Elmslie (née McGregor) (1850-1945) who had married at 'Auchmore', the home of Ann's parents at Matarawa in the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Ewan's older brother was James McGregor Elmslie, who was born at Waverley on 22 August 1876 (reg. 1876/16145). James had served during the Anglo Boer War (1899-1902) and joined the Wellington Mounted Rifles during World War I (Service No. WWI 11/629). He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 9 August 1915. James was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD); "Exhibited great gallantry and high qualities of leadership on the night of 8/9 August near Chunuck Bair ridge, in rallying & reinforcing the left of Brig-General Johnston's line, after it had been severely shelled and our advanced troops brought back" (London Gazette). James is remembered on the Chunuk Bair (New Zealand) Memorial in Turkey [Panel 4]. Ewen had also joined the Wellington Mounted Rifles during World War I (Service No. WWI 11/1764). He was wounded and admitted to the Lowland Field Hospital at El-ʻArīsh in Egypt, where he died of his wounds on 13 January 1917. Ewen was buried in the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, [E. 387] (bio by Debbie McCauley, 10 July 2022).

Major in WMR, file number 11/629. Son of Anne Elmslie, of "Hillside," Waverley, and the late Peter Elmslie; husband of Martha Jean Elmslie, of "The Shack," 2, Kelso St., Burwood, Sydney, Australia. Served in the South African Campaign.

Sources

1. Cenotaph: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/...
2. New Zealand and World War One Roll of Honour: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/nzefrohE.html / Ref 8.4.2021