Elrington, Mordaunt

Date of birth:: December 28th, 1897
Date of death:: 1981
Service number:: 13666
Nationality:: British

Biography

Mordaunt Elrington left Oxford at the outbreak of the Great War to train at Sandhurst. Commissioned in 1917, he served in France and earned the Military Cross at Cambrai in 1918, when he assumed command after senior officers were killed and personally reconnoitred under heavy fire to restore the line.

In the interwar years, Elrington served in Turkey, China, India, and at the War Office, gaining wide experience and promotion to Major. By 1939 he was second-in-command of the 2nd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, sent to Singapore. When his commander was promoted, Elrington took charge as Lieutenant-Colonel, leading his men through the desperate Malayan campaign and the defence of Singapore. His calm leadership and gallantry earned him the Distinguished Service Order.

Captured after the surrender in February 1942, Elrington was sent to Korea, where he became Senior British Officer at Keijo POW Camp. His firmness and tact in dealing with Japanese authorities safeguarded morale and won concessions for prisoners, later recognised with the award of the O.B.E. After liberation in 1945, he returned to command the 2nd Battalion, was promoted Brigadier, and served with occupation forces in Europe before retiring in 1950 due to ill health caused by captivity.

In later life he worked in industry and education, settling in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he became Assistant Headmaster of a preparatory school. He also recorded his wartime experiences and published accounts of captivity. Brigadier Elrington died in 1981.

20 May 1946: Lieutenant Colonel (supern.)

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Military Cross (MC)

Period:: First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:: Acting Captain
Unit:: 1/4th Battalion (Hallamshire) York & Lancaster Regiment, 148th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Division, British Army
Awarded on:: December 10th, 1919

"When the advance was checked and there was some doubt as to the exact line held, he made a most daring reconnaissance along the whole length of the Battalion front and established connections with units at a time when any movement drew considerable machine-gun fire at close range."

Mentioned in Dispatches

Rank:: Major
Unit:: 2nd Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, British Army
Awarded on:: September 15th, 1939

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:: 2nd Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 1st Malaya Infantry Brigade, Malaya Command, British Army
Awarded on:: December 13th, 1945

"Throughout the operations in Johore and Singapore in January and February of 1942 this Officer commanded his Battalion with outstanding calmness, courage and judgement.

He remained imperturbable in many difficult and awkward situations from which he extricated his unit with skill and resources. In the latter stages of the fighting in Singapore, he inspired those under him by his gallant conduct under fire and contributed largely to the successful defence which prevented hostile penetration into the area."

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE, Military Division)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Awarded on:: September 12th, 1946

"For his work as Camp Leader at Keijo Camp, Korea, from 25 September 1942-9 September 1945."

"The firmness, dignity and tact of this officer in dealing with the Japanese authorities in Korea, where he was Senior British Officer in a Prisoner of War Camp, contributed greatly to the well-being and morale of all his fellow prisoners. His ability to sum up the psychology of his captors made it possible for him to extort many concessions which made life tolerable."