One of the most unusual members of the HQ staff, and an almost unknown figure, was Francis Elliott. He originally joined the U.V.F. in his home town of Holywood when he was issued badge number G1253. On 1st October 1913 at the age of just 23 he was promoted to the ranks of the HQ Staff badge number Z16. His occupation up until that time was as a footman, and his new role within Head Quarters was to be the man-servant for both the G.O.C. and the C.S.O!
In the Great War Francis enlisted with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, was awarded the French Croix De Guerre in August 1914, and rose to the rank of acting Sergeant. He was killed in Action on 7th August 1917. Two of his brothers were also K.I.A.
Other members of Headquarters Staff were: Z6 Lieutenant Henry Ansley Davis of Greencastle; Z8 Andrew Newtown Anderson 28 year old Solicitor of Knockbreda; Z9 Claude Richard Burgess Architect of Wellington Park; Z12 John McFarland Hamill Solicitor of Lombard Street; Z18 Secretary to the Medical Board Robert Davis Adelaide Park and Z20 Reginald Walter Henry Blackwood of Castlenaven (County Down).
Z21 Hugh Richard Wood from Bushmills was one of the few Ulster men on the Staff outside of belfast; Z22 James Herbert Richardson was part of the Intelligence Staff and editor of London Journal ‘Our Flag’; and Z24 Colonel C. Gordon who was the last person officially appointed to HQ in 1915.
Note: The ‘Z’ designations referenced in these series of articles are taken from the Ulster Unionist Archives held in PRONI
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