Walter Elliott, Lord Elliott
Encyclopedia
Archibald Elliott, Lord Elliott MC
(6 September 1922 - 9 August 2008) was a Scottish lawyer and judge. In 1971, he became the first President of the newly established Lands Tribunal for Scotland
, and in 1978 took on the additional office of Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
. Since then, both offices have been held concurrently.
who would later be appointed Professor of Medicine at University College London
, while his mother came from the wealthy McCosh Lanarkshire Iron and Coal Company of Coatbridge. His parents lived in London
's historic Cheyne Walk
, Chelsea
, and in Broughton Place, a mansion house in Broughton, Scottish Borders, which they commissioned from renowned Scottish architect Sir Basil Spence
in 1938. He was educated at Eton
and began studying History at Trinity College, Cambridge
, but interrupted his studies to join the Army
in 1943. After the War, he completed his studies at Cambridge before returning to Scotland, studying at the School of Law
of the University of Edinburgh
.
as an officer in the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards
. He joined up in August 1943, and on 11 September that year led a platoon in an attack on a tobacco factory in Salerno
. Captured by German troops, he escaped into the mountains and was awarded an immediate Military Cross
for bravery. He later wrote two books based on his experiences: Us and Them: a study of group consciousness (1986), and Esprit de Corps (1996).
in 1950, Elliott was called to the Bar of England and Wales
at the Inner Temple
, and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
in Scotland. He took up practice in Scotland, and was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1963. In 1971, he was appointed a Chairman of the Medical Appeal Tribunals, and as President of the newly-established Lands Tribunal for Scotland
. In 1978, he was appointed Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
, retaining his position as President of the Lands Tribunal. Since his retirement in 1992, the positions have always been held together. He was succeeded by Alexander Philip, Lord Philip
.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(6 September 1922 - 9 August 2008) was a Scottish lawyer and judge. In 1971, he became the first President of the newly established Lands Tribunal for Scotland
Lands Tribunal for Scotland
The Lands Tribunal for Scotland is a civil court with jurisdiction over certain matters relating to land and property in Scotland. The Tribunal was established under the Lands Tribunal Act 1949, which also created the separate Lands Tribunal in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.Although the...
, and in 1978 took on the additional office of Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
Scottish Land Court
The Scottish Land Court is a Scottish court of law based in Edinburgh with subject-matter jurisdiction for disputes between landlords and tenants relating to agricultural tenancies and matters related to crofts and crofters. The Chairman of the Scottish Land Court is ranked as a Senator of the...
. Since then, both offices have been held concurrently.
Early life
Elliott was born in London into a prosperous family. His father was a physicianPhysician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who would later be appointed Professor of Medicine at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, while his mother came from the wealthy McCosh Lanarkshire Iron and Coal Company of Coatbridge. His parents lived in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's historic Cheyne Walk
Cheyne Walk
Cheyne Walk , is a historic street in Chelsea, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It takes its name from William Lord Cheyne who owned the manor of Chelsea until 1712. Most of the houses were built in the early 18th century. Before the construction in the 19th century of the busy...
, Chelsea
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, and in Broughton Place, a mansion house in Broughton, Scottish Borders, which they commissioned from renowned Scottish architect Sir Basil Spence
Basil Spence
Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist/Brutalist style.-Training:Spence was born in Bombay, India, the son of Urwin...
in 1938. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and began studying History at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, but interrupted his studies to join the Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1943. After the War, he completed his studies at Cambridge before returning to Scotland, studying at the School of Law
University of Edinburgh School of Law
The University of Edinburgh School of Law, founded in 1707, is a school within the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, dedicated to research and teaching in law. Known today as Edinburgh Law School, it is located in the historic Old College, the original site of the University...
of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
.
Military career
Elliott saw active service in the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as an officer in the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
. He joined up in August 1943, and on 11 September that year led a platoon in an attack on a tobacco factory in Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
. Captured by German troops, he escaped into the mountains and was awarded an immediate Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for bravery. He later wrote two books based on his experiences: Us and Them: a study of group consciousness (1986), and Esprit de Corps (1996).
Legal career
On completing his studies at EdinburghUniversity of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
in 1950, Elliott was called to the Bar of England and Wales
Barristers in England and Wales
Barristers in England and Wales are one of the two main categories of lawyer in England and Wales, the other being solicitors. -Origin of the profession:The work of senior legal professionals in England and Wales...
at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
in Scotland. He took up practice in Scotland, and was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1963. In 1971, he was appointed a Chairman of the Medical Appeal Tribunals, and as President of the newly-established Lands Tribunal for Scotland
Lands Tribunal for Scotland
The Lands Tribunal for Scotland is a civil court with jurisdiction over certain matters relating to land and property in Scotland. The Tribunal was established under the Lands Tribunal Act 1949, which also created the separate Lands Tribunal in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.Although the...
. In 1978, he was appointed Chairman of the Scottish Land Court
Scottish Land Court
The Scottish Land Court is a Scottish court of law based in Edinburgh with subject-matter jurisdiction for disputes between landlords and tenants relating to agricultural tenancies and matters related to crofts and crofters. The Chairman of the Scottish Land Court is ranked as a Senator of the...
, retaining his position as President of the Lands Tribunal. Since his retirement in 1992, the positions have always been held together. He was succeeded by Alexander Philip, Lord Philip
Alexander Philip, Lord Philip
The Rt. Hon. Alexander Morrison Philip, Lord Philip is a Scottish lawyer and former Senator of the College of Justice.-Early life:...
.