Sir John Elliot, who died on 18 September 1988 at the age of 90, was an international transport expert who became chairman of both the old Railway Executive and London Transport.
John Elliot Blumenfield was born in London on 6th May 1898, and on the advice of Lord Beaverbrook, and with his father’s approval, he dropped his surname by deed poll and became John Elliot.
Educated at Marlborough, in 1916 he entered Sandhurst and was commissioned into The 3rd The King’s Own Hussars early in 1917, He went to France in October of that year serving through the Cambrai battle, the March retreat of 1918, the turning of the tide at Amiens in August, the storming of the Hindenburg Line and the Battle of Selle.
When the Regiment returned to England in the autumn of 1919, he resigned his commission to join his father’s profession of journalism.
He cut short, however, a promising career in Fleet Street by joining the Southern Railway in 1925, In 1947 he was appointed general manager of the Southern Railway, In 1951 he was appointed chairman of the Railway Executive of the now-nationalised railways. The Railway Executive was abolished in 1953 when he moved to London Transport where he also became Chairman.
John Elliot was created a Knight in 1954 and was Colonel (Commanding) The Engineers and Railway Staff Corps, Royal Engineers from 1956 to 1963.
Our sympathies go out to his wife, Elizabeth, whom he married in 1924, and his son and daughter.
