In September 1909 he was appointed a professor at the Indian Staff College at Quetta, where he served until 1911, with the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel.
[10] On the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 he took the regiment to Egypt and then Aden, where he commanded the 28th Indian Brigade with the temporary rank of brigadier-general.
In October 1918 he became General Officer Commanding (GOC) Bushire Field Force in Persia, for which he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in January 1920.
[17] In June 1926 he was appointed colonel of his old regiment, now the 2nd Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles,[18][19] an honorary position he held until 1939.
Elsmie married Annie Todd; they had four sons (two of whom were killed serving with the Royal Air Force in the Second World War) and three daughters.