He joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he trained as an officer in the years immediately before the First World War.

[2][3] In 1925, Elliot joined the Southern Railway as public relations assistant to the General Manager Sir Herbert Walker.

Under Elliot's leadership, the Southern Railway became noted for the simple, direct messages in its publicity posters.

Shortly after the Second World War he became acting General Manager when his predecessor, Sir Eustace Missenden, was appointed to the Railway Executive.

[2] In October 1937 he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in the Engineer and Railway Staff Corps,[10] and was promoted to full Colonel in May 1951.

[15] After leaving British Railways, Elliot became Chairman of Thomas Cook & Son Ltd, a post he held from 1959 until 1967.