James Kennedy Elliott was born on 24 August 1908 and was educated at Wellington College, New Zealand, coming over to Edinburgh for his medical course and graduating MB BCh in 1932. He took the FRCS England in 1934, and after returning to New Zealand the FRACS in 1938. Having been a keen Territorial, Elliott joined the army at the outbreak of the second world war and ultimately obtained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was first posted to the Middle East, being DADMS of the 2nd New Zealand Division from January 1940 till 1941 in Greece and Crete. He was surgeon to No 1 General Hospital at Helwan from the end of 1941 till June 1943 and it was there he married Elfie Reed who was a member of the NZ Voluntary Aides Service. In Italy he was in command of No 4 Field Ambulance and for his distinguished service there until April 1944 he was awarded the OBE. In June 1944 Elliott was made orthopaedic consultant to the New Zealand Government and travelled widely to study the rehabilitation of amputees, spending a considerable time at Roehampton. The experience he gained during the nine months of this special study influenced the whole of the rest of his career. On his return to New Zealand he was appointed orthopaedic surgeon to Wellington Hospital, and was also in charge of crippled children at the Home of Compassion, Island Bay. Being naturally diffident and shy he sometimes gave the impression of being rather gruff, but his love and compassion for the deformed children in his care brought out the best in his character, and enabled people to appreciate his real worth. He was devoted to his family, and when he died suddenly on 19 January 1968 his wife and their son and daughter survived him.