Sydney Elliott Napier

Sydney Elliott Napier (26 December 1870 Ã¢ÂÂ 3 May 1940), who wrote as S. Elliott Napier, was an Australian writer and poet.

Early life

Napier was born in Sydney and educated at Newington College (1882Ã¢ÂÂ1887) and Sydney University.

Working life

He began his working life as a bank clerk with the AJS Bank in Burwood, New South Wales. From 1893 he was a jackeroo in Manilla, New South Wales, until he was articled to a solicitor in Tamworth in 1894. After 1899 he worked as a solicitor in Sydney and the Riverina.

Armed service

During World War I, Napier served with the 41st Battalion of the AIF as a sergeant. After the end of the war he served on the AIF Courts Martial Staff in Tidworth in England, then returned to Australia in 1921 to work as Legal Officer for the New South Wales War Service Homes Commission.

Journalism

In 1925, Napier joined The Sydney Morning Herald. He subsequently became assistant editor of The Sydney Mail and leader-writer of the Sydney Morning Herald where in 1931 he compiled, with P. S. Allen, A Century of Journalism: The Sydney Morning Herald and Its Record of Australian Life 1831Ã¢ÂÂ1931. He contributed prose and verse to numerous English and Australian journals and newspapers, and published a collection of essays, The Magic Carpet in 1932.

Personal life

Napier married Cathrine Armstrong in Sydney in December 1900. They had three sons, Francis Armstrong, Andrew Maxwell, and Colin Elliott. She predeceased him.

Publications

The Sydney Repertory Theatre: its history and significance; a criticism [Sydney: Sydney Repertory Theatre Society, 1927]
On the Barrier Reef: Notes from a no-ologist's pocket-book [Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1928]
Walks abroad: Being the record of the experiences of two Australians in the wilds of the United Kingdom [Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1929]
Potted biographies [Sydney: Dymocks Book Arcade, 1930]
The magic carpet and other essays and adventures [Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1932]
On the Barrier Reef: a story of Australia's coral wonderland [Sydney : Angus & Robertson, 1932]
Walks abroad: Two Australians in the wilds of England, Scotland and Ireland [Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1933]
The book of the Anzac memorial, New South Wales [Sydney, 1934]
Great lovers [Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1934]
Underneath the bough: a book of verses [Sydney: Penfold, 1937]
The genesis and growth of solicitors' associations in New South Wales: Together with a brief history of the Incorporated Law Institute of New South Wales [Sydney: Law Book Co., 1937]
Men and cities: Being the journeyings of a journalist [Sydney: Angus & Robertson, 1938]

Poetry

Salute

All Men Are Free

France

Russia

Mater Dolorosa

Use of Napier's work

At the Sydney Dawn Service in 2014 the poem "Salute" was recited by the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Victor Dominello. In 2019 the poem was recited by the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian. Again in 2021 Berejiklian read Salute. At the 2024 service The Premier of NSW Chris Minns read the poem.