Archie Elmslie
Archibald Gordon Elmslie was the second son of James Aberdour Elmslie. Born in 1864 he began his apprenticeship at sea in 1880 serving under his father and alongside his apprentice elder brother, Christopher Tatham Elmslie. Archie earned rapid promotion and was appointed 1st Mate of the Sobraon in 1887. Thus he made four annual voyages to Melbourne as chief officer under his father until the end of the final voyage of the Sobraon in 1891. Moreover, in 1888 Archie had gained his master's qualification. Accordingly, Archie was both a highly-qualified and highly-experienced seaman.