Colonel Geordie Elms was born in Toronto. In 1967 he followed his grandfather and father into the ranks of the 48TH Highlanders of Canada as a piper. As a Highlander in 1972 he was commissioned under the Reserve Officer University Training Plan (ROUTP). In 1974 he transferred to the Regular Force, joining The Royal Canadian Regiment and went on to serve on regimental duty in Petawawa, Germany, Winnipeg and Gagetown. He also served on operations/peacekeeping duties in Cyprus (76-77), Lebanon and Israel (83-85), Afghanistan and Pakistan (88-89) and Bosnia (92-93).
In 2000 he was appointed as Commanding Officer of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada. He was commanding when HM The Queen presented new Colours to the Regiment in 2002 at Copps Coliseum.
In 2003 he was posted as Canadian Defence Advisor (Attaché) to the Canadian High Commission in Pakistan and cross-accredited as Canadian Defence Attaché to Afghanistan. In 2006 he was selected to open the Canadian Defence Attaché Office in Kabul, Afghanistan. His final Regular Force appointment was as Canadian Defence Attaché to Israel (2008-2010).
In December 2010 after 43 years in uniform, he retired and returned home to Canada. He served as the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the 48th Highlanders from 2011-2014 and as Honorary Colonel from 2014-2017.
Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for service in South West Asia (2008) and Chief of Defence Staff Commendations for meritorious service in Beirut (1985) and during the Pakistan Earthquake (2005).
