Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family, June - December 1915 - Part 15

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.69
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Cov Weros e 2 tha ad Mnnet a h not git me drowfudges letter deng th didnt wht taret sha to Ishmed b at all yet, What a willingg Ma Men askay couldpy dom alwoed of you or tr 21s unlay. I have found on tfrom the Stewards why or iost are kegid closed dlering the day. The reason is that y we were struck by a torpede on the side the phy might but o & f course Curyone would hury away o dick ono faty to close the ports ther if they rrenlined oper the water would fresh in & fill her uf ever po quickly a sink the ship. Ao therefrethy are tobe kept aloted wthat make it close sunconfutablen tt tabens & palson. Bro itill night wern walhe to seck down here it might will A the middle of the night with all light blmning Nothing pest is thewy fnews except that itlocks mi ofwve would arre at our distiation tomorrow as we have had offeral potents distributed in which it state that we arrived at our distintio poply or Monday 22rd 10 that a joke of the sernan were te calet in appoc I reems tempting iuvidence.
t haw time to m a packet of this me thingaper. I have Baobysgeft futen teit is a refarat ineloses that do for her but your like to write longer o than that to sa Ofer. tthar ay an sher bant soutinest talleteg ot then yra taltion my artt wisgt aly auttoly tt ype tot gargh £ lt Raturng ithtaune I he to toughttl thing on them natee deare thim Ohlith t cn you mentioned telling wle levart about H Treeg but not telling alte greeg you and I am underrs why whether to with what I paid about my letter beirg fregnalone- I hardly meart that dear thit I didnt cvant you tolet any ne persuade you to publisk them in any of the papers in is no farm in Frna telling or reading to you p any extract that praise anae boys but I would not lik you to tell any of anyttingd say against anyoe, The mes who hav srenly thowed tht they are afraid have ton mind he a toushongly fer many are howver Lading lack England home pehiing byit back to curtratis &f there will be the verfort to innot upon getting any jols that are going there. Well I dont think I shall be one to long as my ptrenglt shealth holds I shal fr thi from tine I don't claim tohe brave or fearlin of anyther of the not. I only with I were some for ren tobe ro - ft I try said to capey out my job homeou scared I may be alond
Iarall reamiand that men in chee her connue in gone thuight no to wnathe cn could for her of hs coentry & selt hs we laddee that y er the turn same for him he would do likenioe Monday Morning & Mr Je bast night Iwist a not to yo tone to Barly & ported then so that they can go off to the mall port as non asw arve an expect todo at midday Imt Baaly a Dear solocken after your to Barrnies as the does. Hoes tho wee ladily whill call her Dear or has he learned to call her Belle or Basby yet. The me chap mst have know nomething wha he christened her Dear. Whict of the to does Baaby lor fest do you think? Hoes she make any difference between thenadver the lore them as you do without difference fates we are now in Munders Hackor which is crowded wit shipping. It is very beak and cold & outnlly toe blowing a date but it is calmed here. We are anchred in t Iterfarfor appiantly awaiting orders to move in its. 23 Mr Tuerday night. Rather asomee today Kotee We are bingkept here still About 12000 mer ware t have give off the ty today for taloniten but I heard bodoy late thneh were concelled
t course the . Ballal that the a Nnge 2 back in Kzal rte place or Tallipole offir and ruple of months They their seel. not. I then lighting nineI left them 2a o give to Salonika the I was t theyi speny temote 4 2 o there would then fight 12 £77 ing there inteler thd af 2 12 some reason or other Ion H Wedneday 2 an t night so I am putting son having a very 19 of it in tall in your letter naa1 t a am My9 t t d We n I heard today that the st. Balle Wilthl that they attenpted (to go ashor of Hiy but it was too rough & they tol t retur he
Saturday 28th The 3 Bittatin left here Thurtsday enniglar for MW.SAC but no proou was made for me tyom them. Today I inturreved thomilitary landing officer again t arked to follow then His annter was that I couldno go at present & as a matter of fact the 10fr was being withdrain trught ogo to sgypt If this is is it reflects gleat credit o the taff here for sendng then over on Thuerday & bein then lack on Saturday in addiron leaving me behind here when the Regiment went on Sunday 2 M. Thing are getting most unfarably dull hu there is abolull nothing tdo & no looks to read or anything. A a reoult there is a good deal of drnti anongst sone of theyoung offeces so you amount of gadlling goed on the twos some money miring fr differetot o our deck of some port of inquery remiting iis as fficer beng placed under arrest o inopn nt ar chustratin thank Heavon. He had ben greantlig heavly it cogard, and in our conyont of one of the cabone from which money was mired. One of t oer or Board attempted to commit murdely cutting his throat. I neally canjot under ot it as thnnotory of this week has been appalling We will take nort & gronspronte soon unty are got a more in meshere it little mord has 2 ced it fall
Dar Kit e Sprom ago. font b D y pcon 4 read 161 20
A fo 24 Nov 191S My dearess inp I have a long letter written inporteact day as I came from ergland but giving to the Censorship I pupr not tport it just yet but will let you have it as noon as I reach the Regimend & brng it up to date making it a complete record o the yage. It has o the whole been very pleasant. We should arrive at por tomorrow S.M. The weather has bee good but oning to the darger poor Subwarine everyore or Board has be more or less anxcious. Then are 180020 Austration & I new realand open on board with som 500 or ro others & then a tilveof me 2000 write aloard. What a prye ot eneny of they could contrint sink us before he could get into the field They cannot do much tooight exceptly occident so then is only tomorrow morning ee arrive at noo all bey will - I am nodi you a portcard which may rech you quicke tou the we cannot ray the name of the port as whers we wall awrise to bnow thasting forbidder but I have ben theretpre after we ap togo t the pont. Ionder can yourguess it. el rpo you will soon I hope get a greatbiy long letter from me with all the news day day setsc th present Boodlyef & Goottler left Sylard fr Kees you for aways vever 8 L Mde Dr 4 id
DONATED RECC.IDSLIST 3297 3rd Serles 20 1N 9B14 Mrs. HS Slliots 29 MilchellSf Northcot Cl S Chirkatin 2ORLOS13
On board R.M.S OLYMPIC 20th No0 1915 My deares katie I am itill on Board they ship I was mott annoying. The 7 Batts were ashow until yesterday when they went off back to the Trenches & I was left here. I would like to wick some of then stapt fficers of the earth. I told them I had information that the 7th Was still ashon but they raid they had gone back rie days ago but would inquire & if they were stillhere would send me to you then without fail. now they have let then get anay However son i hopes of bung rentt nyou then immediately. I hear they have greatly improved & ane looking very pt & will & that Lrd Kitchener wriewcather the other day & talked to then were nicely. I am sorry I was not there It is worner & calms today than for me days. I am witkeyinglock that Cong letter I promised you to send as soon as I you is with the Reginent
I do hope you are getting your strugtt sck again dearre you muthe had a mary time of it. I am looking forward to your letter with the account of Scordier wedding you & dym will have a clover bond now pt If Georde has anynews of we he con posssst on to you through Lyn & I ca do the some for him through you. There is little na t tell you Things are very quiet indeed at Hirsae so we hear both sides after the fightingi August last oppear to have been quite content to nt down respectfully look at each other If they had on common larguage the boys would be quite good friends with tt Burks by this time. I ought to see Jack soon I believe they are in our old tenches at the Lre kine position. I have cansull wolched the carrialty lirts but lott he & mag Smith reen thave niccerpl escoped trouk ro you Gordbys now fut & with heap love kimns you you otheres pats SdaS LORIOS

15
And How is Mrs Cruickshank these days & Lil
has her man volunteered yet? I suppose Mrs
C wouldn't let him. And Vera has she a man yet - 
with all her charms & And Minnie & Annie how
are they. I did not get Mr Trowbridges letter yet
I expect he didn't write. have he & Clara made
up at all yet. What a million questions I should
ask you if I could pop down alongside of you for a minute
or two.
21st Sunday. I have found out  from the Steward why our ports
are kept closed during the day. The reason is that if we
were struck by a torpedo on one side the ship might list over
& of course everyone would hurry away on deck & not stop
to close the ports. Then if they remained open the water
would rush in & fill her up ever so quickly & sink the
ship. So therefore they are to be kept closed which makes it
close & uncomfortable in the cabins & saloon. It is still

bright warm weather in deck-dorm here it might well

be the middle of the night with all lights blaring. Nothing

just in the way of news except that it looks surely as if we 

could arrive at our destination tomorrow as we have
had official postcards distributed in which it states that 

we arrived at our destination safely on Monday 22nd Nov

Thats a joke if the Germans were to catch us after all

It seems tempting Providence.

 

16


 

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Loretta CorbettLoretta Corbett
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