Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family, June - December 1915 - Part 5

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with a little post at the end. We
have had several terrific duels with
them at this end. They fairly
shower bombs at it at times but
they have lost heavily at every
attack for the past day or two
have left us scarcely alone. We
can however hear them digging &
so doubt they will try to blow it
up very shortly. We are digging
also & hope to forestall these but
it is all a nerve wracking job & goodness
knows what will be the end of it. The
General got to hear of my going down
the Tunnel & has published an
order that such minor exploits are
the privilege & work of N.C.O's & Junior
officers & while senior officers are
expected at all times to set an
example when necessary they should
except in emergency avoid risking
their lives unnecessarily - so I got a
little hissy. It is only the blessing of
providence that I am alive this day,
for enshin every day these wretched
shells explode & cover me with dust &
grime. So far I have avoided being buried
but any day may bring it or worse.
upon me. But God is good & maybe your

prayers will prevail. I am in excellent

bodily health but I am brokenhearted at the

loss of my brave boys. x I noticed that you gave

[[?]] of my letters to the August Publish. I was not

pleased dearie so do not do it especially a letter

[[?]] [[?]] which is [[?"Skitey"]] - The boys will tell it

all you need not fear. x I had only your short letters

 

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of the 10th June. The previous one 

you speak about must have gone

astray somewhere well my darling
old Katie Tell Lyn & her sisters they

may well be proud of poor Ken

whether he lives or dies. - He is worthy

of it all. Now God bless you my own

dearest wife. Whatever happens you

may rely that the Turks will not

get this ridge while we of the 7th or

of the 6th who are attached to me in

suffering equally & as bravely as my

boys remain alive & that if we

are all killed others will take

our place. At present out one

desire is that the Turks will summon

up courage to attack us. God

keep them if they do for our

lads will have no mercy on them. God

bless & keep you all my dearest ones

Tell Geordie & Mother I have hardly

any writing material & it is

impossible to buy any here. Also

tell [[?]] [[?Her?]] of [[?]]

that I have shown her last letters to

 

- 10 -

all the [[?G]] boys I can but they're

very fun. Also many they are so scattered

about in the trenches that it is hard

to get hold of them at any time. This

is an awful war even the poor dead

cannot rest quiet in their graves

Yesterday during the shelling fighting

a dead mans skull came hurtling

through the air & fell in my blanket.

Probably he was killed in the first

advance & buried & the shell had

penetrated the grave blown this

poor relick out again. As I told you

before, in the tunnels we put in [[?]]

the enemy are constantly disturb

graves & the stench is something

awful & it drifts up the tunnel

& the trenches. - May I never see

another war. - Kiss my dear wee

bairnies for me & tell them that I

love them always & that mum & his

pets are the dearest sweetest pets on

earth & dida loves them millions

& millions. God bless & keep

you all. I hear Jacks regiment is

in Egypt & will be coming here

shortly. We will have been a fortnight

in the trenches in a couple of days

& are hoping soon to be relieved.

but if we are not we will have just to

grin & bear it & try to get even with the 

Turks later on. Goodbye & God bless you

all. Millions of kisses from Dida Donny

 

Saturday 17/7/15

I received the mail this last day

Since I wrote Poor Capt [[?Pernigel]] was

dangerously wounded and I hear has

died in the Hospital Ship. I have no

news of poor Ken Walker since he

was taken off to the Hospital Ship.

Last night a very sad thing happened

A machine Gun Corporal of the 3rd Bttn

named Hill has been doing magnificent

work & only yesterday morning when

General Birdwood was along I introduced

him to the General for his splendid work

& the General asked me to write [[?]] he

would see what he could do to reward

him. Last night a shell came & blew

in all the Trench Corporal Hill as soon

as it was dark got right out of the

trench on the enemy side of it & he

build it up better. One of our own

men a little further up looked over

& took him for a Turk & shot

him dead. I was very broken up

about it. The men are quite exhausted

with digging out the Trenches [[?]]

watching but the Brigadier says we

cannot be relieved just yet.

Well we must just trust to God

& stand our ground.

Millions of love & kisses to you all

from Dida [[?]]
[* Difference in States

Off OR.*]

 

Daily State Forum A.

Corps Garrison Strength            Date 13-7-15

Officers 15   7th Bn

                 9   6th Bn

                 3   Branndt Hill

               27

 

       Brandt H. 102

                          302   7th

Other Ranks  338   6 Bn  
                         649

                         742
HElliot Lieut. Col

Attached 1 Doctor 4 AMC

                                   1 Armourer

 

Gallipoli

Peninsula

21/7/15

My darling Kit,

I have just

received two letters from

you one that I ought to have

got last week & the other

the very latest dated the

13th of June which is only 5 weeks

or so ago. Thanks very much

for your good wishes for my Birthday

I hope you got the wee little bracelet I

sent you for yours. I should

hear of it in your next letter.

Col. Wanlis went away sick

today & I am the only one

of the old Colonels who left

Australia left still here. There are

of course heaps & heaps of

new ones about. Our

Brigadier Col McCoy broke 

his leg the other day. We

had been getting a [[?turtle?]]

so wont be broken hearted

if it doesnt come my way.

Remember me to Mrs McCrae.

Geoff was wounded on his face

& could possibly have some

nasty scar as a result by the

gravel being blown in his face

by a shell which struck the

parapet. However his eyes are

quite alright which is a 

fine thing. Tell her I am

delighted with him. He was

my Australian officer who

had to stay in the trenches

& try to find out where the

Enemys guns were & he

performed this every day while

all that awful shelling was

on & never turned a hair.

or hesitated a moment

until he was struck down

Like Ken Walker & all my

other boys he was splendid

I picked them well. Not one

turned out a blank. I

have written to the Head men

letting them all about their

boys. Rupert was killed at

Cape Helles - showing the most

reckless bravery just as

 

- 2

time bombarded with all sorts of shells & our

trenches were a mere wreck. We were working on them

& had got them nearly ship shape when he came along

At one spot however it was dangerous to get across

as the enemy could still see you the trench being

half full of debris. So you had to run across & dodge

the Bullets when we came to this spot I wanted

him to go round but he refused & ran across. It

was very rough & going down the other side he fell

& when we ran to him his leg was broken. The Dr

was of opinion that the wound he received at

Cape Helles had injured the bone & the jarring he

received had snapped it off. I have I think

received all your letters now & Geordie's too

describing your operation. Now old darling girlie

how you must have suffered. My wound was

only a [[?flecht?]] compared to it. Mind you keep

your word & keep on getting fat & dont be worrying

about me. There is a possible chance of Col Wanliss

doesn't come back of me getting the job as Brigadier

It may mean an increase in pay of 2/6 a day which

would be very nice but I am not counting on it

 

3

he did here. Poor boy he

did wonderfully well. I tried

hard to get it from a D.S.O but

there are so many recommended

& it is doubly hard when a 

man is dead to get his work

recognized. Alas I was late

being away getting the recommendation

in. However a paragraph

was put in General orders mentioning

him for his good work.