Letters from Harold Edward Elliott to his family January 1916 - June 1916 - Part 12

of you dear old sweet face again if you

come you must be prepared to be nearly

hugged to death - you dear od armful

of darlings. It would be less dangerous I

think to go by the Cape Route but it is

much longer & the boats though cheaper

to travel in are not so nice & you re

more likely to meet rough weather - on the

other hand you would escape the Red

Sea heat but after June or July that

cannot be so very bad I know I am

selfish to even think of exposing you to

such perils as you may meet when you 

could stay safe at home, but I am so

longing to see you. As Katie will decide

of course you might wait months & months

in England before I would get a chance to get

leave & run across to see you but it would

be a great comfort to know you were near

on the other hand you may be miserable apart

from you dear wee pets -then there is the money

question it will cost a good bit & we need to

save every bit. Since my promotion I have an

extra 7/1 a day & which I have paid off the 

price of the little things I am sending you

for your birthday I could let you have

most of that for it only cost me a little

                        4

now to live as a Brigadier than as a Lt Colonel

I have a few little extra expenses that is

all. It may be different in France but I don't

think so. Now sweet sweetest darling

you have all the facts before you to be

considered. You would perhaps have a

chance of seeing Ullapool & all those

other wonderful places & perhaps might

share a [[?]] or room with Violet, but

now decided & you will know that whatever

you decide it will seem right ^for me

crochetty sorty ways won't you dear darling

Katie. You could quite easily if you talked

to him so sweet & kind & loving as you did

in your letter. He'd just be dropping down on

his knees & worshipping you for an angel. Tell

me you love me kit & won't be the your very own

Dida Don aways for ever & ever - This world

the next & will always be my sweet loving

pal. Little loving mate. I'd like to have you dear

old cheek tucked away in shoulder now & feel

dear old arm around me. Give the wee pets

kisses & love from their old Dida

                         4

Old Bob Smith is a sad disappointment to me

in many things but I like him very much & 

would give anything if I could have got him

in my Brigade to help me along. I don't think

it is that he doesn't like me. [[?]] won't come

But he is pretty selfish somehow & would apparently

not put himself out any to help me. Perhaps because

I could do it I expect others to do likewise & am

unreasonably disappointed when they fail to come to light.

I am glad you like Mrs Smith though. I wonder

if Maj Mrs Barton will call. I had a most

pathetic letter from her thanking me over & over again

for writing to her about her boy. She told me what

I never knew, that Hector (her boy) was a cripple

at birth & she never thought he would live &

now to be told by his Colonel that he would wish

no better than that has our boy would grow like

him is almost too much for the poor old body.

     I am so glad I wrote though now, I wonder will

you like her. She said she would call on you

& be delighted. Bye darling loviest. You dear old

letter has cheered me dickles. My arm is still

twisted up but is not very painful.

    Millions of love & kisses from Dida Don.

is also there. I have received letters from

M^r Roddick which however was only delivered

by this later mail although posted for the previous

one as you mentioned. He says he met you

and the wee laddie who was looking the picture of

health with his rosy bright cheeks. Fancy 

you mention (words pasted over)

wedding

happens with me so rare that you remember them

so long & would you like Dida to come to the Beach

with you & your wee [[?]]. Tell Mrs Layh

that Bert is my right man. They wanted

to take him away from me a day or two ago

& I offered them the pick of three of my

Colonels instead. I have done my best to

get him made a Colonel for her & got myself

into all manner of trouble over it but I have

no regrets as it is not a bit more than he 

deserves. I've also sent his name forward

for despatches. Whether it ever gets them

him anything - is a pure matter of luck

apparently as I know to my cost. It

is not merit alone which determines that

apparently but at least no unworthy names

will be submitted by me whatever happens