Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family, July - October 1916 - Part 3

France
20/7/16

My darling Katie,
The battle is
over. My brave boys have done all
that man could do. We have received
the most gracious thanks of all the
British Generals Haking Plummer Godley
and others for the Brilliant attack.
They say we accomplished our object which     
was to keep the Germans from moving
their reserves front from in front of us
down to the Somme but we paid
a fearful price. Since last year
the British had tried to take the
lines here & had failed. We were
told to attack with our 5^th Division
& one Tommy Division. These latter
could not face the fire & made no
serious attack. We broke the German
line & captured a number of 
prisoners but were overwhelmed
with machine gun fire & artillery.
Poor Geoff McCrae is missing &
reported killed while most gallantly
leading his Brig Battalion the 60^th
Sterling a friend of Geordies was

2
blown to pieces by a Shell. He was wounded
earlier in the day by a rifle bullet through
his neck but refused to leave his men 

& went out with them in the charge

Bert Layh is safe, He had a beastly

experience. He dashed out. A huge

shell burst & blew him into a deep

10 feet hole full of mud & water & half

drowned or smothered ∧ him & it was

only with the utmost difficulty that

he got out He suffered greatly from

the cold for the water here is ice cold.

Still he will be all right. Lyn Walker's

cousin young Davis from Heidelberg

who was just getting his commission

is reported previously of not mortally

wounded in the head. If you hear of

Geoff's death before this reaches you

give my deepest sympathy to his parents

& tell them that he led his men

most gallantly. The boys went  in

in four waves & he was leading the

fourth & although he had seen

the others go down like corn before

a reaper he never hesitated &

 

-3
not one of the boys God bless them hesitated
to follow him. It is cruel work dearie  work

Charlie Elliott has so far escaped

injury & has done splendid work.

I think over 2000 of my own Brigade

alone are killed wounded or missing

& very very many of them will be killed as

the Germans fired at them as they

lay all night & all today. We are

going to send out rescue parties today

tonight. It has been impossible during

the day to get men out as the Germans

have been shelling us badly but ^ there is one officer

we must try to get in. Poor Liddelow who

came with me from the old 7th is out there

badly wounded & we must get him if at

all possible, but ^I fear many many must

perish slowly & miserably of starvation &

want of attention on this no mans land

God help us all it so cruel indeed.

I had several narrow escapes yesterday

from shells being covered up with

debris several times but am still

perfectly well though very very sad

-4-

The casualties well be worse I fear than

even the landing at Gallipoli I

have indeed hardly any officers at

all left & must start to rebuild

the Brigade all over again

I must stop now dear love

for I am very weary & there is

still much to do help the boys

God Bless & Keep you safe my darling

nice wife. Love from Dida Don

(1)

France

24/7/16

My dear Katie love,

We have had a peaceful

time since the big fight. We buried

poor Geoff McCrae yesterday at

eleven o'clock. Some of his men

risked their lives to bring in his

body. It was very sad indeed everybody

loved him. The only fault I had ever

to find with him was the he was so

gentle & Kindly natured, that he could

not tell off his naughty ones

sufficiently when they were business playing up

He always hated doing so. The last

of my old Genl  Colonel  broke down

completely on the day of the

fight & Bert Layh although 

suffering from shell shock had likes

to take men. The latter is all right again

I am better off than I have ever

been for commanding Officer at

present but what I aim to do for

other officers the Lord alone knows

Lt Arckon from Warrnambool

was not in the Big fight nor 

was Russell Goode Both had

(2)

other jobs to do fortunately for

themselves. The Germans did a

cruel thing yesterday  A lot of

our poor wounded have been lying

out & slowly perishing behind the

lines. We have rescued some hundred

of them but had to stop owing to the

German fire. There was one poor

fellow lying close to the German

trenches. Our watchers saw a

German come out xx as though he was

going to help this poor chap.

But instead he deliberately put 

a bomb against him & blew him

up when they saw this our men opened

a bit fire on the German & he was

unable to get back into his own parapet

but hid in a shell hole until dark

I am afraid we did not get him

though which is a great pity. There is

still one poor fellow out there alive

after four days isn't it dreadful

no food or water ^ wounded fortunately tho days

are cool but we cannot go to him 

for the Germans short wherever we

(3)

attempt to get across to him he was 

feebly waving a white handkerchief this

morning. This war is a cruel thing

Katie darling. I wonder when it will be 

all over. I am so thankful that all

my own arrangements for this battle 

went off quite satisfactory. I cannot

think if it were to do again of one

single thing more this I could do

to have helped our boys. The British

Brigade who did not advance into the 

trenches at all sent along to thank me

for the support my machine Guns gave 

in protecting their men from the 

enemy's fire. My staff did excellent

work. Capt Legge is a good little chap for 

work  though he is over fond of the girls when he

gets a chance. Still I must not complain 

of that. Wieck my brigade major is splendid

always cool, always busy.

Did I tell you to tell Geordie that one of our 

old friends Andy  Andy Morrow mortally wounded

in that  charge & died next day. Lyn's

 cousin young Davies is gone too poor

chap. I had everything arranged

(4)

for his commission as an officer & 

it was to come out next day or

so when he was shot through the head

& died a day or so later.

Well I think this is all for the 

present. Bye my dearest love

& God bless & keep you for 

ever. Millions of love & kisses

you & the dear wee loving  pets 

frm Dida Don

 

France
26/7/16 

Dearest Katie,                

There is another mail  

in with a letter from Baaby dated the 

10^th of June & one from Mr Henderson

date 13^th June & another from Mrs Roberts
dated the 11^th June but no letters from my you

dearest old lady. However I did get a

photo of you & the Barnies one of bears. I

cannot make out whether it is a new one

or an old one. If it is an old one taken

when I went away I dont like it nearly

as well as the one I carried about with

me so long when the two wee pets are

cuddling close up to you. You know the

one I mean. Nevertheless I am glad indeed

to have it with me. There is very little

that I can add to my last note. We

have had the quietest possible time

since the battle closed down & there

was much to do to bury our dead & repair

our battered parapets. It is likely that

the germans were similarly engaged

& so there has been a sort of truce but

ever watchful & one or two men who carelessly

put their heads up  over the parapet paid for it

2

with their lives. I am closing with this some

photos what were taken at the Doctor's place

where we first lived in France

that I told you of in previous letters &

one as I rode away. The officer with

one is my Brigade Major - Major

 Wieck. Did I tell you we recovered poor

Scott McCrae's body & buried ^it decently in

a little cemetery instead of leaving it

as so many had to be left in the

wilderness of no mans land & not 

away. I am very sad for him still.

He was a splendid boy. We have had

dry weather ever since the battle & things

are quite pleasant. It is always often

cloudy but very pleasant. I am very
pleased with my present commanding

officers. Col Stewart. Major Layh Major

Denchy & Major Duncan These last three

are all my own boys & I hope they will soon

be made Lieut Cols, They deserve it

thoroughly. Bye now dear darling loving pet

I can never write a good letter unless I have

one of your own before me to reply to. I am

sending on the letter French lady's letter which enclosed

me the photos. Millions of love & kisses darling frm Dida Don