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

Bdarling Water
France
20/9/68
The battle is
over. My hrave boys have done all
that now could do. We have received
the most gracious thanks of all the
Britirt General's Haking plunner Gadle,
and others for the Brilliant attack
They say we accomplished our object which     
Gernan from mony
was to news t.
n
their reserves nst in fromsog us
down & the tomme but ere paid
a yearful price.
Since last year
the pritist had tried to take the
lines here I had failed. We were
told to attack wilt our 5th Dercoin
& one Yonmy Sinsior. Thes latter
cored not face the fire & made no
Derions attack. We broke the Gernan
line & captuned a number
prisoners but wvere orcinbelnes
with nochere gur fiivartillen
Poor Geoff Mc Brae is missing o
reponed killed while most gallante
readinng his Ba Baltalion the 60
starling a friend.
o Geordies was
 

Flown to preces by a thell. He was wonder
eaglier in the day by a rifl fullesthrough
his neck but tepired bleave hismer
& nitout with them, in the charge
Bert Layt is rop. He had a harth
expertence. He dashed out. At longe
Well burst & llew him int a dey
hole full of mid & water shat
hin
arowed or mothered & it was
only will the estmont difficulty that
he got out He suppred greatly for
the cold for the waterhere is ige cold
Wilt he will be all right. Lyn Walkers
coron young Daviss from Heidelbere
who was mus getting his Commsion
wo reported periously of not mostall
wounded in the head. If
you hear.
Geoffs death before this reaches you
give my deepertt sympathy to he prient
& tellther that he led his mer
most gallantly. The boys went or
in your waves & he ws leadingth
Yourth & although he had see
Mrothers go doon like goon before
a leaper be never herstolect
 

not one of the boys god blest them hentated
to follow him. It is cruel dearin
Charlic Ellot has so for ertaped
injury thas done plendid work
I think over $2,000 of my omn Brigade
alone are killed wouided or mosin
& very very many of then will be killed a
the Germons pired at then as they
day all night & all today. weare
going to rend out resere parties
tonight. Ihas been impossible during
the day to got me out as the Sermans
there is
have be shelling in badly but oy ofpei
we must try tgot in. Poor Liddelow whe
came with me from thold I is out ther
ladly wouded & we must get her ior
Year
alll poosilly, but many many muss
perish slonty + mucially of plairation.
want of attention is that no mansland
God help us all it s ciel indeed
I had vernial nariow ercapesfetud,
por shells bing consed up with
debris serral times but or still
perfectly well though very very mo
 

The camalties will be now I fear than
ever the landing at
Gallioli
have indeed hardly any ofcer as
all left & muss dats t whuld
the Brigade all over again
I mut stopnon dear Bose
for I am very weary & they is
dillmuet ado to help the loys
God Hlero skeep you rap my darling
utinge for
from teda Dor
 

France
My dear Katre love,
24/7/16
We have had a pacesue
time since the big light. We buried
poor Geoff McFrae yesterby as
elever oclock. Some of his over
risked their live thring in his
body.
I was very bad indeed everybody
lred bim. The only foult I had ever
to find with him was that he was is
gentle kindly natured that he could
not tell off his naughty one
F
sufficiently when they were limmers
He always bated doing so. The lar-
o my old fornl Colonely broke down
completely on the day of the
leght & Bert Loyh althong
sping fro Well bock had
ate. The latter is all right again
I am better off than I heer evr
fer for conmanding ofpciis as
prevent but what II ven t to for
other officers the Lord alone knoww

Heckor from Warzambort
was not in the Brogight nor
coas knwell Goode Bott had
 

other jobs to do porturately for
themselves. The Germons did a
cruel thing yesterday or
lot
our poor winded have ben lying
out & donly perrobing belrets the
lines. We have reseued come hundred
then buthad to rtoyong to the
o
Gervor fire. There was we poor
fellow lying close to the Terson
Trencher. Our watchers sais a
Gernar come out & though he was
gone to help this poor chap
But instead in deliberately pus
a some against him & lew hen
up when they saw this our menopered
a bt fire on the germon & he was
unable tyt back into his our paraper
but bidt in a shill hole until days
I am apraid we did not get him
though which is a great pity. They is
witl one noor fellow out there alive
afterfour dayeonded
gont it dicadple
no good or woter, fortunately the day
an cosl but wo cannot go to him
for the sermons shoot whenever we
 

attempt to get across to him. He wra
feetly waring a white handser chief this
morning. Theowar is a creeel thing
Katiodorling. I wonder when wmllh
all ovr. I am so thankful that all
my ou arrancements for the battle
Went
quite satisfactorily. I cannot
think if it were todo again of ne
ringly thing more thas I could do
to have helped our boys. The Britest
Brigade who did not advance into the
Turches at all unt along t thank me
for the support my mackine Geens gave
inprotecting their men from the
Enemys fire. My staff isid excellen.
work. Copt Legge is a good little than for
work though he is over ford of the girls when he
get a charce. Will I must not complan
of that Wieck my Brigade magor is splendion
always cool, always bury
Did I lett you Dlett Geoldre that one your
old friends Andy Morrow was mortally eouded
ts that charge + died next day. Lyn's
congr young danes is give too poor
chap.
hd evrything asranged
 

4
for lin Commession as an offcer &
it iom to come out newt days.
is when he was shot through the head
+dred a day or i later.
well I think this woale for the
present
oige my deavers dore
& god bles I keyp you for
eever Millions of yos Masses
you & th dear next lonng pete
M Fida Dr
DONATEDR. MISIIST
3297
3rd Series
 

France
Deares Katy
There is another nail 26/7/16
in with a letter from Baaly dates 1t
10th of going & me por Mt Henderm
date 73 give & another from Mrs Roberts
doted the 11th gune but no letter from my
dearess old lady. However I did get a
phots of you & the Barrnies one of fears.
cannot make out whether ettes a new one
or an old one. If it is an old one taken
when I went away I don't like it nearly
as well as thems I carried about will
me so long aher the tu nee pelle are
cerddlig cloey tym you know the
one I mean Nererthelen I an glad indew
to have it with me. There is very little
that I can add tmy last not. He
have had the quiettr possible time
since the battle closed down & ther
was much to do tobeny our dead & repair
our lattered pardpet. It is likely that
the german were similarly esgaged
& do then has ben a roity trucebut
ever wotchful & one or two sver who carcline
put then headsng over th parapet said for it
 

wit then lives I an enclosing with this some
photos what were taken at the Doctors place
where we just lived in thance
that I toldye of in preriou letter
one as I rode away. The ffieer with
me is my bryade Major- Major
Wieck. Did I tellyou we recovered porr
Goff McBrae's body & buried decentlyi
a little cemetery instead f leavnger
as is many hlad the left in the
wilderness of no have land too
away I an very sad for hem still.
He as a pplended bol. We have had
dry weather ever noce the tattly & they
are guity pleasant. I is always
cloudy but very pleasants. I am very
pleased with my present commanding
officer Col. Keart. Major Layh Major
Deneby Man Dengar. There last thre
are all my ow boys & I hope they will wo
be made Lent Colo, they devere it
thoroughly. Bye now did darly lovey pet
I can hert write a good letter mttr I have
90
one of your on befort me to replyto
sendly or the little thevet lodys letter which enclod
me th photos. Willing of love & kiow dare for Sida Do