Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family, July - October 1916 - Part 14

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.71
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 8

to be a great many grave appea about shoing that on lats in killed onright were not is enermien as we might enpect but shell hroles are evrywhen no matter where you wook. I lave made my los fill & lot of them. t help 1ey the place to btte listy. We ear not yetter in the tivy here but i only a watter, t The S Brigade othe pd 5D no &willwth prot attack. Tell Mrs Robert her nepher young tellman to very well indeed. F Walker is sitteway ill as it also my consir Chaphe Gcordin is with the 15 Field Amnbln E miles behind seo now ar nce out. In id two days time it will long years since I lef Oerrny Do th ereathe darler
the kone and pair Nor that git men 2d the wentes that i Pie look forward to thei C or alor as we rhot attacke l 236 n week agao c £2 or we will ffoce another lor a at
i onthind eldhened Fat can hardly write with n all you eope bom for conscription. I am agraid lor ✓ 7 t borgo here have voted against They don't bunt those of their peoplent Holine empellest 6 iagainst their will I have to enture 7 ilt ao horrors of wer. Af the request of our parsom I let them are a churct farade today Monday) as yesterday we n marching as could not gs. Wearl ever enged althouch the Pearoal real was a volunary one. O9 bay now realingg 2l what they have dofface only tho When lift our last sertrict the mayor rded t hed oly Aastration. Se l or sen fut noas 1 toes 1 etter £8
to £ DONATEDRECORDS LIS 3297
ear te 8/16/15 it who lovely + letter from you 12 o the is room. You would not think you coninteresting of yourar letter i ✓ it mot over about me reading. btin ias the me I aret IBilles bett mirred anything & ednt turian came too het of your news about the Baunh you keep or litter as either soo in you knaw 6 me all to mone them about thir pel. Deas delichten wilh th littey mays, this from Docsnt Sherrack hair looklach wth phot wher you are holder of a hose. I think you shold st lave an enlayment wade of tha they would have to had off the otler prt where then is no play house iut thes against the by rs eo t would dev
yours mor to I like thene ✓ mr I where you al Kng oamost the I bir gr a cold upon me Mor 7 though inmy head rofa 5 inonfortate a feel pretty wee and littes is written otherr guca ardalons hary a brean ready tmore wit cking the Iont Trshel fo a whil to I am learn ing tin not for a turrow ath actnd whenin to crawe don and thlailt a nariow hunn like a plank mine thaff. will the waradin who have to comared t them ts themi live in the pot terches. I they cannot lake so dee verus thei clanket Honly and they warest waterfr thei The shillo ytdar relieved i is not the Serman too lad I felieno
enterche lse are tooker wit aghed in ad mott we lave tdo the fun I hear. If a Mr Kaiscallst letter bee you read fom my the about the beg fight in guly on is miosing & I can tel nothing mthe about I was los m towrite by him a full account do rain on would read bin my lelt on We dettig about st. havenade a very would 78 five to had live agad ffice if sld Mr. Kaw was a clent of Mr Robert Killed. te the boy is I fell me was ent lays siddely who thought a very great deal of him. Heis buttying the a minuter think before in came nt. He was one I a I year old poor re Dear alon rorry Fer
Ifher still Mr Frowbridge to him M alooe remenber & Noor da nl far. Alosgin my knd regard o Brodarg agai died no mypow Rod is rap 7 now please io tther very me if you re Lyner Were you very writ ma Ban Lotking gof rent Sharaet to Citly Ledy on must deen toladdie S 8 othe together. I hrope the Wols looked very nicentin itt thar I have I mid hir last. ver se for I think pertap still in the litty houe you will at vorthevento I come home Bent dayt is very well ordeed. layd about meeting mr Dinger of now Hrible Herrry Seordie Mnst is well bot is now right by by the pdoanced breing dates under thell fin is Floe tirsed pacl a tere 4 st

appear to be a great many graves
about showing that our lads in killed
outright were not so enormous
as one might expect but Shell
holes are everywhere no matter
where you look. I have made my boys
fill a lot of them in to help keep
the place a little tidy. We have
not yet been in the line here but
it is only a matter of a few days
The 8th Brigade & the 14th Brigade
are in the line now & will make the
first attack. Tell Mrs Roberts her

nephew young Stillman is very well
indeed. Eric Walker is still away
ill as is also my Cousin Charlie
Geordie is with the 15th Field Ambulance
& are about 4 miles behind us now
so they are well out of danger.
I am wondering if Lyn's wee
Dear xxxxxx has xxxxx xxxxx yet . In

two days time it will be two
long years since I left my
wee darlings. Owing to the weather

 

and particularly the Roads
I doubt that we will get much
further this winter so that we
can look forward to the war
continuing for a long long
time yet as once we stop attacking
we will not commence again
before next March as we will
have to face another long year of
separation 

 

xxx. I have such a blunt old pencil
dearest that I can can hardly write with
it. I hope all you people at home
Vote for Conscription. I am afraid lots
& lots of the boys here have Voted against it
They dont want those of their people who
have not Volunteered to be compelled to
join against their will & have to endure
all the horrors of war. At the request
of our parsons I let them have a church
parade today (Monday) as yesterday we
were marching as could not go. Nearly
everyone attended although the Parade
was a voluntary one. They now realize
what they have to face only too clearly
When we left our last District the
Mayor said he hoped only Australians
would be sent there in future as
my boys had behaved better than

 

dear old darling lady, Let x
your dear eyes & cheeks & lips &
chin my wee pet just as I used

to do my onliest sweet love. [[?]]
I [[?]] my darlings this letter too. God
bless & keep you all safe for ever
Millions of love & kisses from Dida
Dida

 

 

France
28/10/16
My dearest Katie
It was lovely
to get another big fat long letter from you
so soon. You would not think your
letter was uninteresting if you saw
me reading it over & over about
6 times so as to be sure I haven't
missed anything. Baabys Belle's letter
came too but it didn't have any
of your news about the Bairnies
in either so just you keep on telling
me all the stories you know
about the wee pets them. I was delighted
with the little snaps this time
Doesn't Dhusach hair look lovely
in the photo when you are holding
up a pose. I think you should 
have an enlargement made of that
They would have to shade off the
part where there is no screen
against the play house but this
would be very easily done

 

-2-
I like the one of you too by yourself
I believe you are sure enough
getting a bit fatter. I got have a most
shocking dreadful cold upon me. Mostly
in my head so far & though
uncomfortable I feel pretty well
otherwise. This letter is written
in a scandalous great hurry as we are
packing up ready to move into
the Front Trenches for a while
so I am leaving my tin hut for
a burrow in the ground where you
crawl down into the earth in
a narrow tunnel like a slanting
mine shaft. Still this is paradise
compared to the men who have to
live in the front trenches. As the mud
is so deep they cannot take
their blankets. Only an overcoat
& waterproof sheet. They have to be
relieved every two days. The shelling
is not too bad I believe & the Germans

 

-3-
are too busy digging their trenches
& dug outs again to fire a rifle
shot. We have to do the same
I hear. If a Mr Raws calls to
see you read him my letter
about the big fight in July. His
son is missing & I can tell
him nothing further about
him. I was too busy to write
him a full account so said
you would read him my letter
telling about it. His son was
a very fine boy & would have made
a good officer if he had lived.
Old Mr Raw was a client of Mr Roberts
The boy is I feel sure Killed. He 
was with Capt Liddelow who thought
a very great deal of him. He was
studying to be a Minister I think
before he came out. He was only
20 years old poor boy. I am
very very sorry to hear about

 

poor Mr Trowbridge. If he is still
alive remember me to him very
kindly poor old chap. Also give
my regards to Bro Lang again.
I suppose Rod is safely tied up
by now. Please wish them every
happiness for me if you see
or write to Rory. Were you very
nice to Liz. I am looking forward
to little Judy & John seeing Dhusach
& the laddie. You must tell me
how they get on together. I hope they
do. Violet looked very nice when
I saw her last. better than I have
ever seen her I think. Perhaps
you will be still in the little house
at Northcote when I come home.
Bert Layh is very well indeed. I
told you about meeting Mrs. Duigan
Must stop now. Terrible Hurry. Geordie
is well but is now right up by the Advanced
Dressing Station under Shell fire so I
am a bit anxious at times. Millions loves & kisses
to you & wee pets from Dida Don

 



 


 

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