Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family, July - October 1916 - Part 4

France
my dearest Katie
31/2/16
I was delighted to get a dear
lovng letter from you this morning. It was dated
tht 2nd gune so has been guits a long while upon the
way. My old collar tone is all bealed up deane
fet so you need not uorry about me any more
you dedr old loving pet. Wouldn't I just like
this old was the over & coming back to that we house     
tody wife pet& my two wee pettacenes. Wouldnt
begins contiry off the days till I had then woit
in my arms together. I an so glad to hear
Touldyoos this wefe are well. Please give my
love t them both when you next se them. Foor
Lyn too I hope she is letter. It would be rady
eutle
daythirg happered & her or her ore me. I was glad
to hear of George Angus, again. I expect his wife
would find it very raid to get or with things
so dedr & all if George joined as a private.
Your dear old paring wreetheart. You deserre than
a reparato kers I love for every penny you save
for your old man dient I just th huckiest
man o all thoworld t here a wife like you
intead of oe that would fejust laing a lorely
time while she could. I expect things wel
be dreadfully laid after the war then we are
 

gong tpay off our airful boad of deft in
the Commonwalt I on sure I don't know.
Well be taxed to the bore if they dont cmpreat
all property they can get y hold of as soe
of the Lalor party wish to do I sut it
pinny how rometims your letters go astray
This me is dder thar me I got nearly a week
ago from Buaby & in hers she said you
were writing as of course you would by the same
wail & yet it has not arrived here yet
We have had a very quiet time ever
since ur fight thrugt of cruie just
one the peniooula not a day goes by arthur
some poor fellow bing hit. The weather
is catremely pleasant too. General Plumer
came to see me yesterday. He asked me
to let all the bops know he ws delighted
with the may they fought & incertain
we will break right through next time as
we wnla have done this time with a little
more artillery support & a few pest troop
to press or after we got lined out
I near that our old Divisions has ben
fighting very havely at Bzieres & has suffered
 

are fightingheant
bary carualtiess that now the gr Derisin
tohect means of coum that Bob Smith
& gaeky Boy are into it again. But i
have heard no news from any of them
I expect they do not know when we
are or anything about us General
Mc Cay said be was very pleasere with
the 1150 Brigade work & with me & my
haft for all the arrangements we made
for our wattle. Not a igle thing I am
prond to ray went wrong with our
arrangements - you wont think I am skiter
will you deane and you need nt tell
anyove but I would have ben beaken
hearted if I had neglected anytheng
that would have helped my boys for
instonce in the 14th Brigade they sent of
a whole lot of hard grenades & thepous
line & wher theis poor boys opened the
loxes they foind no jures in them
had thought of this I had a dun
where all the grevades were excamined
a mile behed the prnt line & all the
onee without fares were take nt + I had
an officer who enderstood the whole thing
 

&roe mer under him puttingt jures
detoratons in bfore they were taken near
thepingline. This cound a lot of loss 6th
14-
as they might as well have ben given
stones to throw as the enemy The Brigndis
of that Brigade has ben packed it is said
because he got drienk after the tattle- He
was very bokeug as we will might be
nent day Denl McCay nent to see him
found him dead trunk. They lave a new
wan then now ar Englishman. I think
I told you that the English troopn my
right did not advance & that let the
Gernar nachine gun got roud my fland
& caused mort of our dreadful loves. He
has ben packed also I hear. Before the
Battle I saw un, the told me he was
going to take his over out through narrow
opening or sally ports & ther exterd outu
I told him foom my expenece or GallyrC
that would be hoples that the frrost yew men
killed or wonded would block the worole of his
narrow passages. It he sid we will try caughe
& if it turns ot that you are right we will sent
the over ver the top of the parapet (as I wantedtion
 

4
tas we did). But it is improvlle&
change ore plac for another in the middle
a fight & a lot of in ofpeer were sho
tryng sead the mer through then penings.
the renilt was that he never got his mer
out at all. I hear he has beer rucked
also which is oly right. to you must
pray good & hard that Hida wont make
rct mestakes which are very can,
t make you know deared pet & the
he car only expect the rack too I would
be glad to go too for he wouldn't h pt for
hs job. But then is much to leare
for sida every day I am leavnning. Well
Katro darting the I must noy now
But just I murd tell you I love you just
millems millions my idear sweet lovn
old girlie God then key you rop
Alhays
& you two sireet dear
wee laimies I didn't muct like the phot you
sent we at first but I have nt it up o my
wantelpcce & I can see it is my dear old
furshine lady mn enough smilirg at oe
the dear me trogue of a luddie looking i portant & the
nd tless you all you you are
enttopighterd wee lady
kenrot
motth dearest net made wowd millomger
ted orr
 

Fhance
vy dear Katie
6/8/16
I have no news much for you
but enclose a newpoper cutting to show
you what the German thought of our
boys the frot time they mer us
He is a pretty lear of course as we not
only got across into then trenches but
captured nearly soo priomers I killed
a lot more & of they were not pightened
some of them are pretty good actors I
the day the got down or their knees
smnalled for mercy when theays
gott at them with the Baymet would
ridicate that if they are not frightend
of the Hustialeur they lave a whoresome
respect for his Baymet. His account
shows to Why we lad net dreadful
camalties amongst the offcers all thei
best markoover being told off to shooting
officers. We are iilthavrg a very quiet
time. I had a letterfrom game. The
speks of their loys being out with the Light
Horse. To you know what relatents the
has serving. I have had no news from
 

gack or not hut yet + don't know
how they have got on at all. Their names
at least have not appeared in an
caralty lists
well dear old dailing Katio we are
lany most delightful weather + a very
quiet time but every day rompood chap
it hit. The Germand a doing a
tremerdous lot of work o thetr live opponte
irs. I think they must have got a beg
fright & are determined not the caught
again. Oh Kate I do wish it was allover
A I was back with you all again Mrole
be lovely to be having a play about with the
wee pets or the sining Roon again I suppose
they are guite branfer the balk now
expecially the taddie. James letterwas
very nicet she mid you & the Barnner are
looking will thealthy t naturally I was
very pleased. I have answered her letter
million of love & tistes for you.
the mee pet mhy dear old darling lord from
your own Deda Don
D.2.6 329
(3id S.
 

Foareot Natie
Framce
I haven't much newt to 1/8/16
tell you. No letter yet from Jacky
boy I hope he is tll night Bot Smith
Hane has ber published in orders as lan
done bravely I hope he gets something for
it we are stell laving a fairly quiettin
but our little ceneteries are filling fast the
one when poor seof is busied will save
be enterded soon it is so full. Isle
Hughes is threatening tbrin in conscription
ut Hustialia if he dresn's get more recriut
is a month. He also hays he will
conscript wealth whateer he meansby
that I suppose his idea is to latte all
money away from the people who lase any
I wonder what good in expects tget
from that.
he took the property of those
who cront enlest there might be some sense
in it. But I suppose be as being prished
int it by the people who dont gront
conscripteon as any price + hope to
frighter other off by threatening to take
all miney pebpectas well. It is a lovely
thing for in who are out hell fighting to
habe the prospect of what, money we have
being confiscated, by a aot of ighten who
wale hopped bube to vore.
I have had

as ners for noled for some time. No
news from gohny svery so newt of neffir
as all except the tilly old war. Now
that Konnonatas cme in surely it
 

old Boches will begn to wilt up pomshen
put Il howe no signs of this here so for
He is working like very night & day t make
his pontinn strongh tan evry. We do
lead him a doge llfe break inparovale
& raid in teliches day + night
bombeerds plenty but reldon triet a raid.
The only we be tried or us be got chane
out I had one of io me left dead a
one lines II had a letter from Capt
Fenloyeon. It appears that he knows
Miss kenart. You didn't tell me that
did you. W
a bee raining Heaven
Haid beal & the treche are full of
med & water Terrilly for thes poor loys
dows isn't it will not a dry stilct
tt put on & lardly any word todry the
themselves with they will be many a one
crippled with theunation is days &
come from their experiences here. We are
not getting nearly as many recriits or
I hoped. Boodness knows, alat ha became
of thes all. I have not had more tho 600
or is since the fight. The other powr fellow
have knork tiice as hard they thing
going tday it is preagan but very
Londs
H threasuring

ne
Heaplre
for you dailingpet. I ve got50 lorely
quidlet raved ey now for you deare to
you connt thenk In cleating if
I rend you
and Badly you back tilk after all & a nce
 

WOEPTSSFPSPPONSS
sar for twas. I only wish I knew what like

one Hert
of you didt tell me no ensugt
2
& get a knitted me like the
I will
Rlake thels one buss here
they reen
nice but I dont I know what colo
indeed if they hav
they have then

then at all our Interpretes no
has a noter
Karis
I will get her
Lakefto
to choose the
ten daghe. Id like
sey then thongh myself, I am aprain
though that would not to possible. I
world ask mrs Milne t clook sone
is egyt for me but it is weet a bother
ouanding money. Were w get paid a
is notes which are no good out of France
or I would and then & I don't know
enrugh of Bank were t get a draft ever if
I had a clarce toget away from the
I have not
Teuches which at presen
I am delighted that poor old hana likes
her bet of
wilk. That instovely. t I an glac
G.
Se is pleased with me