Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family, May 1917 - December 1917 - Part 3

France
9/6/17
My darling Katie,
I have just received
the enclosed letter from Genl
Birdwood. I am more pleased
about this one than any of
the previous awards because
this was for a fight like Lone
Pine and not simply as
a New Year Honor which are
more or less "Back Sheesh" ones
There isn't a scrap of news  
more darling. Bert Layh is
still in England still I
am sorry to say He must
have been a good deal worse than
he let on. I am enclosing Johnny
Avery's letter about Wilfred
 

& also Mrs Merrylees about her
brother & son. It is very sad
for her poor lady. Her son is only
20 & has done wonderfully well
I am afraid that Ballet in his
lungs will do them no good.
It nearly always leads to
Consumption or some other
sperity thing like that.
unless it can be got out, & it
is very dangerous to operate for
it. I have had no news of
Jack at all to date. Geordie
is away still at the rest Camp.
I have Hugh Morrow with me
in my office as assistant
Staff Capt. He is very
good at the work already
& will be quite good soon
 

We had a tremendous Bombardment
in the Front line recently
last night the whole sky

being lit up with the flashes
constantly but we have had
no word as to what it was all
about yet.
Right away up north there
has been heavy fighting Capt
Genl McNichol's people were
in that stunt. I believe
I hear that our depot
it the most successful of all
the Victorian Depots now.
Do you think it is. Heaps
 

D.R.L 3297 (3rdS)

[*Parcels to

Trevor Station.

G.W.R.

Telegrams: Lloyd Edwards, Ruabon*]
Bryn Oerog,
Nr Llangollen.

(1)
16th June
My dearest Katie,
Fancy me being back
here again. Last Sunday
General Hobbs came to see
me & told me that if I
wanted any leave I
should have to take it
at once so I did especially
as I was feeling really
tired out. We had had a
Very strenuous time in
the fighting about Bullecourt
You will be glad to know that
Lt Moon whom I mentioned
 

(2)

to you has got the V.C. I
am delighted as he did
his work splendidly. Do you
get any my letters regularly
now dearie. I havent had
any letter from you for what
seems an age but Mrs
Merrylees whom I saw in
London the other day
tells me that a mail came
in the other day with
letters from Australia
up to the 7th April so I
suppose I will get some
Very soon. I told my
 

(3)
office to send them over to Mr Scott at Hendor
He is as I think I must have told you a brother
of Mrs Robert Elliots of Gatehead & very nice. I was
thinking of going up to Ullapool this time
but as Gennl Hobbs asked me to go down to
Salisbury & see the Training Battalion then it
made the time too short. I therefore wrote
& asked Mrs Edwards to let we come here & bought
old Bert Layh along here to get better. He has
to be very careful yet as his heart goes up to
about 120 beats a minute with any strenuous exertion
such as walking up a Hill or walking quickly. Hence
he wont be able to see the beauties of the country about
but it is lovely all the same hear. So quiet &
peaceful. Do you know that after to girl brought me
some tea this morning at 8 oclock I actually went
off to sleep again & slept till nearly 10 oclock
I did feel such a fool being so late for Breakfast
 

(4)

but I suppose it only
shows how much I really needed
a rest. It will do me just
a world of good I think. After
I came out of the line this time
we were teaching some of the new
recruits Bombing. We built
a place near the Camp but I

had to get them moved as I could
not write or do anything as
each explosion used to make
me jump. - All of which goes to
show, that my nerves were not quite
in such good order as they might
have been.
There is not much news to tell
you dear old pet I am longing
to be back home with you &
 

(5)

my dear little people but
at present there does not
seem to be the least chance
of the war being over for another
12 months at the very least.
We drive them back a little
every time but it takes so
long to make preparations for
the next advance that really actually
it is quite a slow job to
make any real difference in

their line. A mile or two is

such a very little bit on a
map of France. Still we can

only go on driving them back

& hope that is day their nerves
will give way & their whole defence
will break down. I think
that eventually this will
 

(6)

happen. The prisoners all seem to be glad
to be taken & to be out of it all. But it is all so
hard to judge. We can be seen
[Lines taped over - see original]
Tell my dear
little lady & the laddie too that I am just longing to see them
& that they are both such a comfort to me because they love
mummy & nana & dear & try to help them such a lot when
Dida cannot. Tell then I think they are just the best people
in all the world. Mrs Edwards son J.C, Edwards who
was wounded but is now better is here for the week
end & seems a very fine boy indeed. He is awaiting
orders to go to France or elsewhere at a Camp near Liverpool
called "Litherland" He rode over on his motor bike yesterday
His cousin Jack is still in Cairo.
Well darling old sweet pet. This isnt much of a letter
is it but there's nothing much to write about here
Patty Edwards is away at a Hospital some 30 miles away
so I wont see her. Her mother isnt very well but her father who
was one just recovering from his operation when I was last there
[* is now ever so much better. I am very glad

he is a very good man indeed. I like him very much

Millions of love & kisses from your very own Dida Don *]
 

France

23/6/17
My dear old Katie pet,
Did I tell you that
Ronald Dickson, got leave
the other day & went to England
to be wed. I enclose you the
note his lady love sent to
me. I didn't get the letter
however as they sent it to the
Hotel & I was up in Wales.
They also sent a wire asking
me to have lunch with them
but I was catching the boat
for France the same day & I
couldn't go then either.
They all say she is a
charming lady & has about
a million great deal of her own money.
Her father just about owned
the "Anchor" line of Boats
& they have been making
piles of money since the