Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family, May 1917 - December 1917 - Part 13

at once victory was ours ours all
organized resistance had
ceased. I got hold of Norman
Marshall & set him to clear
up the few posts that remained
in his wood. Got ^Joel one of the C.O's of
the loaned Bns out of his dug
out & made him go & reorganize
his men & make get them advance
Having seen things in motion
I hastened back to report. In
consequence of this report the
British were hurriedly put
into motion & Norman
Marshall having cleared the
wood capturing a number of
prisoners we were soon
in occupation of the whole line
of trenches we wanted or what
was left of them.. All day long
enemy parties counter attacked
but could not cope with our
Barrage. At night I was relieved
& we came back for a rest.
 

Many many have fallen
but we have in this fight stamped
our name on a higher pinnacle
than ever. General Plummer sent for me after on a fight
and said my boys saved the
whole British Army whilst
the Welsh the Highlanders &
Middlesex cannot say too
much in our praise. I'm
afraid old lady you will be a
lady one of these days in spite of
yourself. It will is all due
to the boys & their officers like
Norman Bernshe Marshall &
Mason, Freeman & Cam Stewart.
It is wonderful the loyalty
& bravery that is shown their
absolute confidence in me
is touching. I can order them
to take on the most hopeless
looking jobs. & they throw their
heart & soul not to speak of
their lives & bodies into the job
without thought. You must
pray more than ever that I shall
 

be worthy of this I must Katie
& have wisdom & courage
given me worthy of my job.
I cannot tell you what I went
through during that night.
Geordie's Bn was sent up to
form on my left to help me.
A shell struck him & three other
officers but one Colonel escaped.
Only to be killed last night.
The Colonel has been right through
with me Lone Pine & everything
& had his D.S.O. Col Denehy was
not in this fight.
Oh Katie I had a letter to ^too that
very night from Mr Lowe as if
my other troubles were not
enough. He told me that Mr
Roberts was a bummer scoundrel. He has
been speculating & lost his money
& has been making me liable
through the partnership for thousands
of pounds of his debts. About
₤5000 altogether. I have asked
Mr Lowe to arrange for the sale of
 

all my interest in the business 
at once if he can & to try
& get protect me off from Liability.
Isn't he a bummer scoundrel to play a
trick like that after all I
have done or am trying to do
for him. I am sorry for poor
Mrs Roberts. God help her. Try
not to worry darling. It is a bitter
blow to me as I fear the money
coming from my fathers estates at
Mothers death which I was hoping
would provide for the children
wh should anything happen to
me will be taken from me for
the creditors. I can conceive
no more mean trick than this.
played on a man in my position.
I think I could have the villain
put in jail but it would only
cause scandal & probably
ruin the business without releasing
me from debt in the slightest & I
expect he was counting on this.
 

all my interest in the business
at once if he can & to try
& xxx protect me off from Liability.
Isn't he a bummer scoundrel to play a
trick like that after all I
have done or am trying to do
for him. I am sorry for poor
Mrs Roberts. God help her. Try
not to worry darling. It is a bitter
blow to me as I fear the money
coming from my fathers estate at
Mothers death which I was hoping
would provide for the children
xxx should anything happen to
me will be taken from me for
the creditors. I can conceive
no more mean trick than this,
played on a man in my position.
I think I could have the villain
put in jail but it would only
cause a scandal & probably
ruin the business without releasing
me from debt in the slightest & I
expect he was counting on this.
 

One thing is certain, darling pretty sure if there
are any more Major Generals to be
made. It will be practically
certain after this action that
I would get the promotion.
Perhaps this will come. I will
only pray so - so that I may make
some promotion for you.
Well darling I started out
to tell you a little only. I fear
I have written too much.
But I know you value every
word you dear old loving
sweet darling. After I knew
Geordie had died I would
have gladly welcomed a shell
to end me. I walked twice
from end to end of our zone
& along the front line in front
of the enemy's machine guns
& never a shot came near me.
It was maybe your prayers that
protected me. As it is that walk
which never another Brigadier along
the whole front took that day that's only added
to my reputation. Perhaps indeed I am required
for greater things. Millions of love & Kisses from
your very own Dida.
[*See Back of P.1 for P.S.*]
 

P.S. You must trust
Mr Lowe. I think he
will try his utmost
to help us. Also Mr
Begg of Moules.
They will advise you
what to sigt sign
for sure.
I have sent off another
₤50 to you today
through the Government.
I hope it reaches
you all safe. Poor Geordie
after his return from
leave posted me
a letter sending me
all the money I had lent him
except a couple of
pounds which he said
he'd give me next week. I
have sent this letter to mother
If anything happens
to me she is to ask
Lyn to give the balance
to you. If I live I've
told her it doesn't
matter a bit. Poor
Lyn will have a hard
time I am afraid.

 

Belgium
3/10/17
My darling Katie
There is another big fight
on tomorrow. Jacky boy is to be in
it but we are not. We are all
hoping that we will finally take the
range of hills that we have been
fighting for for so long. Everyone
seems to think the Bosche will then
return for quite a long way as
we will be able to Command the
ground for miles. Just as in the
similar case of Bapaume but I
still have my doubts. It is wonderful
how he hangs on sometimes. But
there is no doubt whatever that
we are killing them in these battles
by hundreds. Their dead lie thick
on the Battlefields everywhere &
their counterattack simply
melts away under our fire.
I am sorry about the School
at Surrey Hills. It will be a
pity to leave the home when you
are so comfortable & happy. I hope the
 

weather would mend quickly after
you wrote & it might be all
right for the summer. I got today
from the ambulance people poor
Geordie's watch, cigarette case &

a few things he carried on his body. also
the shoulder straps with the stars from
his coat which I had cut off as a
last memento for poor Lyn. I
saw they were stained with his
blood & I felt sorry I had
taken them but perhaps Lyn will
like them. I feel still very sad
& depressed. It is terrible to think of
him dead, poor boy. one can hardly
believe it. If I had not seen him
dead & helped bury him I doubt if
I could have realized is. His Colonel
too has gone & such a lot of them & their
officers.
It is very biter too to think of what
Mr Roberts has done to us. I don't
think anyone could have played a meaner
trick on anyone than he has done
 

I am sorry for Mrs Roberts.
Leonard Millman did very
well indeed in the fighting.
Norman Marshall has recommended
him for Military Cross which
I have sent in. Neil Freeman
did splendidly as they all did
except two whom I wont mention
I have written a little note for
the laddie. I am sorry the good
little chap is worried about his naughty
little ways 'cause we couldn't have
him changed to a girl now could we
the dear little lovey boy. Col Denehy
is back with me now. He is beaming
with delight about his boys having
saved the Army.
I think this is just about
all for the present. I am too tired
to write much.
Millions of love & kisses dear old
Katie love from your very own Dida
 

Belgium
11/10/17
My dearest Katie love
On the line
once more. Shells & guns & bombs banging
away until one is almost distracted.
I've been very busy lately - fighting a
battle - reporting ^on it at the end, or planning
a new one. I do miss Major Wieck.
The new boy is a very loveable chap
but I have to think of every mortal thing
& suggest every single thing he does.
In his spare time instead of like
Wieck always thinking of next days
or next week's work - unless he is
actually doing a job of work I have
set him he goes playing bridge
with the rest of my staff causing
them to waste their time also.
It is most unsatisfactory to
me - I cannot sack him & it
is no use rowing with him all
the time. He is only a boy after all.
- but I feel it very much. If I
am laid up as I was last winter
I will just have to give up & go to
hospital & let Cam Stewart carry
on for there is certainly no one