Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family, January 1918 - May 1918 - Part 6

D.R.L. 3297 (3rd S)
for New Year 1917, or Kings Birthday
1917(8 crossed out) or New Year 1918 is to be included
in this one unless for very special
circumstances. I don't know what
the idea is but the result will be
that neither Genl [vey nor] I can
get any recognition, for the Polygon
Wood fighting - I might have a
fare chance as from the praise
our Brigade got it might be
conceivably called "very special
circumstances" but the chance's
very much too slender to count upon     
particularly as I am by no means in
favor with Birdwood & he would not
miss a chance such as that to overlook me.
Perhaps I am unjust to him but he always
gives me the impession that he likes
everyone to adopt [his] views & gets annoyed
if you don't and [crossed out] I have never adopted his
views where I thought they were wrong
without a fight (crossed out). You are right I will
be very lucky indeed if I get out of 
the [salls] without having to pay
the debt Robert brought or the [firm]
 

D.R.L 3297 (3rd S)
I am hopeful however that the [humen]
will pay of some of the claims
before I get back. What remains
I hope I shall be able to pay some
day for I cannot get over the fact that
people have lost money or may lose money
by to some extent at least relying on my
good name & it is a slur upon it if
they do lose altogether. There it is that I
don't think one of them  who lost money knew me more
than casually & his trust wae due entirely
to Robert & not [to] me at all. Neverthless the
fast remains as stated. Should I return
safely that aspect has  to the faced. What I was
worried about was that should I get killed
every thing I own may be at once sacrificed
with detriment of you and the [Bairnias] whereas
if I can get back in safety I maybe
able to pay things off gradually & yet
leave something for the [Bairman] &
help then along. I would ask you to try not to
worry yourself at all about the matter
at present. Mr Begg seems to be
hopeful of getting Roberts to return
from the business altogether & to
 

D.R.L 3297 (3rd S)
leave the business in the hands of
some other firm who will be paid half
the profits for managing things and
the other half to go to satisy the
creditors. I don't know if the
thing will really work well but
still something must be done
to keep things going. If I have &
sell altogether I may be banned
starting again in Melbourne
or near it which would be
awkward. There is nothing more
to be done at present.
The defeat af the Referendum at(crossed out)
[fter] was a shameful thing. Noone
will ever convince me that the Germans
were not concerned [xx] the matter.
The latest stand is [the posting]
to men in the A.I.F. a paper
called the "Herald "preaching
that it is useless going on 
fighting; that the Germans
have []wonted] to make peace
for two years & the allies
wont agree to it & that they are
 

D.R.L 3297 (3rd S)

being sacrificed for the Capitalists
& that they ought to refuse to
fight anymore. At present
we dont know where it comes
from but the matter is being
investigated. There is no doubt
whatever that it is seen by
German money & that the same
tactics that ruined the Russian
and Itlaina Armies are now
being employed against us.
What the result will be one
cannot say for the men are
sick & tired of the war and there
are many who as the Conscription
Referendum votes showed who(crossed out)
would make peace at any price
Over a year ago I wrote a letter
[ths] home saying that unless
proper [reinforcements] were
sent the Regiments would be
too weak to be any good in
the line & would have to be
taken out and used as labor 
battalions. Extracts from this
 

D.R.L 3297 (3rd S)
were pullished not under my
name of comrne in the belt Herald
my orgiement was that we
would be ding the work of nigger
Baltation at 6/- a day instead
of a few pence. Well a lot of them
llightees who are rick of fighting
read this & thought that would
be just a lovely idia & so
Poted against Conscription
io the hope that that would
be berult of nt getting recrunt.
I am glad at leart that they
have lev eachied weithis & it
is netted that as roor as that
stage is reached pust o & the
another of the Battations will be
dislanded & than that hemar
keptuy to strength from thos
who a an distaided.
Of course the means the gradual
reduction your wice but it is
that only thing tobe done, But
you cann wonder at the we
here feeling that they have done
 

3297393
D.R.L.
enough fighting for the shirken
corbands at home. mind you
as the Curcuption soline
shoed w las a majnit
of splendid men still fightor
but it is precerely these listmen
who expose themlve mosd
are thined out at ency fight
The Germons are by to every
dodge trm. nothing matters but
from. Wethours all soct of things
are thought of before winning. I am very
will
glad you & ter are having at least
a lietle bit of a holiday. The hairmes
will love leing up at Broydon or anywhere
ith country I think. You must take
them up to tandinng ar Healiowell
or romewhere again an wattle Tisne
Bob Marshall has not turnedi

yet I did not know of poor old
George Angus death before. He was
not veryold. I wonder what was thematler
I wonder would tho lad like to go up to
Korys place for a time. If he is to be
a farmer he will require to get accenton
-ed to country life early in heslyfe
 

3397 (300S.
I did not know about McTaggart living near
you I remember frderge loon for sin when
he was byingher house. I will enquire alout
Pritchard. I am afraid I had quts forgottin
him but I do remember womething about
nassy mate of
him, I have met a terrible lot of thingsto
thenk about that I forget. I regard6
getting leave & resting out of the line
dont foigot d that the wrwll
be coon in the live. These new leave
regulation whit have ben made although
it is all done t pleasuhomes & their
people really sun t make it much
larder. At the present time I have
over 400 men from the Brigade andy
on leave. That would make a levitle
differnce of the Booche altack us
that multeptied by all the Brigades
in the Britist Arrny means a
great ma
terribl lot of men away whe it
comes to a fight. I have looked
by my book & found a fergo
Puchard who has a good record
&I have notid him as likely tomane
a good offcer. He is i the $60th his
 

he joined usen Octoter 19160
I think that would be too long ago
for you to have heard of him
from Mr Wilson. However if
re Prichard I will askhim
It is guitd posilly it may be the
same fellow. He is a very good
fellow if it is. I dont know
why Genl McCay should be
really impopular. He has done
magnificent work in England roating
out all the Sherken twarters
who under old Newlos moore were
simply levengor the Commonwealth
He got ret of over 300 of thei quits
recently shindled them off home
wich was a great blessing. Till
Beely
Bany the thoutbreatt i thoparcel
wall rplended. Wl lad it
Mrs
for afternoon tea ut Buickleys.
The teawas welcomed there also the
Magar. In England they are
arrse off for then things than in
are in the field. Hel the tea we get
is vele tasting steeff it is true
but we doget some& they cannot
 

D.R.L. 3297 (398
brn it at any price. In regard
todecoration - ats yor as English
one an cnncerned I can only
get the P.B or a V.C x y Pever
can av.s will protably le dead as
only in desperats cincumstances
could it be my properduty t
take a permal past in a fight &
have for too hga jol handling aBeigade
atle tods it properly by permally
Cling Herman. It would be only
the German actually broke through
cdnyme
line & I had lost touch that I
would go personally tryto
lead then on again. Should that
lapper at any time I hope
will aod be found wanting, hut as
it would near a big depat for
i & disperate measures latter
tmeet it I am not going t hope
for it. The E.B would almost
certainly have arrived for me
thes Kings Birthday list except
for the new regulation & as I ray
it may be wawed is my cax - hut
Iwle
congllan if
I do
nir
 

-
not get anything. I think I would
like the Frunch Legion of onor
though I have ben twile recommended
fr it but the thing has not gone
through & of course that makes me
want it. But afterall I have
enough. I have mo already & of
the Gallywli to is ied I will
have that & I ippos wher the
was ends a war medal will be
wnced for thet. So I begin to think
they are not of much Value aftal
Then there is the question of a knight
hood which is only promotion in the
P.M.S. or P.B to KE.M.SHK.C.D.
I used to thenk that I was pretty
ruse of getting to be Major General&
ele Tenee rciely
getting one that way. Our Sparrck, go.
one. But with the pirture of conscription
I lare geven up hope of recoming a
Major General at all & alrd this
hinness of Roberto makes me
think that I would rathernot
have one at all. It only makes one
inder known & adds the disgrace
tuyng o ixure
in that way we are very
a