Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family June 1918 - October 1918 - Part 6

were late so I finished or
beyond where we should have
gone so that the Canadians
who lad got up fresh men
should not suffer & they were
very pleased - afterwards
the old 2^nd Brigade 7^th & 8^th
passed or followed by the 7^th & 6
where I was it was the [[?]]
passed by too I didnt see
Frank. I wonder when it
will all end. We are resting
today but out in front
the Borche is still putting
up a hard fight to raise
his guns etc from being out
off. The fighting yesterday was
very bitter the [[?]] [[?]]
our boys back by a fierce
charge of the Bavarians
always stood fighters but
our men rallied sternly
& came again & drove
back the Bavarians & were
so savage that they killed
every single one of the Bavarians
they caught taking no
 

prisoners at all so you
can tell how bitter [[?]]
fight. I believe Col Knox
Knight was killed. He used
to be with me in the old
Regiment. Fogey Flo knows
his wife I think.
Well dear old Katie
pet. Its a curious world
I am getting so used to
the danger & all that I don't
mind a bit now & somehow
except that I want to see you
& the Bairnes would hardly
care the least bit if I were
to be killed. So don't worry much
if it should happen to be my
turn darling some day. You
will know I didn't care.
I think it is your payers that
has brought up like this.
It is very hot & close here
today. All the people you
know are well. I posted you
a German Standard & a german
orderlies cap ^the caps is for the wee laddie
yesterday. Hope you get it safely. I got
 

a parcel with a pain of socks
(I have plenty darling now) &
some lot lots of envelopes
& packet of tea ^& a big bundle a few
days back I had a similar
parcel but it seemed to have
been under the sea as the
envelopes & a [[?]] of
both hands were all damp
& mouldy. I also got the letter
letters you wrote from [[Belgran?]]
I hope I can go to some quiet
little place like that with you
some day darling pet
All that clipping you sent
wasn't it a joke - I think
both stories were ^all quite lies
especially the one about [[?]]
myself duty to go to London.
This is all the news at present
my pet. Millions of love &
kisses [[?]] very sincerely
H.E EIliott
 

THE CELESQUE LETTER CARD
Mrs H. E Elliott
"Nirvana"
Parkside Street
 [[Elster?]]
Victoria
Australia

From H.E. Elliott

France
18/8/18
My dearest KatieLove
18781
There is very very little
news to tell darling and it is very
hot & sultry. We moved lack towards
the line is front where we were fighting
before but just before going in the orders
were cancelled & are countermanded
5 miles to the north & went into the line
then to relieve the British Brigade who
had made a mess of things. As a
matter of fact the only British
Brigades, 1 Corps the 3^rd have made
a [[?]] of things & Genl Butler the
same who commanded at Villers
Bretonneux has been given extended
leave of absence on the grounds of ill
health & a Genl Fodley who used
to have the New Zealanders has
succeeded to his job in turn. I
hope he can make something of them.
In the part of the line while we
are now the Bosche is very quiet if
we leave him alone but fight well if we
try to advance. Yesterday some of
our boys saw a Bosche attending to his
[[?]] & went out & gutted him before
he knew what was up. The old Bosche
doesnt know what to do about our boys &
published long orders to his men
[[?]] them how our men are brought
up in Australian Bush & now
cannot up & surprise his men &
warning them to be extra careful but
it is all no good at all. The Boys get them
just the same. If only we had more of
them. At present things are just
about at a standstill for my boys are
pretty tired & there doesn't seem to
be anyone ready to take our place.
in the British Army. The Canadians
advanced with us & [[?]] wonderfully
good. The American lost much
more heavily than we did because
they do not know so much
about the game yet but they are
learning fast. They are not pleased
with he Huns at all. Yesterday some
of the Americans were wounded. As they
came along one of them saws our
prisoner as he sat at the side of the road
& he rushed up to him & kicked him
on the jaw. Our boys were not pleased
with him. It wasnt playing the game
they said. But the Boche got a big [[?]]
on his jaw all the same. I told you poor
Frank Forbes was killed didnt I. My
bullet wound had just about healed up so that
I often forget about it & sit down hard
without thinking when it causes me
a [[?]] or two. Col Water yesterday
went to England for a posting but leave
all the other Commanders a well
including Bert Heyart Col Marshall.
I got a very nice letter for the Canadian girl
Bell for coming out  and protecting his life
Hank, the day I was well. Bye Katie darling
Millions of love & kisses [[?]] [[?]]
[[?]] [[?]]
 

Postcards - see original document
 

Postcards - see original document
 

France
23/8/18
My dearest Katie love
Your letter of the 
23rd June reached me yesterday. As the
mail was dated 2^nd or 3^rd of June
there must be nearly three weeks
of letters running up to date which
is very sad. In this one you mention
your cousin Kate from the country
that was the firstI had heard of her
xx xxx xxxx xxxx  xxxxxxxxx 
xx xxx xxxx Young [[?]]
is a decent youngster but very very
young. For if Mrs Forness is related
to to Gottenham she will be [[si?]]
real relation of ones of course. [[?]]
had another letter you some one
down that way recently who thought
she might be related. I am finding
out however that most of these people
have a pal they want to put in a word
for. I lad a nice letter from [[?]]
He is working hard for his [[?]]
he  tells me & I hope so. Mrs
Garbitts boy was wounded in
the leg & arm on the 9^th but I dont
 

2 
think it is dangerous at all.
I am glad to hear that Rory is looking
so well again. Did I tell you that Charlie
Elliott is not at all well & they fear
he is getting consumption. His
wife is  a real big very short & fat &
fair complexion complectioned and that
just a ^not good looking on "your leg" [[?]]
Brodie was her name before she was
wed. Minnie has a very nicely

furnished house. So [[?]] has
gone off to Queensland with Jakie
Auntie ^Violet and her family. I wonder
if she will stay there long. I hope with
you that there are to live in between
Fogey & Mrs Lyn whilst mother is away.
It is extraordinary how Flossy
manages to quarrel with everybody like
that. I got the wee lad's letter but
[[?]] has not come & some from Dear Bill
Lagys hasno come & none from Dea
this very long time. I am very
pleased that Genl Monash is in 
Command of us. He could lose
Birdwood as far as ability
concerned & I think Monash
 

will treat me fairly. I had a very
nice letter from him during the
time I was with him last
March. In this letter you say Hugo
will be dreadfully upset if  he loses
Frank & here poor Frank is buried not
a mile or two away. He was very
highly thought of by his men.
Send my deepest sympathy to
Hugo. I have written to Elsa
I hope my letter wishing you
Happy "returns" got to you in time for your
birthday darling. I got wet the other
day & got a touch of rheumatism that
was very awkward but it is going
off again. Yesterday was a dreadfully
hot & oppressive day, but it is good
weather for Bronchitis & that sort
of thing. I lave no troubles
that way Today it is not quite so
hot, but still very oppressive. Think
we'll have a thunderstorm soon. We
are now in Reserve. A big batter started
this morning at 4.45 am & our
boys ran all along the line as normal