Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliot to his family, November 1918 - February 1919 - Part 5

we had therefore a much more
enjoyable day. This has been a fine
home & Hindinberg & the [[?]] Prince
from time to time lived here. It has a
very interesting history which I
will write just for you some
time. There has been much
fighting in past times all
over this country & 140 years
ago or so the Austrians &
French fought a great battle on
the spot & the little Village of Dourliers
was three times taken & lost with
fierce hand to hand fighting. In the end
the French had to retreat. The house
was left pretty well ruined & remained
so for many years I suppose until the
family saved up enough money to put it
to right again. The Germans have not
done much damage to the building itself
but have pinched most of the best of the
furniture & all the crockery etc. Of
the 7 pianos that used to be in the house
including the big grand they have left only
one small cottage piano - I expect it was the one
the kids practiced on. The owner of the place
is Major the Count de Bourbon who is in
the French Army. He is a descendant from one
of the Kings of France and a lady who wasn't wed
to the King but that doesn't count if you are a
King or didnt in the old days. Mrs Edwards'
son J.C. Edwards who has been fighting
in Egy Italy has been given the MC & his
Batman Humphreys who is their butler
has been given the M M. The pair of them captured
50 Austrians in one of the last battles they had
over there. But the other Edwards are very
sad - their son Jack Edwards who was
wounded near [[Lebejeist?]] at the end of the war
died from Influenza at Boulogne
[*2DRL10512*]
[*which he caught when recovering from his wounds there
Well Katie love all this [[?]] is just about used up & I havent enough news
to start another. Tomorrow is Xmas day & next will be our 'Versary. Bye darling Katie
love from your dida Don
 

France
25/12/18
My dear Katie
I was lying awake
last night thinking about things
and it suddenly occurred to me
like a flash what those old cheques
were that you had been enclosing

for Moules.
Mr Begg is looking after the
remnant of the business that is

mine & the Trustees Coy give him
still on my behalf the jobs that
they would give me if I were there.
Moules charge their costs
of course & are to keep half of
them for themselves as they do the
work & are to keep half of it
banked for me until I return.
So my mind which was very
much upset about this matter
is now very greatly relieved.
I was afraid that the winding
up of the business with Robert was
[[?]] a deal of costs & that
Mr Begg was getting them paid by
by the Trustees Coy instead
of asking you for the money
It was very stupid of me not to
to see the solution of this
mystery before. Xmas day
has been very quiet here
 

We had a little snowfall last
night & today the grounds are
all white. I had a mile or two
walk this morning & felt very
tired when I got home.
I dont think you will find
me walk too fast for you now
dearie. I think I am getting
very old quickly. now which is
very sad indeed as I'll have a lot
to do yet.
This is not much of a letter
dearie - theres not any news to
tell now. Col Denely Col Scanlon
& Major Ferris all came to see
me & to wish me many happy
returns of the day. I got a
whole bundle of Xmas cards
some of which are very interesting
I'll make a bundle of them & post
them one to you. Did I tell you
that Mrs Edwards son had got the
M.C & their Butler Humphries who
was J.C Edwards batman got the M.M for
helping him capture about 50 —
Austrians in Italy. It will make
the other Edwards people more
sad than ever about losing their
son now. because he was more
 

from all accounts a very fine boy
& doing splendid work in his
Regiment. The boys on the whole seem
to be enjoying Xmas & have lots of
football & sports to keep them
fit & there is no liquor attainable
& few other temptations here at
present
I am getting Col Mason back
in a day or two. As Col [[?]]
has left the 38^th Bn there is a
vacancy there for a Col. It will
be a dissappointment to 
Major Ferris who hurried back
from England to take Command
of the Bn so he will be
disappointed at getting no
promotion after all. But it
can't be helped. Well dearie
pet I will sleep easier tonight
because of my thought last
night of those cheques. Bye
now Katie love millions of loves
& [[?]] for you & the wee pets from
your very own Dida Don