Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliot to his family, November 1918 - February 1919 - Part 10

D.R L. 3297 (3^rd s)
(2)

postcard I recently received from Belgian
Congo. Twelve months ago a very nice little
Belgian Interpreter was attached to us 
whilst we were in Belgium. When we moved
to the Somme in March he stayed in Belgium
& was afterwards moved to the Belgian
Congo in Africa. He seemed to like us
all very much when with us & we liked
him. He is now a Captain I see
He was only Lt when with us. I had
a parade of the Brigade this
morning & as so many of them are
going away on leave now I took the
opportunity of thanking them for
their work & services. This afternoon
they all paraded voluntarily 
under their officers & marched round
the chateau grounds cheering me
I had to go out & give them more
speech & then they cheered again
It all pleased me very much
indeed.
Well dearie pet I don't think I
have very much news for you
Yesterday I rode into Maubeuge
 

3.
which is about 8 miles away.

It is a curious old walled
town dating from^the Roman townstimes
The river Sambre about as big as
the Yarra at Heidelberg flows
through the town & supplies the
hugh moat which surrounds the
town. The ramparts are twenty or
thirty feet sheer up from the edge  
of the moat & the place would have
been impregnable in the old times
but for famine. The Huns had
blown up the thir two bridges that
cross the river within the walls
and the explosions had shattered
them across & damaged the buildings
near by but otherwise the town

was intact. There was nothing
much to be seen as the buildings are
on the whole poor but there was a group
of statuary in the Square in memory

of the Battle of Wattignies which was
fought all round the village of
Dourlers. I will tell you more
about it when I see you 
 

4
It is very sad that we have had no 
more letters from home for ever so 
long. We had a conference up at
Divisional H.Qs on Monday & Edwin
Tivey was very affable & smiling. He
was well pleased with himself as
he should be having got promotion &
decorations. & dodged fighting all
through the war. The boys used to say
he had a double headed penny &

used to toss General [[Sternst?]] &

myself to see who would go into the
line & of course always won &
didn't go in. Well dear old

sweet lady God bless you& keep
you always - you & the dead wee

darling pets. I hope you get your
table linen safely darling & that it
will please you. You will see I 
got the best I could for nothing is

too good for my darling Sunshine
Lady - Millions of love &
kisses from your very own
Dida Don.