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
so 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 towns times
The river Sambre about as big as
the Yarra at Heidelberg flows
through the town & supplies the
huge 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 three ∧two Bridges that
cross the river within the walls
and then explosions had shattered
the windows & 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 thIS 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
Divisionl 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 Stewart &

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 dear 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.

Dourlers
France
24/1/19
My dearest Katie love.
I am afraid I
havent much in the way of fresh news
for you. It snowed a little
yesterday morning & is now freezing
very hard. The little lake in the
park ^here is all frozen over nearly an
inch thick but it wont bear

much weight yet - I tried it

just now & when I Put my foot upon
it a big piece like our dining room
table cracked round & the water
flowed all over it. Did I tell you I

posted the two wee ^pairs of wooden shoes to the
little people. I posted & registered also
a big book of aeroplane views
of the country over which we
have been fighting this last year.
I think you will like them
very much. There is a big photo
of Genl Stewart in it - which he 
had taken just before Xmas

by Elliot & Fry. I had the 
parcel registered so it should
reach you all right.
 

2

I am going on leave on Monday and
as two large drafts making some
200 men & officers were leaving us today
for Australia I had a Final
Brigade Parade & said goodbye
to them as so many were leaving
at once & so many more would

have left before my return here
if I do return & thanked them
for their services. This was in the

morning. In the afternoon I

was surprised to find them all
assembled in the grounds under

their Commanders - old Denehy
being at their head with Ronald
Dickson who is leaving for Australia

in about a weeks time. Well

they went marching round the chateau
all cheering. I was very much
moved by this expression of feeling
for I have worked them very
hard indeed. I gave them a little
address. Afterwards I received
a letter from the Church of England
Padre Chap. Capt Edwards
 

"3"
who was present. I enclose it

for you darling. I enclose the
receipt for the parcels also. In
case they dont turn up it will

help you to inquire for them. Oh
Katie love I wish I was home with you

It is very sad to sit here & watch the

Brigade that I built up with so

much care & thought gradually

falling & falling in strength until

it is no more a Brigade at all.
I need your soft arms to comfort 
& cheer me little wifelet & give me
the courage to start work again in

the future. I have been 
reading a book called "Joan &
Peter" by Wells & in it there
are passages about the war
which make me feel I was
justified in all my actions

though it resulted in my

missing promotion when
my turn came. But I have

placed the protest upon
record and it will come
 

(4)

out in the end & may have
good results. If it saves one

single soldier's life in the future
I shall not regret it - But
let us forget neither dearie pet.
Your love will be the great consoler
for all my disappointments, all my

sadness, all my ambitions. It is all
that I have to live for. I am growing
old & creaky Katie dearie. I want
to rest my head in your lap &
feel your fingers over my eyes &
hair to little loving fingers darling to
soothe away my troubles. I received

a parcel of food in tins from the
Mutual Store which Mr Richardson
sent to me. one There was some very
nice raisins which we appreciated
very much. I am going to a Concert
this evening darling to which I have
been asked. I don't feel too much

interest in it & it is hellishly cold
Still I should go along. With about

a million loves & kisses from
your very own

Dida Don.
[*P.S. We had another rifle match with the Chasseurs
Alpines French Regiments & beat them

very easily. They had asked for it & prescribed their

own conditions - snap shooting -*]
 

C/O Mrs G. Lloyd Edwards

Bryn Oerog
Trevor
4/2/19

My darling Katie,
I am over here on 
leave & feel much better. I have been
very homesick & miserable & depressed
whilst in France of late. All
appear to be the same now &

two officers one a Col & one a
Major recently committed

suicide which was very sad
after all they have gone through
As usual Mrs Edwards has
been very kind. She is expecting

her son back from Italy at any

time. He has been ill with

Para Thyphoid. Her husband
looks very well but is suffering 
in health these days. He has
some kidney trouble stone - or

gravel. He is in bed today.
I enclose a letter had from
Glori Fisher also her photo

She must have forgotten she sent

me one before. I hope to see her
before I go back. I am going to
Buckingham palace on the
22^nd Inst to get my C.B &
D.S.O. which up to date I have
 

not received. The Croix de Guerre
is not yet available but will

come along in due course
no doubt. They wanted & know
if I would like a formal presentation.
of the Croix de Guerre or just
have it sent to me. As this
old French General who presents
it often kisses you when he
is giving it I said I'd
sooner have it sent to me.

I am going out for a walk

Katie love. I haven't much

news but will write a longer

letter to you very shortly
Love to all
from your very own 
Dida don
 

Bryn Oerog
Trevor

via Ruabon
North Wales
7/2/19
My dearest Katie Love
I enclose
herewith invoice for goods 
sent to you by Hutton & Coy. You will

see they have sent them in three
separate parcels.

I am afraid I am terribly

homesick though Mrs Edwards

is doing all she can to keep

me amused & I have visited
with her quite a number of

her friends. One a Mr Darlington
had a cousin a Mr Clayton who

married a Miss MacFarlane
whose people lived at Baruga
quite close to Tocumwal
where Rory lives. I think

Mr Clayton was at one time living
at Baruga. All these people

have beautiful homes but I would

sooner be out in Australia

again. I feel completely
unable to take interest in things
here because always there is
the thought of you & the wee pets
with me. Everyday and night now