Letters from Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott to his family, March 1919 - May 1919 - Part 5

3
that there is this trouble
about it. Uncle has gone
off to Jamaica again.
I am writing to tell him you
have the papers all safe.
Tell the Laddie his Dida doesn't
smoke yet. There are only
two letters really from you. One
is from the wee people but you
addressed it for them Your
letters are dated 26^th Jan
& 2^nd Feb but the latter was
finished on the 5^th Feb. You
were all mixed up with the
Flue when you wrote.
Dearie you should have Known
that I could not stay sorty with
my own darling wife. How
could I when I love her the
best in all the world & there
is always an excuse to be
found in one's heart for the 

[*2DRL|0513*] 
 

[*DRL 3297 (3^rd S)*]

best loved one. You wonder if I
love you dearie or only think I
do. You should Know darling
don't you think. Katie I went
to a shop & ordered a suit of
civilian clothes. What do
you think was the price
£12-12-0 no less. It is
an awful price to pay
but I think the cloth
is very good. I am
getting an overcoat made
also.
I am still feeling a
good deal run down
dearie. I expect it is
the Australian Sun & your
own dear Smile & presence
that I really need to
buck ^cheer me up & put me right
At times I feel very tired
listless & helpless – Nervous
Breakdown due to war strain.
Hundreds of officers have
completely broken down
in that way & are complete
invalids. I hope that I
shall not become
[*such but one can never Know ones fate. I believe
it is the worry about the business more than the war that has
brought it on. Bye my own dear love & God bless & Keep you
Safe for your own Dida Don*] 
 

3^rd May 1919
My dearest Katie,
Today I
posted to you a
diary the last of those
I have Kept during the
war. I also posted
you five packets of
papers to Keep for
me until I come
home.
I am going to Buckham
Buckingham Palace to
see the big Parade of
Colonial Troops march
past the King at 2 pm 
 

[*DRL 3297 (3rd S)*]

I could have Marched
in the procession but
if I had done I would
have superceded
Stewart in the Command
of the Column representing
the 5th Div & as he was
selected to command
before I came across
from France I preferred
not to do so as he may
have been Keen on the
job. As you Know I
am not at all Keen
on these show jobs &
if I marched in the
procession I would
not see anything at
all of the march. Now
I shall see the whole
lot go by.
I may be coming home
very soon now. 
 

More & more tempted to
^insist upon going at once
– though we do need
the extra money badly
dearie but after all
that is not everything.
Dr M^cFarland of Ormond
is coming to England
& the Old Ormond Men
are giving a dinner. I
met Oscar Nevett in the
Street on Saturday. He
won the M.C in the war
but was gassed & looks
by no means well
at all. I forgot to
tell you that after the
club concert I took
Elsa & her man to the
Trocodera Restaurant
& had a nice little
Supper. Elsa has
grown a Very big woman
but has not altered 
 

[*DRL 3297 (3^rd S)*]

very much apart
from that & she looks
well on the Stage.
She got through a
pretty tidy whisky &
Soda between the concerts
on her arrival at the
Club but I dont Know
if she often has one or
not. Bye now darling
Katie big love & God
bless & Keep you all
safe. from your own Dida
Don

[*2 DRL|0513*] 
 

5^th May 1919
My dearest Katie,
I have not much
news for you. I went
to the Buckingham Palace
& watched our boys march
past the King on Saturday
They looked very
well but I thought
the New Zealanders
looked the best of
the lot.
I had a very good seat
right in the front row next
the Street & not far from
the King. I noticed Sir
Ian Hamilton  Sir D. Haig
Sir W. Rawlinson & lots of
other Generals about
Birdwood was there
of course. It happened 
 

[*D.R.L. 3297 (3^rd S)*]

to be a very fine day for once
& so the crowd had a
little comfort.
On Sunday I went
out to the Merrylees
whom I have several
times mentioned to you.
They were very kind &
I had afternoon tea with
them. Did I tell
you I went to See Elsa
Fischer on Thursday
I met her & her husband
Mr Montfort. He is a
little chap & I think
is well under his lady's
authority. He waits on her
hand & foot. They were very
nice & were good enough
to give me a box at the
Palladium Theatre
where Elsa was singing
last night. I enclose a 
 

programme. There was
a packed house & Elsa
sang very well & was
recalled twice. After
the Concert Elsa had to
go to a club where there
was a private concert
& hubby & I went along.
After this was over
the President of the Club
Lord Leverhulme was
introduced to Elsa & the
other way about & also to
us. Also some Princess
a rather hard faced old
body a Sister of Princess
Christian. But she gave
me quite a sturdy shake
hands. I also was introduced
o a number of other singers
who were there but the only one
I took any particular
notice of was Maggie M^cCann
you remember her. She says
she is coming back to
Australia very soon 
 

[*D.R.L. 3297 (3rd S)*]

She had a little talk to
me & seemed a Very pleasant
jolly body. I hoped we
should meet in Australia &
she said she'd be pleased too.
Well Katie darling I
don't think there is
much more to tell you
I have had no further
return of the bladder trouble
& don't think I'll trouble
about a specialist now
as I am likely to be going
back to you any time
now. I saw Genl Stewart
in the procession but had
no chance of speaking to
him there. He has not
let me Know if he is still
anxious to get home & now
there is a chance of getting
home to you quickly I feel

[*2 DRL |0513*]