Letters to Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott from various family members, September 1913 - September 1930 - Part 16

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2018.19.84
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

are now at the lower, and Martice is going out to Cypnes soon leaving Patte beheud - At the mancel the Hall is upids down- Electric light is being put in & painting & paprnng dowe, wth was much needed I T.C. & Dore are well & happy, & the Coster Edwardses as usual - I am somy to say that we have had news of Alre, my yuungre brother - The Indean cliate has never recied to affect him much but lately te has had a boit of senge fur & now to we Copel ie meene wt imprten of the livr. He has now sind to tale a per lan a masto purectony for haver in Oct. 20th Nmw w9 hear that hr is not coming m theat mail, ss par he is not will mrthe o t Fail. Sane my wora aprel heen this has been a deprising year in many ways - we have lost 20k 10513 several old prinds, resides cousing two of our old fiends wore in their neyghtnorhood; oue the squin of Chapford (the next panca to this who is a great loes to the county. His faniry has seen at Chapord for some geuerations - Our ofs cons was kelled in a flying accident a year or two ago - the other is not v stine -it will br rad of the faniely dirs out. Moak this parish has also beru upsst by the derath of Lord HaueHedre, Mr. Seymnot brother, who owned a lame haise & a lot of property in the vicinity. His sons had to rise a soled wellion for death Duties & has sold the whole of it As the Hamkedrus were extremely kind (if it was kind) & a god man of the farms were hild for absun small nuts, them is consternation among those who will rither have to pay econoninc rents or turn out. I did not knoww the H.s myry I never wish to have anything to do
3 55 2 49 Btor 1781 Ire 1 427 228 2 3 Dct X 9 Dear Hasfd e E it am af2 9 Brsths long time Since I deve I seem to be busien rg Iever and to have very little for writing. Which Must Seem rediculors to a reatly time as you are. person Such a drmany Lort buse All the same is never done. Especially in difficult days. I spend these Most of My time Runting tho Very Soldom Fer Maids settle anyther, I are hevrr Satisfied, even Iilk Bery Dager. I can't think high this sillb the end g Shat
been in Maids tho have lodgings honses Restaurants ct Ir the summer, can still have for 26 weeks, so can the dole be idle tell nest afford to I suppose. Summer You seeem to be as mruch troubled sill Strikes ste in se are. It as Australea does seem hard that people should destroy their our in prosperity their countrys ender dags. Such Succidal you bill find some way f stopping it tell you f I mrust try to been Now &e have all That Drote doing since I last heard I thank you must had out to & I Deat that Lloyd fending eplens in the Spring a wick in Cairs on the pened for Tome Srimtt Lay. Se
2 Trevor Hall, 5 Trevor, Nr Wrexham and Sunshine & expected to be much too Nov in Egypt Sea We went all the lsg by fivd and had a moderately inone of the brs Veyafe T. FO. Steamers, te Ranpura laved it all lough smolk, & was hevre Sick at Lloyd all I suffered from the all perosding tobreco smoke there ins net a corner of the Thp there one could enope a Itope or deck on w bound a have pare Sea ale it Roeryine but dat a bit I included, adees fieds, & old I myself, Captain except the + I ans bund Smohed continually be on deck as there tne no sitting room I could breathe in
does dut Smoke Violet I do hope is old fresheoned although it me to object. Peckaps I should but it. not if I conld bear it. Makes Me feel Dorbly bad Lleyd sith 14 I can't even set shech shen he is smoking he does all the evining Sonking loon. My Maten cnd. an send sme in thentes sonder it yours can. feacls one has Now a days one Te bnsines to be alive It is extraorden ary hm has increased Since there being Imoing istead & atreages on hund te Dar. are perhaps twe Smokius ling train. Nov There Nowsmoking. On i the & Gen. people Stand smoke cut put You sill be tiled 2 corredors I dave Just them few tobaccs Shares these remaths. as shelever happens to tthet brught industries, they must be 43 may as well Brospering from Smoke some ing in Ocnefit
3 Trevor Hall 5 Trevor, Jr Wrexham. 7pt S Ball We Bt K. cold there & found it horribly as if it wind I was surprised a catting Snow: intelesting blew full & we saw the usual Lns Caso The Tutank Amen theng and Kegs Muscum wele fascipation Sights I am so shnd that I have tn the Sphen & yrameds Seen the & the place where you were the Sues Capal et et He vent out to Bemphen Tombs of the Bulls et et. But there were hose & said the those underful Tunsets Hat I logee to see ditg hns tos grameds cold to p tee te by Mornlight conn lhe I lived the ord Mosques &camals bazaars- & the arab
cletter of the people blue the the fields etc. ct. Lorking But I got influenga & developed ypreis. it on the bay wre t we dree arrived there by Patty & Matten looking we Shen They took us Met blooming the coland for the brst. Most as it ins still verycold about I had to stag week ameandes. I am afuste for Several up at bed it I had seen it in days. Forturately before. De spent te last part ap at amandes of the time Keye in very interested had pt Ae Mine Speck Martin int vinderful order. Thes. stas ther 16,000 lns o cst. will very excited $11,000 last year Sumper sumoer hns not bodrg at filling De for that work. but thes The Ranpala Shich Just right hs prest luck. Ialty Matin weat home the Summer came home early as Matter sns Made Consulting Enpepece to the Company & tees did nit need him out there all time the
4 Trevor Hall, Trevor had not had IV. Woxham. 8 They leave since thy went onty have pais - oth any enprying being in ingland three hearty again very Much. Sspecially ben ans toe heave toat tal rane were with ns They in Corawall thes year. for seme time Yen Conise t doing a Mining the mines & lectures amor tom paid besith in Satlend at the Sowce now are seteled can take for a bit. Marten other Tobs & me is on the Espe Row, Shich May or may not Materealise It is nice to see them to bell & + happy- The piden has ben larly frieet this year. ate floariding bell & Dora Bryn Derog. J.C. at Cppy
us a long Martha has paid & I have paid her & allie hrs up here Vesit ago her Son Alec one Short at home on leave from bea days Calculla, motered her up The The hrs looking vary bond some apen I sas staying & wad doing too much wieks as henel in the paiten th sill her. Now The loobr latter Her doughter, Marth Hamilsley is till her sill he prpert and 3. & the Slder cheldren fai all at Schools nerr tarnd wihe 65y I home to have Muth & he kenly here for Kmas. Meanibile br ale in a herreble thess putting ght at last Re Kople Sypten. I shall be gled tbie electric to make the it. Hit ought omprtable you a collection Macds More I am sending the Broadsfeels the Times Soldier published for the I hope you sill You Ae Dar. Shich lite to have. I wonder came across any of the Prifinaly The sar seems like a bod dream 20e11513
gest year - It is a great rove. I wish we had compulsory voting hin - so man of the right sminded electors are to lary or too optinustic to go and vote. with so many new women electors it will be a v. doubtful contist-No our can even guess how they will vote. Also no Govr can ever live up to its supportun expete tions, and this fact spplies in con- vement handles for the other side It will e quite interresting to see what happens; and if the Sociatest get us, what happins after that will not ve laching in internst either! Nuver will have a vote this time - she says she 15 a hadiesh so I than t let her voter even of she wants to; put the dispised the priilyr. Things are enguining to improve a little wire, and if Mr Baldwin does not return to power I am afraid it will mean a shock & sit-Eack to tradr agin Dear Lousin Harold, I was v. glad to get your litter, and hear some news of you. It arrived on chrictings gve - very s punctual for a christias letters haw such a distance. I hope nur sarrived in equally good tie, as I to you arore on Nov. 19th and I see that yuurs is dated Nov. 16th It is so keid of you to send me that Shane in your company - thank you very my I am always so intersted to near about Caukroo, and in particular ther land that you took up there and have berne building on, now I ferl quite proud to think I have a personal Tutrrst in it we are having viry seaconaple wrather just at prisent the country, as seen from my windows sis corved with srow and wooks very

are now at the Tower, and Martin
is going out to Cyprus soon leaving
Patty behind - At the moment
the Hall is upside down- Electric
light is being put in & painting
& papering done, wh was much
needed - J.C. & Dora are well &
happy, & the Carter Edwardses as
usual - I am sorry to say that we
have had news of Alec, my youngest
brother - The Indian climate has
never seemed to affect him much
but lately he has had a bout of
Dengue fever, & now is in hospital
at Madras with congestion of the
liver. He has been ordered to take
a year's leave & was to have started
for home on Oct. 20th. Now we
hear that he is not coming by
that mail, so fear he is not well
enough yet to travel - I am very
worried about him.
This has been a depressing year
in many ways - we have lost
[*2DRL/0513*]
 several old friends, besides cousins.
Two of our old friends were in this
neighbourhood; one the squire of
Chagford (the next parish to this)
who is a great loss to the county.
His family has been at Chagford
for some generations - One of his
sons was killed in a flying accident
a year or two ago - the other is not
v. strong- It will be sad if the
family dies out. I was This
parish has also been upset by the
death of Lord Hambleden, Mrs
Seymour's brother, who owned a
large manor & a lot of property in
the vicinity. His son had to
raise a solid million for Death
Duties & has sold the whole of it
As the Hambledens were extremely
kind (if it was kind) & a good many
of the farms ^&c were held for absurdly
small rents, there is consternation
among those who will either have
to pay economic rents or turn
out. I did not know the H.s myself.
I never wish to have anything to do
 

 

 

[*almost now, & yet as if we were only just waking up
from it, still -
I hope Violet got through
her exams well &
Maths [[marks]]
& Neil too.
I think they must both
be very clever
young people.
I hope Katie is
well & you all -
I wish I had a photograph
to send to your Mother but I
take so badly. I will
try to get Pattie to
take a snapshot. Some
day. Our best wishes for
Xmas. & the end of strikes
before the new year. 
Yr. aff. cousin
E. I. Ll.C.*]
My dear Harold
I am afraid it is a
long time since I have written
I seem to be busier than
ever and to have very little
time for writing- which must
seem ridiculous to a really
busy person such as you are!
All the same a woman's work
is never done. especially in
these difficult days. I spend
most of my time hunting
for maids, who very seldom
settle anywhere, & are never
satisfied, even with very
high wages. I can't think
that the end of this will be

 

Maids who have been in
lodgings houses Restaurants etc
for the summer, can still have
the "dole" for 26 weeks, so can
afford to be idle till next
summer I suppose -
You seem to be as much
troubled with strikes etc. in
Australia as we are - It
does seem hard that people
should destroy their own &
their country's prosperity in
such suicidal ways. I wonder
if you will find some way
of stopping it -
Now I must try to tell you
what we have all been
doing since I last wrote -
I think you must have heard
that Lloyd & I went out to
Cyprus in the spring, spending
a week in Cairo on the
way. We pined for some warmth

 

2.
and sunshine & expected to
be much too hot in Egypt.
We went all the way by Sea
and had a moderately good
voyage, in one of the big
P.& O. steamers, the "Ranpura".
Lloyd loved it all, rough & 
smooth, & was never sick at
all. I suffered from the
all pervading tobacco smoke -
there was not a corner of the
ship where one could escape
it. I thought on deck one was
bound to have pure sea air,
but not a bit of it ! Everyone,
girls, & old ladies included,
except the captain & myself,
smoked continually ! I was bound
to be on deck as there was
no sitting room I could breathe
in -

 

I do hope Violet does not smoke,
although it is old fashioned of
me to object! Perhaps I should
not if I could bear it, but it
makes me feel horribly bad.
I can't even sit with Lloyd
when he is smoking, which he
does all the evenings, in his
smoking room - My Mother could
not stand smoke unfortunately,
I wonder if yours can.
Now a days one feels one has
no business to be alive.
It is extraordinary how
smoking has increased since
the war. Instead of there being
"smoking carriages" on trains
now there are perhaps two
"Non-smoking" - on a long train.
& then people stand in the
corridors & puff smoke into
them! You will be tired of
these remarks! I have just
bought a few tobacco shares
as whatever happens to other
industries they must be
prospering ! - & I may as well
benefit in some way from smoke!!

 

3.
Well we got to Egypt
& found it horribly cold there
a cutting wind as if it
blew off snow! I was surprised !
Cairo was full of interesting
things and we saw the usual
sights - The Tutank Amen things
in the Museum were fascinating.
I am glad that I have
seen the Pyramids & Sphinx
& the place where you were,
the Suez Canal etc etc.
We went out to Memphis
& saw the Tombs of the Bulls
etc etc. But there were none
of those wonderful sunsets that
I longed to see & it was too
cold to go & see the Pyramids
by Moonlight even!
I loved the old Mosques & the
bazaars. & the Arabs & camels

 

& the blue clothes of the people
working in the fields etc etc.
But I got influenza! & developed
it on the way over to Cyprus.
When we arrived there, we were
met by Patty & Martin looking
most becoming! They took us
about the island for the first
week as it was still very cold
up at Amiandos- I had to stay
in bed at Famagusta for several
days - Fortunately I had seen it
before. We spent the last part
of the time up at Amiandos &
Lloyd was very interested in
the Mine which Martin had got
into wonderful order - They got
16,000 tons of Asbestos this
summer. They were very excited
at getting 11,000 last year.
but this summer was hot & dry
just right for that work. We
went home in the "Ranpura" which
was great luck - Patty & Martin
came home early in the summer
as Martin was made Consulting
Engineer to the Company & they
did not need him out there all
the time.

4 

4.
They had not had 
any leave since they went out,
nearly three years - & they have 
been enjoying being in England
again very much. especially
as we have had real summer
this year. They were with us
for some time then in Cornwall
doing a Mining Course of
lectures among the Mines;
then paid visits in Scotland &
now are settled at the Tower
for a bit. Martin can take
other jobs & one is on the
tapir which may or
may not materialize.
It is nice to see them so well
& happy -
The garden has been lovely &
full of fruit this year.
J.C. & Dora are flourishing &
happy at Bryn Oerog.

 

Martha has paid us a long
visit & I have paid her a
short one. & Allie was up here
a few days ago her son Alec
who is at home on leave from
Calcutta, motored her up -
She was looking very bad some
weeks ago when I was staying
with her. & was doing too much
as usual in the garden etc.
Now she looks better.
Her daughter, Martha Hamersley,
is with her with her youngest
boy aged 3. & the elder children
are at school near. Harold in India ^again.
I hope to have Martha & her family
here for Xmas - Meanwhile we are
in a horrible mess putting in
electric light at last. the Kohler
system- I shall be glad to have
it. & it ought to make the
maids more comfortable -
I am sending you a collection
of the Broadsheets the Times
published for the soldiers in
the War. which I hope you will
like to have. I wonder if you
came across any of the originals.
The war seems like a bad dream
[*2DRL/0513*]

 

^ next year- It is a great bore. I wish we
had compulsory voting here - so many
of the rigth-minded electors are
too lazy or too optimistic to go and
vote. With so many new women
electors it will be a v. doubtful
contest- No-one can even guess how
they will vote. also no Govt can
ever live up to its supporters' expectations,
and this fact supplies inconvenient
handles for the other side.
It will be quite interesting to see
what happens; and if the Socialists
get in, what happens after that
will not be lacking in interest
either! Nurse will have a vote
this time - she says she is a Radical
so I shan't let her vote even if
she wants to; but she despises the
privilege! Things are beginning
to improve a little here, and if
Mr. Baldwin does not return to
power I am afraid it will mean
a shock & set-back to Trade again.
Dec. 30th 1928.

Dear Cousin Harold,
I was v. glad to get your letter,
and hear some news of you - It
arrived on Christmas Eve - very
punctual for a Christmas letter
from such a distance. I hope mine
arrived in equally good time, as I
wrote ^ to you on Nov. 19th and I see that
your is dated Nov. 16th. It is so kind
of you to send me that share in
your Company - thank you very much.
I am always so interested to hear
about Canberra, and in particular,
the land that you took up there and
have been building on; now I feel
quite proud to think I have a personal
interest in it! We are having very
reasonable weather just at present-
the country as seen from my windows,
is covered with snow and looks very
[*before going abroad with a friend for the rest of the winter. He has only
had about 4½
months at home
in the last 17 years.
Alicia Carter is
fairly well, but
is feeling her age
I am sorry to
say - I hope you
and all your
family are keeping
well and will
have a fortunate
and prosperous year.
I must tell
Patty what 
you say
about Genl Ringrose
I don't know himself
but like his sister
immensely
wishing you all*]
 

 



 
  

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