Letters to Harold Edward 'Pompey' Elliott from various family members, September 1913 - September 1930 - Part 17

pretty, and it has been snowing all
the morning. Every twig on the trees
is outlined in snow. It is also
extremely chilly and I am writing
by the fire, wh I seldom do- I am
invited to tea this afternoon to meet
an Australian girl, and am
anxious to go if possible - but shall
have to walk about a mile, so if
it is snowing hard, I may hesitate
to go. She hails from Sydney and
her name is, I believe Murdoch, and
she has passed her Law Exams; and
is now eating her dinners at the
Temple (or whenever they do eat them).
She must be very clever. Has
Violet ever thought of taking up the
Law as a profession? Or would you
disapprove?
31 ^st The girl from Sydney (Miss Fergusson
Murdoch ) is v. attractive, and interesting
to talk to. I should think she
would get on well wherever she goes.
She has two cousins in the Test
Match Team (Beckett, I think, the
name of one or both) so is very
 

keen on cricket in general and
the Test Match now going on, of course.
It really is time that we won
but I suppose it is anybody's game
at the moment. Anyway- let
the best side win!- Two papers
have just arrived kindly sent
by you - thank you so much-
I have only had time to glance
at them but saw the picture
of yrself and the trophies at the
Essendon military competitions-
and that there were some beautiful
pictures of the country in the
Sydney paper. The competitions
must have been most exciting.
I don't think the portrait of yrself
a v. flatterring one !
How very sad your friend Gen. Forsyth
dying like that - Influenza is a
fiendish complaint and always
seems to attack people's weakest point
I saw that yr namesake Mr. R.D. Elliott
was elected. We shall have all
the fuss of a general Election this
[*every good wish for 1929, in wh Winnie joins, yr affecate cousin Martha*]
 

(3
out of India in the last 17 years
what with the war years & so on.
He really ought to have taken leave
2 years ago, out thought that England
sounded so uncomfortabe. He is
going to Bryn Howel for the present
and I hope to have a visit from
him later on when days are warmer.
This little house was really built
for a summer residence and is
no place in winter for people accustomed
to luxurous surroundings.
I heard from Henry this morn. He
& Flora were to cross to France
yesterday - they are going to spend the
winter abroad - He & Anne met
Alec together. Alicia Carter has
also been in town to see her
Alec, who I think must be returnng
to India soon. I hoped she would
have paid me a visit this
autumn but she is always so
busy. I hope yr. garden has been
doing well this year. It has been a
tiresome year for gardens in this country
 

for many things - such spells of drought.
I have been working hard, when I could,
in mine this autumn but it is impossible
to get through all there is to be
done. I made a great effort last week
when I had a few hours, and got all
my tulips & wallflowers planted, &
even divided a few clumps of dais
small sunflowers & michaelmas daisies.
Are you, a firm believer in the League
of Nations? and the Peace Pact & so on?
Personally I feel that as regards Peace
it must be practically useless if
not dangerous - that may be my
ignorance, but I read a refreshing
article by G.B.S. in the "English Revirie"
yesterday - he is of the same opinion.
(I was rather sorry, as I don't generally
agree with him !) His impressions &
comments after a visit to Geneva were
amusing too. What do you think of
Mr Coolidge's ^ latest speech? I do think the
Americans are horrible (their Govt. I mean)
I wish they wd start putting their own
house in order & their own beautiful
sentiments into practice -  Their arrogance
& conceit are too blatant for anything.
2DRL /0513

[* The Joseph Carter
I mention was
an elder brother
of my Husband
who would have been 99
had he lived
till now.*]
Wick Farm House
Bournemouth
Jan 6^th 1929
Dear cousin Harold
Martha sent me
on your letter to read and I
found it intensely interesting.
You must be very busy with
so many duties besides your
profession.
I feel very remiss in not having
watched the result of the elections.
But I assume that your party
was victorious - I wish that
the so called "Labour" party could
come out in its true colours &
be called Socialist.
Working people in England are
very ignorant & vote blindly for
Labour because they work with
their hands -
It was extremely sad about your
friend General Forsyth - & the
result as regards the voting seems
to me very unfair.
I am very sorry that your season
has been a disappointing one
for the farmers on the whole.
 

It must be dreadful to have the
possibility of drought hanging
over you at any season with
the resulting loss of cattle sheep
& crops. We had quite a good
harvest on the whole & my garden
did well. I had plenty of fruit
a vegetables-
I hope that your sale at Frankston
was satisfactory - There must
be many opportunities in
a new country of investing
& making a profit
How wonderful it will be if
oil is found at Roma Queensland.
Joseph Carter went out there
in 48 or 49 & settled at Brockhurst
Roma. He had several children
who are more or less married
& scattered & their children have
married. Grace Carter married
a Mr Tyrrhilt who has a
sheep run & they were at home
not long ago. but did not look
me up as I had hoped -
I wonder if you ever met any
of them - It is very kind of
you to give Martha a share in
your property in Canberra.
 

It sounds as if it would be
a good investment.
I hope that your mother keeps
well & also your wife & children.
What careers have the young
people chosen? They must be
almost grown up -
My daughter Martha is staying
with Millie at Trevor Hall &
Anne & Pamela are with her.
Anne is 15 & Pamela 11½ -
James who is nearly 13 has
gone to Austria with his headmaster
for the winter sports.
This master takes a few boys as
his guests for a fortnight, paying
all expenses. It is a great honour
to be chosen - Jim is a good hard-
working boy & is in the football
team. My son Alec has been
at home from Calcutta for 24
month's leave. He is in charge of
three cotton mills & business is
not doing well - I shall see him
off from London on the 17th Jan.
I spent Xmas with him & his
family in Bedfordshire -
Martha's Husband Major Hammersley
is in India- He is Inspector of
Mechanical Transport for the
2DRL/0513
 

whole of India - He hopes to come
home on short leave in July-
His father is dying- He is an
old man & is staying in Bournemouth
with his wife & daughter.
Did you ever meet Jack Glossop
the Captain of the Sydney who
caught the Emden-
He married an Australian girl.
She hasn't settled down happily
& is very dissatisfied with everything
& everybody - The Admiral 
is a perfect dear. I often see them.
My son drove ∧me up to Trevor
in October & we stayed four
days with Lily at Bryn Howel.
Millie couldn't have us as they
were putting in Electric light at
the Hall - They find it a great
comfort. Patty is looking extremely
well & so is Martin Whitworth.
He will be going out to Cyprus
again in the spring - Is Asbestos
to be found anywhere in the
continent of Australia? There is a
great demand for it. I am sure
I have not addressed you properly
If so please forgive me -
With kindest regards & every good wish
for yourself & family
Yours very sincerely
Alicia C.L. Carter.
 

this but it fell through. & he
is looking out for another.
He may or may not have to
go out to Cyprus in the spring
but it could not be for long
& Patty could not go with him,
They are always looking about
for a house, as they want to
have a little home where they
can have their own things.
Martin always wants a little
farm. as he thinks when he
does retire later on he would
like to farm. Farming is said
not to pay at all in England
now. in fact I do not know
what does!  There is a great
deal of unemployment. still
& I don't see how it can be
helped. It must have been
a terrible nuisance having all
that striking. I hope everything
has settled down peacefully by
this time - I suppose everything
 

Trevor Hall
Trevor,
Nr Wrexham.
Jan. 9. 29.
[* I hope you will
have a prosperous
& less bothering
year.*]

My dear Harold
Many thanks for your
letter & good wishes, & the
Sydney Mail Annual, which
makes me long to go to
Australia there are so many
pictures of lovely places in it.
Also the copy of the Age with
you in it looking very
well I am glad to see.
All these are most intersting
to me & others. Then I have
also received the £ 1 share
in the Laristan Building &
Investment Company. Thank you
so much for it it is nice of you
 

to give it to me & I do feel
a great interest already -
Canberra, & this naturally
increases it. It is nice to
think I own a tiny bit of it!
I must keep a look out &
see what is happening
about the oil at Roma. I
hope D^r. Avery is right &
that they will benefit if
it is found in any quantity.
I hope the children have
done well in their exams:
I am sure they have. You
must be proud of them.
How delightful that flight
from Canberra to Melbourne
must have been. especially
as it was such - perfect day
How long does it take by
rail from Canberra? I was on
 

three days? Air travel sounds
most wonderful. but it can be
very unpleasant. When J.C & Dora
were returning from Japan they
flew from Paris to London. & both
of them were so ill they would
have been glad to be thrown
overboard. J.C. had had the
same experience. before so why he
subjected Dora to it, I can't think!
She felt ill for days after it.
I think people who fly from here
to India especially women,
are very brave, though if my
husband had to go I should
wish to go also -
Meanwhile I think I prefer
walking! Motoring is getting
more dangerous every day there
are so many more cars  on the
roads & so many with
irresponsible drivers -
Patty & Martin are with us,
he expected to get a job before
 

Trevor Station 

Via Ruabon

G.W.R

Telegrams Lloyd Edwards Ruabon

Trevor Hall

Trevor N^r Wrexham

2.
of that sort must be put
down to the Devil - Now is
his chance, especially since
the War. He must have enjoyed
that. Martha Hammersley &
her two girls Anne aged 15
& Pam (ela) 11. are with us
also. Jim the boy has been
taken to Switzerland by his
school master who generally
invites some of the boys to go
with him for winter sports.
I think it is the Austrian
Tyrol this time( Kitzbuhl)
I expect Jim is enjoying it

immensely. We had them all
here last Xmas & as there was
some snow, I.C taught him
a little about skiing -

I retired to bed on Xmas Eve
feeling good for nothing &
spent several days there
much to my disgust, with a
mild attack of influenza
I had to go to Chester the first
day I went out to find a
temporary parlormaid. That
caused me to go to bed again
for some days, as it was a
terribly cold day & I have
not attempted to go out
since. & never felt the cold so
much. There is snow on the
ground all the time only an
inch or two but it is sunless
& East windy & freezes. though
only a degree or two.
I hear Lily is very well. & my
youngest brother Alec has come
back from India. & is staying
there. He was ill. but looks
very well now. He is head of
the Income Tax department of
the Board of Revenue.