Letters from Sister Dorothy Gwendoline Howard Elmes, 1941 - 1942 - Part 2

2.

wrapped round [[?]] blue paper as its

supposed to be a black one.

The orderlies have [[?so?]] managed us

really good suppose from the Q.M. store,

so it looks as tho we are going 

to have good food night daily

[[?]] one can read or other

dark papers but it shows too much

on the other side.

Have you heard anything of Skeet or

is she still in New Guinea?

No news

Cheerio

Bud

[[?signature?]]

NX 70526. S/N G. Elmes
10th A.G.H.
A.I.F.
Abroad
8.2.42
Dear Old Smithy,
No news and no letters
haven't had any mail from home for nearly
a month & from you for a fortnight. Sorry
if these are so uninteresting but there is
a lot of news but I can't tell you at the
moment; any way the papers seem to
put most of it in print.
At the moment am on night duty first
night on. we do a fortnight on day duty
& fortnight on night Only catch don't get
any days off. Worked till 2 pm & go
went on again at Seven; but managed
to get about an hour & half sleep.
this afternoon, anyway hope for a snooze
later as two of us do theatre & we
aren't admitting tonight so things
should be pretty peaceful as far as
that is concerned. At the moment
we are sitting round the theatre both
writing c̄ two hurricane lanterns
wrapped round c̄ blue paper as its
supposed to be a blackout.
Then [[??]] have [[?]] us a pretty
good supper from the Q.M. stores
So it looks as though we are going
to have good food on night duty.
I hope you can read for this matters
dark paper but it shows too much
on the other side.
Have you heard anything of Skeet or
is she still in New Guinea
No news
Cheerio
Bud
G. Elmes
 

BY AIR MAIL
AIR MAIL
LETTER CARD
IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED THIS CARD
WILL BE SENT BY ORDINARY MAIL.
C/o The Principal Matron
Victoria Barracks
Paddington
N.387437
S/N. J. Smithenbecker
A.A.N.S.
C/- H 3 A.G.H
xxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
102 A.G.H.
TAMWORTH
New South Wales
AUSTRALIA.
A. Moriarty 
WHEN FOLDED THE LETTER CARD MUST CONFORM IN SIZE AND SHAPE WITH
THE BLUE BORDER WITHIN WHICH THE ADDRESS ONLY MAY BE WRITTEN.
MIL.PO. NARELLAN
N.S.W.AUST
-6 MR43
NX 70526
S/N. G. Elmes
10 A.G.H.
A.I.F.
Malaya
PR 88/108
AUSTRALIAN
WAR MEMORIAL
 

NX 70526. S/N. G. Elmes
10^th A.G.H.
A.I.F.
Malaya

20.1.42
Dear Old Smithy,
Haven't heard from you this
week but the mail isn't quite so
regular as it was. Or perhaps it is because
we have been moving. Anyway
we have at last settled hope this
xxx time for the duration: Had a very
nice holiday in the [[rubber?]]; did
two days work at the C.C.S. which was
very interesting wished we could have
stayed there; but we live now in
quite a nice place. Old & very dirty
but have had a good bit of cleaning
scrubbing & scouring ect. Externally it
is most picturesque built early xxx in
the eighteenth century (or looks like it)

situated in beautiful grounds nice

trees & lawns ect, also some nice
air raid shelter (we hope) as am getting
quite partial to getting there first to
avoid the crush. As often get bits of shrapnel
lying about from Ack-Ack's & have no
desire to stop a bit unnecessarily.
Our quarters are in away most comfortable
although a bit crowded as its only a flat
but have a wireless & frigidaire, Arabs
to do our washing & cleaning ect which
makes a lot of difference to our
personal comfort.
Sorry there isn't a great deal to tell
2.
you Smithy: We were just saying
what an interesting letter we could
write of the wasn't a censor.
who might open [[?]] it but will
try & remember to tell you the tit-bits
when we get back.
Supposing [[?]] have more or less guess
where we are now, by this time
as don't think you will need to
stretch your imagination much.
Cheerio
Love
Buddy.
H. Moriarty
 

2
about xx malaria soon.
Do anything in the world for a
swim which seems out of the question
at the moment.
Will you make gentle enquiries and
see if I wrote & thanked Sister
Donald for the cake she sent because
I meant to.
Had a letter from Mrs Botton & Dolly
the other day: which I hope to
answer shortly.
By the way I didnt half thank
you for the house coat which has
been much admired & appreciated
but it's so useful.

Shuey & I have moved into quite a
nice room which we hope to
keep for the duration, much
bigger & more room as there are
only three of us in it.
Had the day off yesterday didnt
do anything except mess about
but we hope to get a badminton
BY AIR MAIL
AIR MAIL
LETTER CARD
IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED THIS CARD
WILL BE SENT BY ORDINARY MAIL.
Miss. J. Smithenbecker
xxxxxxxxxxxx A.A.N.S.
N. 387437
xxxxxx
Narellan Camp.
New South Wales
AUSTRALIA.
PASSED BY CENSOR
No. 2675
G.Elmes
WHEN FOLDED THE LETTER CARD MUST CONFORM IN SIZE AND SHAPE WITH
THE BLUE BORDER WITHIN WHICH THE ADDRESS ONLY MAY BE WRITTEN.
NX 70526. S/N. G. Elmes
10^th A.G.H.
A.I.F.
Malaya
PR 88/103
AUSTRALIAN
WAR MEMORIAL
 

NX 70526. S/N. G. Elmes
10^th A.G.H.
A.I.F.
Malaya
18.12.41
Dear Old Smithy,
Are you still at Corowa
or have you been called up now.
Very little news this week, but we
have been out several times as get a
few hours leave a day, not every day
because we aren't all allowed out
the same time.
Went to the pictures the other night
Quite a good show.
The night before several of us went into
town for dinner to celebrate our
twelve months in the Army, which
was most enjoyable.
Yesterday we went into town for
an hour & did some shopping
but have to have an armed escort
which [[alarms?]] people very much.
Beastly hot today & go on duty
from 3 till 9, not a bad [[?]]
working in a medical ward at
the moment so will know something
3
court ready so will get some
form of exercise as lately we
haven't been able to get the
tennis court marked owing to
the rain & no one to do it.
Nothing of interest has happened so
you will have to put up
with more boring letters
than usual.
The letter cards are a Godsend xxx
as its [[?]] of 25 cents to write
this [[?]] by air-mail, & syrface
mail would take much too long.
Must go & put some buttons in my
uniform to go on duty. Hope you
can read this tripe on the blue
side.
Remember me to all the tripe
hounds. 
Cheerio
Love Bud.
G.Elmes
 

*(Letter has piece torn off on the right hand side)
See Original Document

Dear Old Smithy,
Thank you so much for the [[?]]
its perfect & fits beautifully & has been much [[?]]
Schuey also was very pleased with the [[?]]
& is writing to you too, but you silly old [[?]]
have sent enough things already c̄ out wasting [[?]]
money on me. So you keep it you will [[need?]]
every penny if you are called up.
Suppose by now you have read the papers and
we are well in [[?]] fun now., xx Have to
carry tin hats & respirators all the time now.
necessary but a beastly nuisance to lug round.
Have the day off, and haven't done a thing
except mess about as we can't go out now.
How ever had xxx several air-raid alarums , but
think they were most likely our own planes
fooling about. Still breaks the monotony.
Afraid our letters won't be getting to you so
regularly now, but it mightn't make any difference
any way we are having 3 letter cards
issued to us next week which will be very nice
 

*(letter is missing a piece out of the middle at the top)

See Original Document

as some [[???]] anything
to wish [[????]] waste 25 cents
for [[nothing.?]]
Sorry for [[???]]
give her [[?]] love
Glad Brody is alright [[?]] her may find xxx
intelligence. Ill scribble her a short note soon.
How is night duty going.
Had a long letter from Mrs Nicky the other day.
Tell Ange that I will also write to her but
expect [[?]] keeps her well up in the news as
he is Still an inmate of ours.
We have a lot of time on our hands as owing to quite
short hours and black out lights specially as we have
mess early these nights but usually sit out on the 
roof in the cool too hot inside
Will finish this tomorrow as there isn't much now
to tell you
Love Bud.
By the way did I tell you that Dolly had been
called up & Jean is living with [[?]] now.
11.12.41 Don't think there is any more news, wish there was
anyhow Merry Christmas & Bright New Year.
Love to all the kids
Will write to Morris in a few days
Bud
G.Elmes
 

P.S. Sorry
didn't write
last week.
NX 70526. S/N. G. Elmes
10^th A.G.H.
A.I.F.
Malaya
26.11.41
Dear Old Smithy,
Gosh I am glad that you have been
accepted, hope you still feel content about it.
but matron is right if you want to xxx pull out
now it's not too late. My only fear is you
might be sent some where miles from [[?]]
& we will be parked here for the duration.
Smithy if you are going away, I would get plenty of voile under
wear even bloomers if you have to wear them as they
don't wear out nearly so much as the cotton & milanese
ones do. Also smuggle in a few pairs of silk stockings
because usually you can get away wearing them on
leave, if you ever do get attached to us wouldn't
bring any woollen clothes at all except a light weight
pullover.
Have just had five days leave in Singapore which
was very pleasant. I thoroughly enjoyed it
got through a terrific lot of money but it was
worth it. Must go & have breakfast.
 

2.
27.11.41
Well old hound have been in a pretty fierce
temper all day. At the moment have the rottenest
job in the place doing occupational therapy
which consists of going round all the wards, and
teaching the convalescent patients raffia work, needle
work, leather work, luckily there are two of us
as I don't know one thing about it & don't want
to. Also organising amusement such as concerts
in one of the wards every week & taking the convalescent
patients xx for drives and generally messing if it was
hard work wouldn't mind, work from nine to five
approximately, the amount of work should only take
about 2 hours. however it has amused the staff very
much the thought of me teaching any one needlework,
specially left handed. however luckily have
only a week of it.
Thank goodness you had that certificate from the Collins
it was worth it. Also glad it doesn't matter
about the age; Matron [[Keary?]] is usually pretty decent
to you except when you fail to report when she
tells you. warning from one who knows.
Sorry Morris doesn't approve, I can understand his
point of view but still don't see why you can't go
away as its the chance of a lifetime, Anyway you
may do a spot of home service for a bit most of the
 

.3.
girls seem to do several months camp life now.
Be funny if you go to the Showground, by the way
do you ever hear from Billy Jones has she joined up
yet. Tait writes to her & Skeet quite regularly so
must xx get their address some time.
Now you have been called up my Christmas present
to you won't be much use. Anyway give it to
your mother she might find it useful.
Sorry you haven't been getting my letters regularly
but have written awful tripe every week.
Got down to Singapore last Wednesday evening had
quite a nice trip down even if our driver did do
eighty some of the way on a narrow winding road
in the rain, don't mind a bit of speed but there
is a limit to everything. However got to Raffles
& found no room had been booked but eventually
they admitted have one for four I being five of us
it didn't make any difference, so we went & inspected
it - it was like a flat an enormous sitting room
two bed rooms & a bath room. So we were
quite satisfied c̄ it, the first night retired to bed early
second day shopped went to the pictures Saw Charles
Boyer & Olivia De Havilland in "Hold Back the Dawn"
very well done. Came back had dinner & went to
bed at least two of us did & the others went out.
Next day spent at the [[diving?]] pool which is