Letters from Sister Dorothy Gwendoline Howard Elmes, 1941 - 1942 - Part 3

4
really beautiful, stayed there until fairly late I
went out again for dinner & came back to Raffles
& danced but the chap I was with had to toc be
on duty, so left early. Crawled to the old flea bag.
Saturday wandered round the shops, treat to get into
European Shops again, & not have to bargain.
Went to the pictures then & saw Bette Davis in
Bride Came C.O.D. most amusing. Schuey & her
party arrived down that evening so as they were
one extra made up the number had dinner &
danced at the Swing Club. Hope this isnt all
boring you.
 Sunday: Still with Schuey & co. went out to the
Sea View, which is an Hotel built right out on
the sea & is absolutely lovely. Every Sunday morning
a band plays for a couple of & hours & most of
the Social part of Singaporeans comes & listens to it
& drinks of course, after that had lunch went
to the pictures again; came back for a swim
then back to Raffles for dinner Schuey & I
had no intention of going out but did & danced
to twelve everything shuts down now at
twelve. Monday we went round the shops &
left about 4.30. pm & got home at quite a decent
hour; so you can understand that the fe temper is  abi
abit frayed however have Saturday afternoon &
Sunday off so really must cease growling.

5
What a thrill your Aunt getting married didn't know
she even anticipated it give her my best wishes 
for the future.
Awfully sorry to hear Dr Barnard has been sick
Could imagine him being abit cantankerous when ill
anyhow when you see him again tell him I am
very sorry to hear about it.
Had a long letter form Mrs Pearce. And Evie &
young Angie which I hope to answer soon.
Now some words of advice firstly don't work
too hard because no one else does & the more
you do the more you will have to doing
Also pretend you know what they are talking 
about if in any strange new name is mentioned &
ask some one after who is not looking superior.
Eat well and frequently even if you don't like
the food because its good for you & keeps your
temper more or less even.
Don't drink to excess???
Bath once a day because the smell irritates your
room mates.
Don't talk to strange men in the railway carriages.
Also look after yourself because no one else will
more I see of life the more it is self first. Self last
& anything over self again.
Enough of this life give my love to all the 
kids & matron & Sister Donald Love Bud
G Elmes.

[*P.S. Thank Bet also for the
2 safety pins also been
used since arrival.*]
NX70526.S/N. G. Elmes
10'A.G.H
A.I.F
Malaya
10.11.41
Dear old Smithy,
Still haven't heard from you. Anyway
thanks awfully for the Kotex which arrived the other
day, but I am afraid a card board box is hardly
strong enough to pack things in as it was nearly
embarrassing collecting same from the Corner orderly room
as the corner was all busted out. However thank
Bet very much for the suspender belt, the old 
one has been worn sod solidly ever since arrival
& fit for several more weeks.
Schuey & I have just done quarter of an hours physical
jerks as we both decided that were were getting disgustingly 
flabby from lack of exercise.
Have been in the theatre this week, & have been
up two nights for immediates 3.30 Am & 2.30 Am
so the sleep is a bit behind & think I am on call
tonight so am just wondering what will be in 
this time.
Have just written to David Jones for some more

.2.
uniforms, stockings etc asthe as the supply is getting very
low almost a [[?]] now. Its nearly a year since
I started at the Show ground, the time flies in away
Very little news, usual old routine haven't had a game 
of tennis for a fortnight (a week I mean) owing to 
the rainy season having started & it rains just about
every day, we hope for a game of golf tomorrow
unless something unforeseen happens. 
Am going to Singapore on the 20^th of this month
for five days am not frightfully keen but its a 
change. With any luck should be g due for Frazer's
Hill leave in January or early February
Suppose you think these letters are terribly boring
but it chan can't be helped, the mind is not only
developed into a lump of dough but even if it hadn't
couldn't do much about it in the way of manufacturing
news.
Have sent various members of the staff Christmas G
cards so if any one is hurt because they think
I forgot tell them its a mere forsight on my part
& is not meant because I am damned if I can
remember who I sent them too.
Must go to bed now & will finish this tomorrow
Love Buddy
Monday: Still haven't heard from you but there was
hardly any N.S.W. mail so suppose its has been held up.

3
somewhere.
Schuey & I had a nice game of golf this afternoon &
we both feel full of beans tonight gosh it does you
good to get out in the fresh air.
Poppy Day or something tomorrow & I have just been stung
for about 3/- worth of them we are allowed to 
sell them if possible.
Had a fairly busy day but quite pleasant.
Got some quite nice grey material from Singapore
to have a go out door uniform made it should
look pretty good.
Mum said Jean Barnard had got in as a U.A.P.
for overseas service. Am very pleased as she is 
the right type.
Sorry this is so boring
Love to all the fa tripe - hounds
including matron & other members of the staff
Love Buddy
G Elmes

NX70526 S/N. G. Elmes

10. A.G.H

A.I.F.

Abroad

26.10.41

Dear Old Smithy,

Thought it about time I wrote. How did you

get on with your interviews with Matron. have been

waiting for the call to see whether the result was successful

or not don't suppose they will mind if you are only

24 as they seem to take them younger now.

Gosh wouldn't it be a thrill if you got over here as a

reinforcement, but suppose that is really too optimistic

to even hope that but you never know, any how if you

are accepted lets know what you are attached to

if anything yet;

How many days did you have in Sydney; what did

Morris say about it or haven't you told him yet.

Was Matron thrilled when you got other notice.

Tell Angie I am very sorry she has taken to swallowing saftey

pins why don't you see she gets plenty to eat.

Packing Posted you off your Christmas parcel so

hoping you like it, not very good but quite pretty.

2.

Things are just the same here we came off night

duty on Saturday morning but don't know where

I will be working don't think it will be the theatre

as have had a very good spin in that direction

but still you never know.

Schuey & I hope to go out to the swimming pool on tuesday

& come back & play golf, it will be a change to go

out all day.

Am reading quite a good book at the moment: called

"Mr Emanuel" by Louis Golding its about the same people that

were in "Magnolia Street". so is quite worth reading

Most likely have a game of tennis tomorrow afternoon

am getting worse & worse at it think I will give it

up for a month or so as may get out of bad habits

Pay day on Wednesday thank goodness, although have

been pretty flush this fortnight Am trying to

if live on £5 a week that sounds a terrific lot

but it isnt out here as everything is so expensive

and costs a lot going ou,t but used a lot on Christmas

things this fortnight

Sorry this is so uninteresting, but there is nothing

to write about.

Glad you liked the snaps -

Someth Schuey appreciated your little note but so far hasnt

carried out her instruction.

Love   Bud.

3

Didnt finish this last night as was too much talking

One of the very young orderlies giving Schuey & I his oppinions

on why the Sisters wouldn't go out with the privates

so we tried to explain we were or at least

ranked as an officer.

Will enclose a few snaps not much but thought

they might interest you they might interest you.

We have had beaut storms the last week believe they

are called "Sumatra Squalls"; terrifically strong winds

and driving rain for about half an hour, kind

of general stampede to get the shutters closed in time

Am dying to here how you got on.

Sorry this is such a rotten letter, glad you are

doing theatre.

Give my love to Sister Donald, & anyone else you

think needs it

Love Buddy.   G Elmes

NX70526. S/N/ G.Elmes

10^th A.G.H.

A.I.F.

Abroad

19.10.41

Dear old Smithy,

Thought I would start this tonight while the mental

intelligence is quite high or not so dense. Things are

really comparatively quiet at the moment. This morning

we all stayed up to go to a swimming carnival which

was quite good & didnt get back until 12.30. however

crawled into the old flea bag & slept until 4.pm

when was woken up by the Amah for afternoon tea

I was the only one she could wake; gulped it down & slept

till seven so on the whole had a pretty good day; am
looking after one of the surgical wards for one of the kids

who have a late fast. Have just administered 5 M of Sterile

water to a patient whom I suspect being a little neurotic

think he does get a good deal of pain but not quite as

much as he thinks however will give him some else 

if he doesn't settle down.

Must make some toast for supper now.

Tuesday Started this last night & owing to the general

sleepy condition after supper was unable to finish

.2.

By the way received the bathing togs in Saturday, they are

beautiful & thanks awfully for getting them for me. don't 

forget to get the money from mum. Schuey wore them

one afternoon & was much admired.

Another storm is working up we get to beaut last

night rained for hours with a nice strong wind

behind it blew in everywhere.

Today we crawled out at 3.30pm & went to gas

lectures which are getting quite interesting because

we are past the part we all knew, however

we only get a couple more lectures.

On Sunday we all stayed up until (already told

you that which shows what the climate

does to the brain).

Tomorrow Schuey & I hope for either a swim

or a game of golf all depends on how much energy

I can accumulate.

Jolly nice of Sister Donald to send me a cake, unfortunately

only posted her off a very small handkerchief & Christmas

Card. which isn't nearly as much as I would like

to have given her. Started to do up your Christmas

present but the basket I got for it is too small.

so it will have to wait until I go to town again

Mum said Dotty & Joy aren't very pleased with in North Star

& the [[?]] be bad luck for the kids.

She also told me May Haynes hoped to go overseas.