Letters from Sister Dorothy Gwendoline Howard Elmes, 1941 - 1942 - Part 12

NX70526 S/N G. Elmes

2/10 A.G.H.

A.I.F.

Malaya

31-4-41.

Diagram- see original document.

[*Don't know how 

this happened*]
Dear Old Smithy

Got two letters from you xx last week

which was very pleasant.

However had quite a nice week end; went for a swim

on Saturday morning then got back here for lunch.

in the afternoon we went to the Club and played in

an American tennis tournament which was quite fun.

Seeing for some extraordinary reason I won the "B" Grade

mixed doubles of course & had a good partner which was

luck or would have got an awful hiding otherwise

Anyway will get some little oddment w the prize next

time I go into town.

On Sunday twenty of us were taken all over the

interesting parts of the town by some members of the

Rotary Club. we saw all over it an old Chinese xxxx

house, they have the most beautiful things in them

some of the Chairs were made out of some very dark

2.

wood and designs done in mother of pearl; the whole

dplan of the house is long and narrow. one room after another

you come in from the street into a hall where there is

an altar with tablets of carved wood with the names of

their ancestors on them as they worship them instead of

gods, from there into another room very similar only with

chairs about & pot plants in artistic China (coloured) pots

then into a narrow dining room w just an ordinary table &

chairs an other necessities but they had lovely glass ^doored cupboards

set in the wall full of old China which they keep as

a curios as its very hard to get; they gave us a cup

of China tea in quaint handless cups.

After that we piled into the cars again and saw

a Chinese temple which I described ages ago, but we

had it all explained y to us & who the various gods were

but the work on some of the draperies is absolutely beautiful

After that we went over some of the old portuguese

buildings which date back to the fifteenth century

An old ruined Chapel the walls are still standing but

the roof in over most of it has gone; it stands on

a hill & commands a most glorious view of the sea.

After that we had tea at one of the Chinese homes

3

And saw how the rubber trees are tapped & the 

primitive method of making the rubber sheets it 

was most interesting, we each had a sheet of rubber

given to us about the size of a sma bath mat.

Poor old Drysin tell her I haven't heard from her yet, but

will write soon, no wonder she used to be bad tempered

at times.

You will have to give Stella a kick in the pants

as well as the other two now so you will be flat 

out every xxxx mail; hope you will soon hear from

Matron Keaney, She one must know you & I are rather

attached in fact if she doesn't know you might tell

her so. Tell Naughty not to worry about her study

as she has as much intelligence as I had, so any

ass can pass. Also tell Matron that not to 

bother about writing as I know the poor old soul

is busy, but will most likely write to her next week.

What are you going to do after the winter any plans 
yet or not?

Tell John Garvan I would appreciate both love & kisses. Stale 

or not (you better not he might think that I am getting

decidedly forward). 

Cheerio to all the tripe hounds

Love Buddy.    G Elmes

NX70526. S/N. G. Elmes.

2/10 A.G.H

A.I.F.

Abroad.

26.2.41

Dear Smithy,

Got your letter yesterday, you don't know what

a thrill it was. almost given up hope of ever getting one.

Sorry to here you arrived back with only five pence

and a black eye; hope that was really how you protracted

it.

By the way, glad the photo's were nearly human looking

did you send them off to Mum; she said she had

a very nice interesting letter from you.

Don't be too familiar when you write to Matron Keaney

she might take you; be nice if we ever get together

again: I miss ^ya a lot for some extraordinary reason;

We are really having a very nice time and everyone

is awfully nice taking us out and inviting us for

afternoon tea ect. We went out for tennis the other

afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it

2.

Re. feeding fishes I didn't so you tell Johnny Fairley

I haven't missed a sa meal. Although nearly did one

night, but it was really very smooth all the way.

The Country round here is like a big park, although

all the trees are native they look very like English

trees, and of course a few palm trees thrown in.

- but there doesn't seem to be any undergrowth or leaves 

lying ^about And the native huts are awfully picturesque?

made out of palm leaves made into flat slabs &

tied on to the frame work. they seem very solid &

water tight At least we hope so as they are making

our mess hut out of them:

There are a very nice crowd of girls here, and all seem very

keen on there work.

Can't understand why the Committee was so extravagant

in your absent, the place looking so nice on your

return.

Bad luck for Matron's nephew developing an appendix

I can just imagine John Garwan's chilliness.

We are still endeavouring to learn the language here

the English Sisters ^(I mean the native nurses)^ are giving us lessons in it every 

morning; so must go over now.

3.

Spent two hours this morning trying to learn

the language its really easy enough only its

a bit hard to pronounce.

How are the mid's going you must be getting quite

expert at sme them now.

Got a very amusing letter from young Crawford

tell her I will write by ordinary mail as am 

sending this by air.

No more news. Give my love to Fluff if

you see her after she is married and where

is she living etc. Any how tell her I will

think of her on her wedding day by the way

were is she getting married; Corowa or home.

Tell Dotty xx to give me a description of the

wedding if she is in a fit condition to do so.

Kick old Bird & Cushy in the pants.

Love Bud

[*N James 
censor*]

Willow Cottage

Cheshunt Vic

3^rd May 1941
[*Would send

 along more money

only haven't got it

in the house.*]

Dear Smithy

Becca said in her last

letter she had written and asked you

to get her some golf shoes. Costing about

30/-. I will send you £2 - if there

is any over from the xxx  shoes & postage

will you get her some Milanese panties

I spose they wouldnt' be more than

about 2/11- each. if you wouldn't mind

putting them in with the shoes & let 

me know. I spose you could get 2 prs.

skis the shoes may be more than 30/-

Anyhow if you will let me know exactly

how much -postage included, will send 

you on more cash if not enough. I

will send to the Bank for more. She

says she has plenty of books. She hadn't

much news in her last letter says she

wouldn't like always to live there I hope

you are having this perfect weather.

I just love the Autumn.

[*I hope you don't mind getting these things.

I can't shop very well from up here -I spose 

you know her size 2*]

With love from

Dorothy Elmes

NX70526 S/N. G. Elmes

2/10 A.GH

A.I.F.

Abroad

Thursday.

Dear Old Smithy & the rest of the hounds.

Thought I better let you know

that I am still alive & kicking - we had

a very good trip over, nearly missed one meal

but that was only the first few days; & 

after that thoroughly enjoyed it

We arrived here at some unearthly hour in

the morning as we came straight on here.

Anyway we are very comfortable - four of

us in a cubicle which all open on to a

sort of balcony affair.

Haven't had a letter from you yet but

have hopes of getting some next mail which

I hope will be in the next few days.

The Country is absolutely beautiful from an

artistic point of view

.2.

So will try & get a few snaps & send them

along if possible

Got an idea that its nearly my bedtime as

think the lights go out at half past ten

& its very hard trying to crawl under one of

those mosquito nets in the dark.

So will finish this after.

I have been marked up for the theatre but

have a horrible idea we take it turn about

which is of course only fair but its thrill

even to be in it for a little while.

If you every want to send me anything an

occasionally book or Reader's digest would

be very much appreciated. We are endeavouring

to learn the language here & know a

few essential words they seem easy enough.

But of course we don't know many. So

will most likely get hopelessly involved.

Cheerio hound will finish

this tomorrow.

Bud.

3

Friday:

Not much more news at the moment, and the

mail hasn't arrived yet; but still have hopes.

Hope you aren't working too hard & look after your

vile body properly; has anything exciting happened

since I left.

We all have hopes of some tennis soon as this lack

of exercise is terrific as its really not done to walk

any distance which is most trying. And we are

supposed to rest from 2 until four in the afternoon.

Has Morris gone yet or has he to stay in Australia

We were entertained by some English nurses last night

they don't belong to the Army at all, don't know what

they really belong too.

No more news for the present.

Remember to everyone specially Matron

Cheerio Buddy

P.S. Supposed you have more or less guessed were

we are. As you had a pretty sound idea before

we left any way we are abit further away

up in the hills. They seem to be a good

many Chinese.

And other classes of natives which haven't found

out what they are yet. [[Just?]] [[bluffing?]]