Letters from Sister Dorothy Gwendoline Howard Elmes, 1941 - 1942 - Part 6

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

FOR SAFETY.
IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:
The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy or its escorts.
The date of sailing ports of call or probable destination.
The description of troops aboard any other information which, if
intercepted would be of value to the enemy.
-2
Any drastic mistakes, most likely for get the main
instruments.
Had a good game of tennis this afternoon its
the first for some time; I felt very playful & smelly
after it
Morris must be very attached to fainting as think
you remarked in one of your letters before he was
doing this flare up.
The mail at the moment are very erratic & have
been changed again but usually get a letter
from you once a week.
received a large bundle of :suns' from Sister Donald
to day so thank her periodically for them from 
me any way will write to her soon.
Scribbled young Dolly a short note tonight hope
the poor kids boils are better by now.
Don't know if I told you that I opened another
correspondence with Charlie, heard pretty regularly
for a week or so but lately haven't received any
so he has [[?]] doubt got sick of me; although get
Bulletins from him pretty regularly.
Will start wishing you for your birthday
now, may send a cable, to make sure I don't
forget.
 

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

FOR SAFETY.
IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:
The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy or its escorts.
The date of sailing ports of call or probable destination.
The description of troops aboard any other information which, if
intercepted would be of value to the enemy.
3.
It seems I think that its nearly two years
since this war started, Am getting quite
old can produce a few grey hair now, so
when I come back expect something fat, grey
& forty. no doubt you will no me by the teeth
(enough of this rot).
Sorry these letters are so beastly uninteresting
but you one the  usual routine no reason
to growl when you hear of other  here hospitals 
have to put up with even the Darwin girls.
Am looking forward to receiving " man" so
so hopes it arrives shortly:
No more news. Many happy returns for the 3^rd.
Remember me to everyone
Love Buddy
G. Elmes.
 

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

FOR SAFETY.
IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:
The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy or its escorts.
The date of sailing ports of call or probable destination.
The description of troops aboard any other information which, if
intercepted would be of value to the enemy.
NX70526. S/H G ELMSE
10. A.G.H.
A.I.F
Malaya
1.8.41
Sew is spelt ċ an e^. not "o" in
the sense you mean.

Gosh the Red Cross is good to me
Always supplies paper. but if I 
don't use it someone else will.
Love to Matron & Doctors ect.
(feeling affectionate
Dear old Smith
I started a letter to you a few days ago
but never finished it, as it didn't appear frightfully 
intelligent. 
Very little news, it seems marvellous to think we
have been here six months it will soon be
Christmas.
Went to the pictures last night they were quite 
good although terrible far fetched, bur amusing
any how we enjoyed it partly because we hadn't
been for some time.
Tomorrow night have been invited to Another dance
its getting a bit monotonous but think it will be
the last for some time, hope so because we
got home awfully late last time..
This is alas disjointed owing to writing on duty,
but things really are slack at the moment, so
am taking advantage of it
Cosgrove was very pleased that Dr Hurley remembered
her, she is such a nice girl.
 

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

FOR SAFETY.
IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:
The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy or its escorts.
The date of sailing ports of call or probable destination.
The description of troops aboard any other information which, if
intercepted would be of value to the enemy.
.2.
We are allowed to wear short sleeved uniform now. So
have hacked most of mine off. you have no idea
how much cooler & more comfortable it is.
Must go & do some work now.,
How is Lesley these days have been meaning to write
to her for ages but my correspondence is enormous.
& its hard to find sufficient time to do so.
Had a game of tennis this afternoon the first for
for ages. & disgraced my self, by playing very
badly.
Will finish this tonight after mess.
Love Bud
Will Continue again as have just recieved your letter & 
Am just off duty.
Young Orlie will develop into a drug fiend if she isn't
careful she always took too many A.P.C.^s.
Had not idea young Halloran had left what ever
for didnt she get to Albury often enough.
Thanks for sending Morris's address will write
to him shortly.
Awful noise at the moment as the night staff seem
to be in a rather playful mood, how they
have the energy I dont know as they haven't 
been to sleep yet & have to work all night
 

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

FOR SAFETY.
IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:
The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy or its escorts.
The date of sailing ports of call or probable destination.
The description of troops aboard any other information which, if
intercepted would be of value to the enemy.
3.
When we go on night duty here. we the on coming night staff
works until 2 o'clock & is supposed to sleep rest or
recline until 9 P.m then go on duty again which
the off going night staff stop work 7 A.M. &
also rest till 2/ P.M. & work til nig 9. Pm. And the 
future night staff changes over on the 1^st of every 
month, but then last two changes have had bad
luck as its happened each time that we have
moved to new quarters. & haven't had any sleep
at all, hew ever it doesn't seem to effect their
playfulness. in the slightest.
Sorry you alluded to [[?]] stiffs badly looking
rabbity but can quite believe it
now for a little criticism, your slee spelling isnt
what it used to be. "Query" isnt splet spelt with
an 'i", don't take offense all for your own glove
Of course I remember Poss he was in when
that for Old Hegarty died "Malignant kidney"
& Bill Baher wasnt was ÷ asseto osteo.
Sorry poor little Dolly has boils & Carbuncles again
She must be terribly run down,
When does Dotty start her middy September
isn't it
Hope DrFairly hasn't lost any more buttons
 

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

FOR SAFETY.
IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:
The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy or its escorts.
The date of sailing ports of call or probable destination.
The description of troops aboard any other information which, if
intercepted would be of value to the enemy.
4
supporting his pants; it might be an awful risk Any
way does he still wear suspenders attached to his
socks & shirt; was what ÷ those strong haus
his movements would be rather constricted
Am afraid this is awfully boring but really there 
isnt a scrap of news. Plenty of rumours but whether
any are true or will eventuate its hard to tell.
By the way what would you like for your
birthday & Christmas presents, Anything you like
with in reason.
Give Sister Donald my love & kisses & anything you 
think necessary.
Love to you self & a kick in the 
pants to the rest of the ip  trife - hounds
I know. wish you were all over here
Bud
G.Elmes
 

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

FOR SAFETY.
IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:
The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy or its escorts.
The date of sailing ports of call or probable destination.
The description of troops aboard any other information which, if
intercepted would be of value to the enemy.
NX70526. S/H G ELMSE
10. A.G.H.
A.I.F
Malaya
22-7.41
Dear Old Smithy,
Received yours yesterday which
was most pleasant, Thank you very much
for the offer of Any necessity I may need.
at the moment I don't think there is any thing
unless like to see if you can procur
me some more bathing togs as mine are
just about done as the straps burst off them 
yesterday & aren't very secure now. but if you do
send the bill to Mum don't dream of paying anything

yourself, re. Voile pyjamas we can't procure them
bens but Can get alose Silk ones so if you
would like a pair for Christmas let me know.
Gosh Smithy I wish you were here sometimes we
could have such a gorgeous time together but we will
make up for it when we get back; Goodness knows
when that will be.
One of the girls here who came over last was in Camp
with Skeet & said she had gone there only six of 
them, can't remember who skeet was keen on!
 

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

FOR SAFETY.
IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:
The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy or its escorts.
The date of sailing ports of call or probable destination.
The description of troops aboard any other information which, if
intercepted would be of value to the enemy.
.2
Had the day off. yesterday & spent it at the Swimming
pool got delightfully sunburnt, & didn't go on until
12 today, Another storm is working up so its going
to rain like nothing on earth in at a minute.
Bad luck Mike had another Son. didn't even know
she was due; thought Poppy Frazer had her's weeks
ago; hope it lives this time.
No more news got so dark I can't see, 
so will finish this later.
Love Buddy
24.7.41.
Dera Old Smithy
Feel rather guilty about not answering
or or rather finishing this before; but honestly
thought I might be able to collect a bit more news

or things of interest to write about, but haven't
Am going to a dance tomorrow night at one
of the Battalions mess. but don't know anyone. but 
as a lot of us are going thought I might as well.
The mail doesn't close until Saturday but dont.
if will be in fit condition on Saturday morning to write 
on envelop a snap of the theatre thought
it might interest you.
Remember me to Morris & tell him have
 

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

FOR SAFETY.
IN YOUR LETTERS DO NOT REFER TO:
The name of your ship or other ships in the convoy or its escorts.
The date of sailing ports of call or probable destination.
The description of troops aboard any other information which, if
intercepted would be of value to the enemy.
.3
excellent intention of answering his letter.
but could you enclose his address. Some time
as lost it in a moment of exertive tidiness
The N.S.Wales Comfort fund came good & sent
us four packets of cigarettes each & a tube of
toothpaste, pls of jui  chewing gum & a box of matches
So feel friendly towards them now.

Have jus bathed in nioce warm water so the
body is totally soothed.
The weather isnt nearly as hot as it has
been in fact almost pleasant now =
frequent thunder storms & rain.
I wrote to Dotty the other day bu ordinary 
mail so just tell her the news will most
likely be very stale and I know intermittent
Are you yourself in charge of Ward one.
Newis has been up country at another place
for the last few months & can only came back
the other day & haven't seen but much of
her as am over at other quarters &
its too much trouble going over to see her
As means climbing a few stairs
Must go to bed Sorry this is so uninteresting
Will write a better letter next time
Love to all the tripe hands
Love Buddy
G.E.Elmes
 

Australian Red Cross Society.
(UNOFFICIAL)

NX70526. S/H G ELMSE
10. A.G.H.
A.I.F
Malaya
17-7.41
Dear Old Smithy.
Humble apologies for not writing 
last mail, but up in the hills for four
days, and had a gorgeous time so hadn't time or the
energy to write as we had meals at odd hours &
two nights didn't get to bed to until some ungodly
hour.
It was Cooler enough to have a blanket on at night
& a cardigan in the evenings even if some of the 
enthusiastic ones sat in front of fires.
However we left here about seven & got there at
three in the afternoon; so didn't do anything much
that day relived to the old flee bay early which
was most comfortable. Went for a very long walk
then the next day all over the hills. & played tennis
in the afternoon, & had dinner then over to the
Club where we messed about until about midnight
Next day played appalling golf with a very
nice Scotish women & thoroughly enjoyed it