Letters from Sister Dorothy Gwendoline Howard Elmes, 1941 - 1942 - Part 9

NX70526. S/N. G. Elmes
2/10 A.G.H.
A.I.F.
Malaya
27.5.41
Dear Old Smithy.
Not much news this week. Got a letter
from Angie today. will you tell her I saw Arch on
Sunday. it was rather funny as was leading leaning
over the rail listening to the band (which was playing
its usual Sunday afternoon Bad noise) when heard some
one say hello Bud even then it didnt penetrate
who it might be as didn't recognize him for a
moment he looked awfully well his hair cut
short & he has filled out no longer stoops, & looks
a thoroughly happy healthy looking kid. Anyway
we had quite a long chat. & he sent me up some Corowa 
free presses tonight so must scrounge round & see
if I can find anything that might interest him, his
unit is quite near here:

It's comparatively cool at the moment had quite a lot of
rain last night; (you will think that I never do anything
but growl about the heat:) but its so beastly monotonous
still really not growling

Sorry Morris doesn't approve of your Army Career 
so won't offer any advice one way or the other   

2.

Go on night duty myself on Sunday night, don't mind
really but do hate leaving the theatre but have been
there three months so can't complain because its only
fair every one should get a your turn: wished I had
seen the trephine you did. I have learn a hell of a

lot since I have been here not so much in big things

as little things the different melt methods of doing

them.

Yesterday we two of us took some patients in the

ambulance back to their units, & stayed & had a

swim which was delightful, then back to the

officers mess for dinner, we were invited as

the kid I was with knew several of them very

well. After that to a troops concert & got back

about half past eleven but it was quite nice & 

a change.

The place is very quiet as nearly every one is out. tonight
Think I told you that I had a letter from Lilas McGorman
the other day.

Matron must be pretty well putting on all that weight
hope the old bird continues to be full of beans.
Give her my love & tell I will sit down when

I am on night duty & write her a really intelligent

letter.

Who said Dotty was incapable slow but never incapable
hope she has a good trip to Adelaide its a pity you
didnt give her Jean's address in A

3.

By the way am very insulted I see the Corowa Free Press 
has failed to put my name on their honour Roll, yet
they write me a delightful letter saying how how noble
I am; (going to hang it on the wall when I get inferiority
complex) also a £1 of canteen orders.

Went for a swim on Sunday morning most enjoyable

unfortunately the pool contained jelly fish (viscious & familiar
hunter). Next Sunday have hopes of a spot of golf. must
get my weekly sport. By the way talking of golf clubs mine
are behind the wardrobe in my room so if it is still
not occupied look there for them & give Aunt Evie
my? sincerest apologies for not returning them.
Those questions of Naughtys sound pretty good she should
be alright as long as she didn't leave out too much
but she couldn't have done a worst paper than I did 
Sorry you haven't been receiving my letters regularly, not as
though there is anything in any of them all more or less
the same.

Give my love to Sister Donald & all the kids Dr's & other
necessities. Tell Dr Barnard I frequently think of him
specially when I see anaesthetics ect.

No more of this tripe old hound.

Sorry Hughie died, but he has been there long enough

Love Buddy.      G.Elmes

Nx70526. S/M G. Elmes

2/10 A.G.H.

A.I.F.

Malaya

20.5.41

Dear Old Smithy,

Sorry you didn't here from me last week but

they altered our mail day so suppose I missed out, the

silly asses have again today so this won't even leave 

here until thursday.

At the moment am on duty working among the officers

so its almost the same as P.B. do two days a week

here & the rest of my time in the theatre that is

until the end of the month then I have a horrible

fear that I am going on night duty, we do month

& have a day off once a week or rather a night

Played tennis on Saturday at the club thoroughly &

enjoyed my self & a swim on Sunday morning beyond that

life is more or less the same.

Suppose I had better get their afternoon teas as the blighters

usually prefer sandwiches and have rather hefty appetites

By the way have you procured the horse & gig yet

you & Dot must be causing some excitement over it

2.

we now more or less censor our own letters not as

though it really makes any difference but often want to

make some remark about some of the kids & find 

feel if someone else is reading it its not very pleasant.

Remember me to Morris & tell him I am looking forward

to his letter.

Will finish this later as really must look busy.

We are working practiculaly the same kw hours as

you use to. from 7 in the morning until 5.30 pm.

or from 7 to one 5.30 till nine, so we really dont

have much time for social activities.

Chance will finish this tonight got a large pile of "Suns"

from Sister Donald yesterday (adressed in your handwriting)

so thank her very much.

21.5.41.

Sorry I didnt finish this last night but the troops held

a concert down in the men's mess, it was quite well done

Considering they had nothing to do anything with.

This morning crawled out of the flea-bag several minutes

earlier as their was respirator drill at 6.45 (a nasty

performance at any th time, but specially at that hour

of the morning, were pretty busy all day. As

we just got cleaned up & an acute appendix came

in so didnt get off as early as usual, and its

been a filthy day, hot & muggy - not a breath of air

3.

The place is very quiet at the moment as nearly everyone

is either out or on duty: usually its rather hard to concentrate

Their are such a nice crowd of kids here specially Matron

who is very young & human. she in away reminds me of

a very level headed Sister Jones;  she understands that

the majority of us like a good time, provide we get home

at the appointed time & don't make a noise, no complaints 

are made.

Got a long letter from Lilas M^cGorman yesterday she

said she joined up for home service, & had a call

for a personal interview. She also said Sister Jones

had been called up so suppose she is with McCrom

& Freddie who were trying to get to Darwin, so good

luck to them. Thank goodness we weren't out then.

There is very little news. Suppose you are on night duty

now.

Hope Dolly is better give her my love & kisses, & tell

her am awfully sorry she is sick.

Thank Sister Donald for the "Suns" & tell her I will

write some time soon but my correspondence is getting

a bit beyond me at the moment.

By the way Chrysanthemum is spelt with an 'h' or with an

m;  

Give my love to all the kids specially Naughty.

Will write next week.

Cheerio   Love Buddy

[*G. Elmes*]

[*G. Elmes*]
NX70526 S/N. G. Elmes

2/10 A.G.H.

A.I.F.

Malaya

11.5.41

Dear Old Smithy,

Yours received yesterday, many thanks for

getting Ambie to send my shoes. They should arrive next

month some time these beastly things seem to develop corns.

Tomorrow Shuey & I hope to go to Singapore for a few days

as we have all been granted two days leave, so 
it should be rather pleasant.

It seems hard to think we have been here three

months in a way it seems years, but hope its not as

long as that.

Have only just crawled out of the old flea-bag so at the 

moment the grey matter isnt working well but seeing

its Sunday & no one wants their appendix or anything

else removed will refrain from going on duty until

after breakfast. As a matter of fact rather wish some

one would get an acute appendix because am the only

member of the theatre staff at home today, still

suppose I mustn't be blood thirsty.

Have you & Dotty been for your drive in a gig as yet

Any way why the sudden desire for that means of

conveyance.

Must go & eat will try & finish this some time today

should have tons of time after dinner.

15.5.41.

Well am sorry didnt finish this before we went but 

some how didn't get time what with packing & talking & 

general messing around.

We left here on Monday morning at seven & arrived at

Singapore just in nice time for lunch. had a very

nice trip down, the country varies very little only some

2.

parts are wetter than others. And slightly more hilly, but

its the never ending greeness of the place you get so sick of.

however patches of it was beautiful. passed the usual

native villages. all very much the same only the smell varies

slightly (stronger), One sign in front of one of the shops amused

us "Tamid Molomet: Oculist'. Eyes. piles. & women decease.

so he musts have had rather a wide range to cure. don't know

what oculist means in this country.  Anyway after having

a very nice lunch at Raffles were we were staying, a Major of

some description had a car lent to him took us round to

see the sights, which included the Civil Airport but

of course we weren't allowed to see much; After that

to the swimming pool which is very nice & most select?

& really beautifull I will send you a snap of it because

I can't describe it properly. After feeding the face we drove

through the botanical gardens were there are dozens of

monkeys quite tame scampering about all over the place.

various photos of them were taken not many turned

out, then to a Chinese garden, which was absolutely

beautiful forget who beautiful ^built it somebody w plenty of money 
it wasn't very big but along one side was all rock

with tunnels carved though it, with the most exquisite

china figures of of Chinese & Ming temples done in th vivid

colours. don't know what they indicated; some Chinese

fairy story or pilgrimage, outside were enormous dragons

also made of china & done in very vivid colours nearly

every scale different colour, then about the lawn were

various storks also coloured & life side size, the whole

3.

effect was wonderful but am not describing it very well.

After that we got back to Raffles for a bath & dinner. Schuey

knew a couple of air force lads so we changed in to our

evening frocks (& don't noise it about that we wore evening clothes 
because we aren't supposed to but you have no idea how

people stare at you when in uniform. Any one would think

it we were some thing the cat dragged in); And

went round to various cabarets, stayed at the quietest one

most of the evening, & thoroughly enjoyed it. after that went

for a drive round again admired the moon ect, had supper

and retired to bed.

The next day wandered round on our own & did a spot of shopping.

Then was shouted lunch, after that went out to the

Ra.a.f. School & saw over various the planes & things very

interesting Afternoon tea at some small cafe along the beach. 
After that for drove round abut more to before coming back to

town.who went to the pictures & saw "Escape" quite good &

worth seeing. Schuey & I scarpered back to the hotel &

changed our shirts as we were pretty por fruity, then

out to dinner at a place called the Gap which is

beautiful, fairly high above the water, & the tables were

out side & the lighting was most effective as the light was

under the tables & shone through the bowl of flowers, don't know

4.

whether you can understand that, what I mean is there was

a hole in the centre of the table & the vase of flowers parked

on top of them, stayed out then fairly late, as most people 

feed at ridiculous hours dinner quite often not till ten, still

it saves supper, got back at a respectable hour, as those two

lads were pretty tired & so were we. Yesterday morning

a spot more shopping & then to Johore to see the Zoo

which was quite interesting - run by the Sultan; it after

lunch c packed the old suitcase and caught the mail

car home got back here at half past eight.

It was a nasty feeling crawling out of the old flea-bag at

half past six this morning as am relieving in the wards

today I hope not permanently, but suppose I can't be selfish

wanting the theatre all the time, but gosh I like it

Suppose after you read this will think every thing that

is in the Women's Weekly is true; its not, because 

we are working pretty hard at the moment; and don't

have time for much social activity.

Tell Curly I received her letter & will answer it in a 

couple of days but doubt if I will get time today as

go on duty at four until nine.

No more news, hope I haven't bored you at all.

Love Buddy.