Letters from Sister Dorothy Gwendoline Howard Elmes, 1941 - 1942 - Part 10

NX70526.  S/N  G.Elmes.

2/10 A.G.H

A.I.F

Malaya.

3.5.41

[*P.S.  Thanks awfully for

sending me this 'Digest'

haven't received any yet.*]

Dear Old Smithy,

Received two letters from you & one from

Mum & Dad, (So at the moment) that doesn't seem necessary am pretty partial to

life at the moment. Wish Naughty the very best

from me when she goes for her final would send her

a Cable but it would most likely miss her at Wagga.

So will refrain from doing so.

Hope the eye lashes have grown again, good thing you

didn't blow your head off, (what a nasty mess).

Am at the moment lying on a spare bed, surrounded 

by various oddments, mostly letters I have just received

so the scene is quite homily & pleasant & it really

only wants your vile body about to complete it.

Many thanks for sending Garvans speech along, tell

him I appreciated it, there is no doubt about it

he does speak well!

Well old hound must retire to the flea-bag

as its well past my bed time.

5.5.41.

Started this a couple of days ago; wasn't much

to add, By the way you need not enlarge about

the fronts, cold weather ect because don't know

2

what they are.

Life in more or less to be same here beyond the fact

that haven't been for a swim this week, (but have

had a bath), but have played tennis nearly every

afternoon so get plenty or rather sufficient exercise 

Yesterday afternoon a band from one of the other

units came and entertained  the patients and us

to a little music, (more enjoyable) they played

all the old favourites; so we supplied them with

drinks & sandwiches ect; so it was a thoroughly

esp pleasant afternoon.

How are the nerves of Pettybridges stomach progressing

hope improved.  Sorry to hear Angie & Dolly

aren't the best.

Am quite looking forward to my leave to Singapore

but it won't be for a little while yet, but all

the ones that have gone have had a gorgeous thr

time, and it will be a change not as though

am need of any change.

The description of the new junior is flattering

specially when you say she is like me & very

neat have been feeling rather pleased with

life since, Anyway she sounds a very nice

kid disregarding the resemblance to my

fly blown body, hope she likes the profession.

Don't forget to send Mum the bill for my shoes

as she has my money to pay for them, also don't

want to be forward but it might be a good idea

to pack them with calico round the outside instead

of paper as they arrive in better condition. (Am

only suggesting not telling you to do so).

3.

Tell Sister Donald, that the "suns) are much appreciated 

and thank her for sending them (I know you are

addressing them) and hope she had a nice holiday 

Just fed the face (internally and externally) on

water melon unfortunately the only fruit I don't

really relish however as the donor stood &

watched me chew it then presented me with

Another bit had to pretended I was enjoying it

never all mind all grist to the mill, or rather

more fat to the 'ips' be like Belinda soon 

and no doubt equally as useful for glycerine

Hope Matron enjoyed her nieces wedding any way

you didn't tell how her health was then.

Don't think Morris will approve of you joining up

but if I thought for one moment that you

would be coming over here as a reinforcement &

would strongly advise it, unless you of course

you inform Matron Keary that you really can't

exist without me which I doubt whether she would

really like the hint; but for goodness sake

write to Jean if you are going to Adelaide &

she will look after you quite nicely.

Tell Brody am looking forward to her letter &

will be only too pleased to recieve several more

from her, guarantee to answer any recieved

no more news or tripe to write about,

Cheerio to all the kids

Love Buddy.

[*DPaschke*]

PR 88/108

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

NX70526. S/N. G. Elmes

2/10 A.G.H

A.I.F

Malaya

17.3.41.

Dear Old Smithy,

Afraid I am a few days late this

week but you will most likely get it about the

same time.

We had alot of mail this morning including two

"suns" Sister Donald sent me. So will you thank her

from me. Also from a cousin of mine the one that

I have been meaning to send a wedding present to

for the last few years, but she has apparently

forgiven me & is very partial and proud of me.?

However the last few days life has been very

pleasant, yesterday afternoon we went down to

the swimming pool, and stayed there until eight -

had coffee & biscuits on the beach, as its awfully pretty

there and came back feeling very partial to life.

Then this morning in a moment of energy, got up at

quarter to seven & had a couple of sets of tennis

2

(so good for the figure) then after breakfast unfortunately 

did a spot of work (hard life this). This afternoon 

we went out for afternoon tea and more tennis )

don't think we do this every day, quite frequently

work at least the others do.

I see in one of the "Suns" Sister Donald sent that

we were described as a "Magnificent body."  I hadn't

noticed it but its pleasant to think some one else

has.

I should with any luck get your letter tomorrow. 

have you got any of mine yet.  Mum apparently 

has: not as though there is much in them, poor old

Mum is always complaining of lack of news ect.

By the way do you know if Tick Saunders ever

got my stretcher because if by any chance  you

have her address I might write or rather get Mum

to send her the money for it.

How is Old Naught getting on with the study?

Tell all the other hounds I think of them often, but

haven't written because any news there is I tell you

but really will answer Angie letter because I

do like hearing from them.

.3.

Personally I think I have written enough for one

night as have already composed one letter to Jean

(three pages of absolute tripe).

Finish this tomorrow

Cheerio Buddy..

18.3.41. Got your letter this afternoon, will please inform

Johnny Barnard & Fairley, that am looking round for

a suitable donor, so far not successful, and therefore

can not put the advise into practice, but will endeavour

to do so;  and you can continue to give my kindest

regards to John Garvan:  will send up you a photo

of us all so Ron can pick out the top of my head

with the microscope any how it has our names

underneath (but will you send it on to Mum after

wards).  So far have got a letter a week from you,

so hope it continues. Hope you aren't suffering from a fractured

skull, never mind you can again return to Brody the

kick in parts with my love & thanks. Give my love 

to Burn & Thelie when they come at Easter as may not

get sufficient energy to write before.  Glad to here Fluff

is safely married & remained sovber sober.^.  From your

letter it appears you are lowering yourself by writing on 

4.

duty?  P.B's garden sounds beautiful, roses are about the

only thing that doesn't grow b here well in fact I have only

seen about one. You might tell Blander it might be rather

au an improvement if her head was knocked off.

Tell Emma I am surprised at her for wasting perfectly

good water melon on Mec's face, I would have loved

to have seen the technique, must  finish as this might

be overweight  & you wouldn't get it.

Love to the tr tripe hounds

& yourself Buddy

[*censor
L James*]

Dear Old Smithy,

Not very much news this week, although

was rather social last week, on friday night several

of us went to a Malayan girls training college

for about an hour to a concert given by them it

was very clever although some of the sketches were

a bit hard to follow as it was all spoken in

Malayan; (we aren't so hot at the language yet).

On Saturday morning we enticed an Ambulance (our

means of conveyance) to take ^us to the Swimming

pool with several pounds of steak which we had cooked

there & it was delicious; and that night six of

us were invited to a Rotary Club dinner

consisting of eight courses; but altogether it was

most interesting; some of the speeches were very

good and clever, the majority of the members

2

were well educated Chinese & Singalese. The Chinese

particularly are frightfully proud of never having intermarried 

with the other races, although most of them have

lived here for dozens of generations. Suppose you

think we dont do any work, except as a little recreation

but we do really, although it doesn't sound like it.

Bought some quite nice table mats like that cloth

Mrs Frazer gave Fluff, and they were particularly cheap -

so will send them home, will you something when

I see something decent.

By the way thanks ever so much for sending that

Cable, I got it a couple of days ago. I couldn't think

who it was from & got a terrific thrill out of it.

Mum says she is getting my letters quite regularly

now so hope you are as usually write every

Tuesday or Wednesday, in fact am due for a

letter today. So will finish this later as must

go & see about getting some f breakfast.

By the way we discovered the most delightful

drink, a mixture of sweetened condensed milk & Bournvita

messed up together with water and a little

dash of ice most soothing to the nerves.

.3.

Later:  Didn't get your letter today after all, some

rumour that the mail was delayed because of

rough weather; any how it didnt turn up so

am a bit fed up; you don't know how I miss

your fowl old body about, not as though the kids

here aren't nice.

Thanks awfully for writing to Mum so often, she

does appreciate it and is always saying was what a

good letter you write; (enough of this or you will getting

swell headed).

Is Fluff back from her honeymoon yet, I haven't

forgotten her so will write some time & often wish

I had her to attack fiercely:  Really fruity kicks in

the parts to Brodie & Dotty.

Hope Matron is well; must write to her again soon

to show I still appreciate her.

Sorry this is so boring but the intelligence

is high; they say in this country that after a

while the mu appetite goes, then the mind

followed shortly by the morals so it looks as though

have started in the middle don't know what will

come next.  Cheerio old hound & all the other
tripe hounds
Love Buddy   James