Letters from Norman Griffiths Ellsworth to his Mother, 1916 - Part 19 of 28

[*PS. Walked with Lucy to Cobham Park (5 miles) & had tea in
the "Leather Bottle" Inn, where Chas Dickens wrote the
Pickwick Papers etc.
Norm.

28 Cobham St,
Gravesend, Kent.
England, July 25^th.

Dearest Mother & all at Home,
As you can
see by the above address, I am again
staying at our cousins here for 7 days,
having had little or no difficulty in
obtaining leave of absence.
I have tried
until I am tired of asking to be allowed
to go to France, & it is always the same
answer, so I am going to take it out of
them in Leave, if they will not let me go
to the front, so here I am, & having a real
good time, altho' money goes quickly of
course, still I have plenty to see me thro'
my holiday, & to give Harriet a ₤ or two
on leaving.
They are all pretty well here
except Cousin Nellie (Mrs Niblett) who
has permanent neuralgia & she is pretty

used to it by now. Cousin Julia has
gone to stay with her married daughter

(over

2
(Ada), & we have just heard has she has
had the misfortune to fall down stairs,
& strain the muscles of her back rather
severely, & is now confined to bed for
3 or 4 weeks. Harriet is well; so is Lucy
& cousin Sarah.— Harriet finds a
little difficulty in making "Ends meet"
& is contemplating living in a flat,
with Lucy, nearer London. She has
a young chap boarding with her at
the present, who is employed at the
local post & telegraph office, & his
mother is also staying here for a week
or 10 days, so this is a little help for
her. I will have some news to tell you
about the people at Penzance, when I
return, which will greatly amuse you.
I
took Lucy into London yesterday, & took
her to dinner, afterwards round the City
& then after tea, to the Theatre & supper.
She does not work in London, & is
not familiar with it, so I showed her
round a bit, & during the afternoon

3
we saw a big procession of women, war
workers, in their different designs etc,
representing the part that the women
are playing in this war, & the most remarkable 
thing about is was;: — every
banner referred to our Mr Hughes!
Some had "We must have Hughes
back at once"; & others said "Hughes
is wanted on the War Council" etc &
scores of different demands of Hughes.
It was a remarkable procession in
more senses than one.
I know my way
about London pretty will now, & when
you all come over, I will show you
around in great style.
The new Australian
Division in Salisbury (just arrived) is
on leave in London (25%) & the girls
are "rushing them", & everywhere is to
be seen Australians & girls flying
all over the city in taxis etc, & dining
in the best restaurants, & causing people
to stare as their great physique
(over 

4
I myself was dining at a swagger "eat
house" in the Strand. (Corner House), with
a girl the other night, & I noticed 3
Australians come in with 3 girls, & amongst
the Australians, was my old swimming
pal, (at St Kilda) Stan Martin; — he
left Australia in May, & had only
just arrived in England, & just as he
was about to sit down, I gave our 
old whistle --- (you know what
that is), & instantly, he stood up & looked
all around, but I kept low, & afterwards
he resumed his seat, evidently mis-
taken, & I let it go again, & he got up
once more, so this time I stood up,
& let him see me, then we rushed
violently at each other, & almost
shook each others hand off, & every
one in the room stopped eating to
look at us, & must have thought we
had gone balmy or something, but
I was awfully pleased to see him, &
he appeared to be pleased to see me
too, so after a brief chat, we resumed
dinner 

5
The girls are very attraction & good looking
in London, & are mad on our chaps, & if
they are walking along the streets, the
girl, no matter how pretty & well dressed
she is, she must go arm in arm with
our chaps, & one would think that they
had known each other all their lives,
but really our chaps can & do, make
themselves "at home" wherever they go,
& the poor Tommies are very jealous
of us.
One old gent accosted me just by
Westminster Abbey on Saturday, & extend-
ed his hand to me, & on my taking it, he
said "Excuse me, but when I see you
Australian boys physique, I simply
can't help myself & must shake hands
with you, & if this war was only a
man to man fight, the Colonials would
be in Berlin by now". He was most
enthusiastic about it too, & seemed full
of emotion. Of course I thanked him &
assured him that his good opinion was
thoroughly appreciated, & he smiled &
shook hands once more
(over  

6
I have not struck any of the Johnson
boys, or yet the Ballarat Ellsworths, but
the Ballarat boys, I do not know.
I cannot
get any mail whatever now, so I have
given instructions for them to re-address
them to 28 Cobham St Gravesend, & Harriet,
who I will always let know my address,
has promised to send them on to me.
Lucy
is still keeping company with her boy,
who never takes her anywhere, & is afraid
to go to London, so she enjoyed being out
yesterday. He is trying hard to dodge
Active Service, because he is a "Mothers boy".
Well my dears, I do hope you are
all well. Give my love all around. I
am in the very pink of condition &
health, so don't worry about me. The
war will be over by next July, so chin
up. No more news at present, so
will close with fondest love from
all here, & from your affectionate son
Norman
[*1DRL 266*]