Letters from Norman Griffiths Ellsworth to his Family, 1917 - Part 4 of 7

As the 116th How Bty is now 
gone to reinforce the 101^st 
& 102^nd How B'ties, I should 
say that it is necessary to 
put, "Head Quarters Staff of 
ex 116^th How Bty," 
N^o 1 Boyton Camp, Codford 
Wilts; England. 
25^th March 1917 
  
My Dearest Mother, and all at Home, 
Well! My dears  
it is the eve of my departure for France for 
the 2nd occasion, & tomorrow, the remnants 
of the battery, designated as above, will
(to use official phraseology) proceed overseas 
to reinforce the 1st Divisional Artillery in 
France. 
There are only 2 officers ( Including Major 
Harris) & 22 other ranks, so we will be a small 
party, & we will go across from Folkestone to 
Boulogne, & then "up the line with the book 
of luck", as the saying goes - The 22 
other ranks consists of 2 Warrant Officers 
(Wickens & myself) the Farrier Sgt & his corporal, 
my orderly room corporal; 1 corporal; 2 
telephonist corporals, & 2 saddlers, & the rest 
comprises of Officers servants & cooks, etc. 
Major Harris says that he is going to take 
me to his battery (the 1^st) & Major MacArthur 
says that he is going to demand me, and 
another officer, Lieut Knight insists on me 
going to his battery, so I'm rather in the 
boom lately, & feel quite flattered by their 
remarks. I was told one very interesting(?) 
piece of information by Harris, in that "if 
I wasn't so useful as a Battery Sgt Major, he 
would send my name in for a suitable

2 
candidate for the commissioned rank" so 
you see how a man gets on when he is 
fairly successful in his job. - It is a fact, 
& Harris admitted it, "that a bombardier 
has more chance for a commission than a 
Bty Sgt Major", as they can be spared & 
the other can't: - That is what they 
try to push down my throat, but I'm not 
"taking any"; - it is poor consolation to 
a chap of my experience, - not that I 
want a commission, but that "can't be 
spared gag has fizzled out long ago" - 
They really would be in the "muck" if it were 
not for the Sgt Major, & it is no enviable 
job, I can assure you, as there is such a lot 
to think of, with keeping N.C.Os & men up to 
their work, & after that is finished, there is 
tons of office work to be fixed up, & the 
amount of official "tommy rot" that goes thro' 
is just the "dizzy limit" (whatever that means) 
Red Tape! --- why! there is no end of it. 
Well! anyhow, I have just had another 
little flutter in London on the strength of our 
marching out, & I have just returned. 
I went yesterday afternoon ( Saturday) 
to the Queens Hall & heard a very fine 
performance of the Symphony Orchestra, & 
it is the finest 2/6 worth I have ever had. 
Talk about musical instruments, - why 
there were some that I've never seen before 
& couldn't name, and every individual 
was an artist, & so all I did was 
to sit there in rapture at the most 
glorious music I've ever heard.

3 
London is just as gay as ever, & a chap is 
just besieged with girls.  - People talk of the 
Australian girls immodesty, - why!  they are 
simply desciples compared with the London girls 
One would never think there was a war 
on. If you go into a Restaurant, it is full 
or into a theatre or music hall, it is full, or 
into the trains, they are full, also the 
buses, & the underground railways, and 
any place one likes to go into, ---  and the 
pubs! ---  my goodness, to see the way 
how women and girls "fall in" outside the 
pubs, to get their pints of beer, or stout, 
--- it is just incredible, & has to be seen 
to be believed. It is quite the usual 
thing to ask your girl into a pub to have 
a "gargle", (as they call it) & she will never  
say "No", ---  I feel an awful fool when 
I admit to them that I'm a "TT" & they 
say" oh! thats your bad luck", - & the 
 girls are confirmed smokers, too, --- and of 
course they can't make me out not being a 
smoker or drinker, but I'm quite alright & 
it will do me. --- I hate intoxicating 
liquors more than I ever did, & I simply 
loathe a drunken man, and a drunken 
women ten times worse. --- A drunken 
woman looks "champion" when her hat 
 gets " skew whiff", & her clothing torn, & 
that blearie look in her eyes, & the awful 
smell of her breath, --- and when she 
tries to speak, --- well, its a combination  
of a hiccup, & a song, & at the  
same time, trying to keep the beer down.

4. 
You might still continue to send all mail 
etc c/o Harriet Cole, and I will always 
let her know where to re-address it to. 
I haven't had any mail for some 
time now, & I believe that it is held up 
in the Mediterranean sea through enemy 
action, so apparently "Fritz" knows all 
about my correspondence --- curse him. 
Don't  address my correspondence to the 
116^th Howitzer Battery, because that unit 
is now non existent, so I expect the 
best way is:--- 843 Battery Serg Major NG 
Ellsworth 1^st Divisional Australian Artillery 
c/o 28 Cobham St Gravesend, Kent. 
I have sent Harriet a £ now & then 
to help her along a little, as food etc 
is fairly dear nowadays in England. 
I will continue to write once a 
week as usual whilst in France, but 
I can't guarantee this, as all correspondence 
is held up at the Censor office, but 
I will try, for all that. 
Now please don't get miserable 
& all that sort of rot, but please remember 
that I am "doing my bit" & I'm going 
to try & see this "show" thro' to the finish 
& I will take care of myself. If I can 
be instrumental in killing a few thousand 
Huns, I will do so gladly, & without 
mercy, too --- nothing is too bad for them. 
Well! dears, I hope you are all 
in the best of health, & I am too, thanks 
"cheer -oh" with fondest love 
from 
"Jake."

France 2/4/17. 
Dearest Mother, & all at Home, 
Just a line to let 
you know that I am once more here, and 
expect to go up the line any day now, but 
what battery I am to go to, I really don't 
know, --- but the Major wants me to go 
with him, so at present we are just waiting 
further orders, & at the same place 
as where I previously was, - except that 
I am not at the XXXX. 
We had a plesant journey XXXX 
XXXX arrived XXXX, in the 
rain, & dark, --- but we soon got settled. 
XXXX 
XXXX 
& XXXX are still with us, but will be going 
to XXXX 
I have met several old friends of 
the old 4th Bty, including Will Petterson 
(my ex corporal) Tiny Salkeld, and several

2 
of the Drivers & Gunners, & they tell 
me that there are very few of the 
originals left in the 4^th now. 
I had another 3 days leave after 
the battery left, - & before we got 
our marching orders, but had to 
take things very quietly as money 
was scarce until pay day, however 
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute 
of it. 
All clocks have been put on  
another hour since we arrived here 
& it started in Blighty on April 1st 
& it certainly is a good idea, as it 
is daylight very early & the men are 
put to work earlier. 
I want you still to address 
all mail to me c/o Harriet Cole, as 
I have a chance of getting it much 
better that way, - especially  
whilst we are moving about 
  
3 
from place to place, I telegraph 
ed to her to keep all mail for  
me until I wrote & told her 
where to readdress it to. 
I haven't had any letters of 
any sort for at least a month, 
& goodness only knows when I will 
get some, but I really am 
longing for news of home. 
May Tilton was at Southall 
Auxiliary Hospital expecting to  
go over seas, when I last heard 
from her, & I do not expect 
a letter from her until she is 
settled. 
You will be surprised to know 
that I went my 3^rd sea trip 
without getting mal-de-mer 
so I am improving alright

4 
No doubt you will miss my 
usual 4 page foolscap letters, 
but you must be contented 
with this, as there are only 
the service letter cards on issue 
& these convey no home talk. 
Of course I am in the best  
of health, & all that sort of 
thing, & am anxious to get in 
the "big push" soon, so hoping 
you are all in the best of 
health & happiness, & with 
fondest love to you all 
I remain your loving son 
Norman 
{*DH Allen*}

France 
12/4/17. 
My dearest Mother and all at Home, 
Just a  
line to let you know that I am in 
the best of health, & spirits, and 
have at last got my desire fulfilled. 
We only stayed at the Base for 
4 days & was sent up to the battery 
& are in the firing line at present & 
am of course with my OC Major H. 
The weather has been very 
changeable lately, but is improving 
now. 
I was very flattered by the 
reception given me by the Officers 
NCOs & men whom I formerly 
knew & all wanted me to get 
with them, but we were sent to 
the 102^nd H.B. 
The "big push" is now on, and 
I have seen & heard some very 
wonderful things, & I hope that we 
can finish it before the New Year 
over

Page 2 
I would feel obliged if you would 
still send my letters to Harriet Cole 
& a parcel of clothing every now & 
then, but I am well off at present 
in this respect. I have had no 
letters for a long time, & am dying  
for news. 
Braithwaite is here with me 
& I have met Jack Tilton who is 
looking fine; he is in action not  
far from here. 
Let me know if you are 
short of money & I will re allot you 
some as I have plenty & cannot 
spend it. 
Well I must close now, 
& hope you are all well. Give 
my best love to all & accept 
the same from 
Your loving son 
Norman 
  
Oh! Yardley has been reduced 
to the ranks & is a driver in 
the DAC now. 
  
AG Friend