Letters of Thomas Rampton Hunter, 1940-1944 - Part 1

Victorian Y.M.C.A. Military Service Department

PATRON: HIS MAJESTY THE KING

 

Y.M.C.A.

Think Clean

Talk Clean

Live Clean

Play the Game

 

Write Home First

 

1-7-1940

 

Dear Mother,

Was very pleased to receive your

little note yesterday & we were pleased

at seeing Joan & Ivy. I think they

all had a pretty cold lift up as the

weather was still cold when they arrived.

Glad to hear that "Pucka" has done a

bit of good for himself at last - at

least he will be worth his keep

if he continues his good work.

Thank Aunt Fan for her

beautiful fruit cake which to the

present I have not yet tasted as in our

little bunch there were that many

cream cakes etc we polished them off

first despite not being hungry.

After Ralph, Joan & Ivy left

yesterday four of us went into

a cafe in Seymour & polished off a

grilled steak eggs etc & then had a

hot shower each - 9d a wash.

It was very refreshing & well worth it.

 

PLEASE WRITE ON BOTH SIDES

2

Yesterday Jack was not too

well & last night had a temperature

of 102 & is now in hospital with,

I think, the flu. We have just

made up of a parcel for him of

some oranges, snowballs, chocolates

Aunts fruit cake. (which he is mad on)

& we will deliver it tonight.

There are all sorts of rumours

about us coming down to live at

home & going to W.M.C.The

rumours have varied that much that

they commence from Saturday, Monday,

Thursday & alternately even going to

England. We now ourselves believe

nothing on account of so many rumours.

Well, I'll close now

expecting to be down for the weekend

to see all then.

With much love to Jean, Ivy

& Yourself

Thomas

 

Nancy Dod sent me a beautiful pair of socks with

a letter. (I clicked)

Letter No. 1

AUSTRALIAN COMFORTS FUND [Victorian Division]

With which is affiliated the R.S.L. War Service Fund

A.C.F

 

Thursday 6th February 41

at. Sea

 

Dear Mother & Jean,

As you are probably aware, we left

Port Melbourne at 4 P.M. Wednesday after arising

at 2 A.M. at Pucka, then caught the train about

5.45. & finished up on the Mauretania at

9. It was a great relief to get on the

boat & get rid of all our gear. We are

stationed on B deck which is fairly high up

there being only one deck above with sleeping

quarters on. We are most fortunate as there

are many on the decks in hammocks &

a lot beneath in the holds in bunks all

crowded together. Our cabin is a 2 Berth

possessing all the modern faculties one

could wish - the only thing missing is

a bath but that is obtainable about 12'feet

away. Our cabin has 2 wardrobes, a dressing

table - tall mirror, wash wash basin with

hot & cold water, Electric fan & a controlled

inlet of cold air. By each berth, which are

2

situated one above the other (I am in the top &

Mick Hudson beneath) there is a panel for

the bed lights etc & call buttons for stewards

& stewardesses (which unfortunately are out of

action). The beds are beautiful

& the bedding is one white blanket only

-the mattresses being enclosed in ^ white cases.

We are messing in the dining rooms but

the tables are out & we have long plain

tables & forms - meals are very good &

satisfactory for sea travel. I am feeling

very well & have not yet got any qualms.

Our cabin is aft on the starboard side

which in plain language is near the

rear & on the right side.

George describes the boat as having a

sharp & blunt end & galleys as gullies.

This morning we received a parcel from

the Australian Comforts Fund- a decent one

& I can take back a few things I have

said about them for the parcel consisted of

-towel pyjamas sox 3 handkerchiefs razor blades

 

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singlet soap - (washing & salt water soap)

shirt, shorts, pocket book.

Bill Muston is on board & looks

wonderfully well & said that once he

used to work - but what a fool's game.

This life will do him.

For the next three nights we

retard our watches ½ hour each

night. Blackouts are observed

every night, but not in the cabins.

Jack & Bill are on one side of our cabin

& George & Cecil Watson (the lay preacher) on the

other - all cabins being the same except

George who has a port-hole.

Bill amuses me very much as he

lays back & soliquises & he will get

up and say "I think I will partake of

my hot sea bath". He says - "Fancy working

back at the "B" factory when we are

pleasure cruising like this". he says he has been  detailed

to get green oil for the starboard lights. We are in a

convoy which we met

4

late today sta and in it are 3 large ships & a cruiser

we have travelled in many directions

since leaving the heads. S. SW. SE.

W. N. etc & then zig-zagging all

over the place but the main direction

of course is west.

Friday  Now in the Australian Bight

& the sea looks very calm, the only

motion being a slight up & down of

the front to the rear of the boat.

We ^have had emergency drill each day, that

is moving up to our allotted boat stations

& this applies to the whole crew. All the

time we wear our life jackets & water

bottles - even at mess.

By the look of the weather is maybe

a bit rough & it will be the best to

see if Rampton is any sort of a sailor - quite

a few have been sea-sick. Next time

I partake of cruising of or hear of anyone

else doing so I will advise them to

travel a little w^ay f'ward (good-word) as

 

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the vibration of the propellers  is felt, but

it does not worry us.

This afternoon I met Keith Billison

& a couple of chaps I once went to

school with at Mont Albert. There are

thousands aboard including nurses

& one never knows next who you are

likely to meet. Jack & I drank some

beautiful beer in what appeared to be

a smoke room/but it is lined part way

up & forms satsxxx substituted for

furniture. The beer costs only 5d for 20 oz

(1 Pint) & cigarettes are ½ price

-English Craven A -5d & all prices like that!

This life will suit me - all one

seems to do is sleep, eat, bathe

(hot sea baths) some Physical training

& a roam about the ship.

Saturday Things much the same except

that the boat is rolling much more.

It appears to go up round & down as

6

if the up & down direction were

following out an oval. I would

say that the front or sharp end goes

up about 15'or 20' feet.

We expect to arrive at Fremantle on

Monday morning & I am told that

everything is turned on free except

for 1/- that it costs to travel from

Fremantle to Perth. We all

want to pay our office a visit in

Fremantle & I at believe the

chief there is a good fellow.

Monday Morning Fremantle is in sight

& the other boats - Queen Mary, Acquitania are

anchored off shore & the Nieuw Amsterdam just

berthed. We appear to be manoeuvring for berthing.

It is a grand sight & we are looking forward to

a good day at Perth. Tell Ron I am sorry I could

not write to him as the time I had allotted to do so

was taking taken up working on the typewriter, till

mid-night last night while she was tossing about.

Well, lots of love to you both, Yours Rampton

 

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No 1

PERTH

330PM

11 FEB

1941

 

Mrs. Hunter,

277 Springvale Road,

TUNSTALL.    VICTORIA.

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