Letters of Thomas Rampton Hunter, 1940-1944 - Part 12

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2018.785.98
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Plantedclo a words & lite. Saidsp from Califon sant immelia in wo place
31 .D. H. Kuver. 277 Springrale Road, WSTAL. VICTORLL.
Awrs
of fean you letter t 2 hes geet e 1x17009 endoiig a Psting- shalbs You AlT.R. Henter mention about the pieting up of the Faustlorps Edt knowledge of the constincted! Well by sea No 33 I think it is about the mat diffact mad R.A.E. AL abwnd to manage or I chould say to lain. Peacok waluesay 24/10pe a in mule lt an the agubard te Dear Hatter & fran, ron a cas to had the idea & its was my plend to ewerl siles shut bunls. a hawed reease your letter yesterday and I oato ales she nanipulation appea read you are sid well are tlat we cilds pay as sy wal it smiler your time is putty will filled ao tck tynity & do not look at the lp Many shanks for the Canten Order Tily anothr mactine Crybond yout slt o the leamning By mad! is is definite that the of mabie and sithough laving been let aiticle is not in keeping with you oguss. I only knowing about 12 the wes and it hee ratinly wade words - gust enough too tell thin to aluty the stage when it can be placed on I deed Mr. Baste & go away. I leav it phretically as a the shilf pinst would not be a great sest but per paoo of the litter & knot wilnded a vy nin aste in eon nev nate lead or seel of the just written to gean and he the one I recued from Joan yes peculiar signs stey make. I think the reading of aratie reads poo right to be I looks like a contination of rhorthand and I hope you like the terday I still have y P.D.D work and I must my cliese writing Frnch distirdary & I will see if I can it is a noble effort on your part to go out and do what you can jirgurs noe honetly on shore linsed Laving been to Lifria several sines it ney at the roldiers hospitel, but be a attle nor helpful in the fulue what wer you so do not wony I would lave very muc like to appaety spi has one see yu at in lssy look apty yourself and tnd the wipe for he whill backte se hons an Sonday sill & I went in a of lase me be it hasbeen a and she night pietty iss had to daydeth and thee up ut come the ligh monntain of Lynia, one 200 mills hom one canp and the seene
eta wts to be for the delo and t a sange the ceais on the hills givea geat singe seat is seen anyet o sty are not very shilk but the ranges mgpdness of te sell she has, the sady pat see bl see maging into the sly made a gravt vew.a mell iway shat seats shough tnnet and e tills weedsa cog wl in the engine to fit into a rack to help it along Hhe pople speck andie, Funch English a appai for more hospitable Lon she abuage Palletinian puson the are many Fin I will cdien about with thei on pealin styl lat. He an was pest and very mppy especially at might steyed at at pea about 3000 pup and it leened ion nost of the night and for a few hous shoughot the noming a a glnple of Bemth and suual sheps leve sld tine that they have attended race meetings shere whch are held on Sundays. one slep said he lad wow 20 guid but on imveting it to aust money it meent not so mush as a syrian pound is in the vicirity of 3 and after an iswentful p back I felt putty biild last night but was pleased to lave me nail waiting for ne well ny dear we ase all very well hed you are also agante hots I hove Yours AIR MAIL Mrs B. d. Hunkr 277 Springral Rd, Tunstall, Victoria Auchalia M MNSO
the night sosg Vaid what a dange,1 CR T.K.HUNTER are much will and your blankt Yaust Caps field Ne 34 are often necessary. I can realise sy to RJ.E 84 abion hen she blasket slortage is so 1/1/141 seak at lor well one conside Yeur Moter & pay that will the appraching winter wasvery pliand to all hoops have (at least) ye blantes receive your letter mother sast wed. e ced s on the tells Had one whn the nax acrived. are very green o its said that from Beky, Joan, Alan Bebe (who a mys man from the Heald tert old Noal once built his ack pon is down the aister Deset) and thee reday ing Bell & I for the arsiele plus There is an abundence of theie apsiogus little grog slops that seet all you meation about tepety or a peafer my and shey an sorts of lliguies - sone that wlet I have in mind to send you are weird in tiste and for for a xmas present. Th sar new saus serry hardies, cume de grounds to explose where I am ineuble and such like may be in Syne and an anxious to It's a but of a moveths with a bit 5f had stait exploring I must suve say that luck, I may go on leave notra and tlese bids are she ones to give if the shaps are open in businees Had a wbey supper for a noulhy seniee shall be done for a pound the other night but Bill & I interd to see if we can I'm apaid the lurkey Lad altend the races tnorow and carcered around the hills for in the place its wothing to The seener speak of to se spend a foind a few years at seast is a clange and many weid sere and there as a paid rep land effects have been seen but an in a reens 2/0 and pst on pevait tiing anongst tem, there will
I come a tine when ho man wll nake it inpleasant Many thanks for shecking my pars book nemmber There is a snall cove cout in a couple of senacs above and a couple of footballs have been providing sport and wound when she clouds & wnd have been about are the boys are very fit Reg Jack Bul & George and wish to be remembered to you I was a mic gesture upon the pait of callatto to ask Thy you across at Knas have a good sideboard, Please remember me to them and wish them a verry fine as the approprate tine. I guess the old garden peace wilh the apply blossim is looking A.I and with the sind land iwill be a big improvinent Well, I hope you are both well and happifie your so BMIIITY NAMAI LEIIER CARD AC sin oa ser or an thrs 3. N. Hunle 277 Springvall Rd, Tynstall signid aushalia M MM Auneni
TXN8A9 CPL. HUNTER T.X Ne 35 I auxt corpo Field Sewvey R.A.E. A.I.F. alroad Coy Sunday 9/1/1941 Dear Jean & Mother Since last writing to you I have received two pleasant surprises in the shape ofamiscall- aneous preel and cakes & sweets also your last letter # 29 enclosing a stamp. Many many tanks for then all. Hhe ray blades, soothpark, powder and fule heve already seen use Ln and Fany also wrote During the past weelk it las been fairly wam bad today was much soole and this afternoon we went for a wander acound the hells The sunery was beautiful in many ways showing the suggedness and due cliff faces and a valley or wadi behind us runs about $900 61000 feet deep. Many tines clands obseured a view to the other side and when on the ligh spots I could see night awas in the oppsite direction to many miles of the Midimans Its very inppy on these high lilts and I hope the canna will show just Low wild this place appears Iws or the mornings lately Jack. I have been for short walks up to she top of a local ing to se the sun use and the men fading out Last Sunday Bell, Juck & I went to the waces at a nearl woastal sown. Thoughout the morning at this sown we visited the aust. Soldins clut & found some Kilburnne and then wandered amongst markels & bayaaes and I may add that I could watch shere aates for loues. Every f minute
a braul would comnee & thy would attempt to up end banows Tuit, fish meat sills anticles, matuials, pigion, rabbits, ito are in various stalls in is order at all and as you can gather, tue was the usual way alonosplie above all. after lunc an mied at the raa-couse whid is set amidst pine-cidaes and it sported siveral nice displays of flower beds. Not being a racing entheiast I newerthilies enjoyed the day for the cod alone was inheesting especially in then many vaued tippes of dues. Wany uniform of different forces were thre with faces from black to alike. Racs were run - every half how and onesline was filled ofter sudying the form in the saddock, misting to the lote then to He gandstand and yshaps yafte the read back to the ple. After many wared small investents, I finished on the debel side to about 203 pounds (sinon or) Saw a good pitue that wening bud was eightsout 20 are cought a buck & ae interrpted through pack to a litty abode Yesterday, Bill & I you visited the plac & bing sourday more shops an open and we ntandered abut laving han ides lue & she Hsa rather untidy place, some of the man twill ham wes) beng not much width I linders have and se other elicular pappic paises the hav on the side having slenat In the afteron Bill -I rom to spaie. visited the annican univerrily there and find it to be a closial place sitvated in bautiful
graners ty were Expetatle to hoops and I hope to again Sone as shopping on my visit the place part wasexeeuted yesterday and in a day or so a parcel well be on its way to Tunstll Paynr ing & tapestry were not as I thak you would like at a place I eventually found bu? I believe those places are yet within my scope so I'll keep ty cipe open. a lrible amroun of inblust is also for sale & therefore is not worth while buying Fm stll anxious to get to Pamakus & see if The A.I.F have left anthing for me to prchase. The snapt I am enclosing are very poor in gualily get thy were plan with a good film in ideal conditions. The Dog who diveloped & punted tlem spoeld the negatives at last I have masued the act of Laving a tath in 2 a huo Sin & that holding about a gollow of water. ot to bad whn sometimes one maragus to oblan oater Better than none at all Will folk many thanks again for the most welome & was parcels & please thank Mrs McLelland Tell hee that they fit pufectly. to the sae. ere all very well seppy & the boys wish to be remembred to you Hambert have Your

Planted close are
a wonderful
site. Said to be
from California
Plant
immediately
in warm
place
PAL.
OCT.
[*AWM2017.208.1*]
 

 

 

N.A. Johnson
31
Mrs. B. M. Hunter,
277 Springvale Road,
TUNSTALL,
VICTORIA,
AUSTRALIA.
 

 

AWM2017.208.1
 

 

 

VX17049
Cpl T.R. Hunter
2/1 Aust Corps Fld Svy Coy
R.A.E. A.I.F. Abroad.
Wednesday 24/10/41
No 33
Dear Mother & Jean,
Was very pleased to
receive your letter yesterday and to
read you are both well are that
your time is pretty well filled
up. Many thanks for the Canteen Order.
By now it is definite that the
“article” is not in keeping with
the times and it has certainly reached
the stage where it can be placed on
the shelf. I thanked Mr. Baster
per favour of the letter I have
just written to Jean and he
included a very nice letter in
the one I received from Joan yesterday 
I hope you like the
V.A.D work and I must say
it is a noble effort on your part
to go out and do what you can
at the soldier’s hospital, but
what ever you do, do not worry
and look after yourself.
Apparently Spring has gone
behind the corner for a while back
home & of late over here it has been
cool and the nights pretty cold.
 

2/
Jean your letter #23 has just arrived
enclosing a 9 stamp – thanks. You
mention about the picking up of the
knowledge of the “comptometer”. Well my dear,
I think it is about the most difficult machine
to manage or I should say to learn. Peacock
Bros in Bourke St. are the agents and they
run a class to teach the idea & it’s
course takes about 6 moths. A trained
operator makes the manipulation appear
like child’s play as they work it similar
to touch typing & do not look at the
keyboard. Try another machine.
Youx ask me about ask the learning
of Arabic and although having been here
for 8 or 9 months. I only knowing about 12
words - just enough to tell them to shut up
& go away. To learn it phonetically as a
parrot would not be a great task but I
can never make head or tail of the
peculiar signs they make. I think the
reading of Arabic reads from right to left.
It looks like a combination of shorthand and
Chinese writing. I still have my small
French dictionary & I will see if I can
progress more favourably on those lines as
having been to Syria several times it may
be a little more helpful in the future.
I would have very much like to
have seen your antics in Summers shop in
the ski trousers.
On Monday Bill & I went in a
truck to Nazareth and then up into
the high mountains of Syria, over 200
miles from our camp and the scenery
 

 

3/ from these hills is beautiful. The Mediterranean
looks to be far, far below and for
a change the cedars on the hills give a
green tinge that is seen amongst our
ranges. They are not very thick but the
ruggedness of the hills plus the trees, the
sandy flats & the blue at sea merging
into the sky made a grand view. a
small railway that climbs through tunnels
over hills needs a cog-wheel on the
engine to fit into a rack to help it along.
The people speak Arabic, French &
English & appear far more hospitable
than the average Palestinian person.
There are many Free French soldiers
about with their own peculiar style of
hats. and The air was fresh and very
nippy especially at night. Stayed at
a place about 3000 ft up and it
teemed rain most of the night and
for a few hours throughout the morning
had a glimpse of Beyruth and
several chaps have told me that they
have attended race meetings there which
are held on Sundays. One chap said
he had won 20 quid but on converting it
to Aust. money it meant not so much as a
Syrian pound is in the vicinity of 2/4 Aust.
After an uneventful trip back I felt
pretty tired last night, but was pleased to
have some mail waiting for me.
Well my dears, we are all very well & I
trust you are also.
Lots of Love Tom.
[*B P Lambert*]
 

B P Lambert
33
Mrs B. M. Hunter
277 Springvale Rd,
Tunstall,
Victoria,
Australia.
AWM2017.208.1
 

 

No 34
VX 17049
CPL. T.R. HUNTER
2/1 Aust Field
Survey Coy
R.A.E. A.I.F. abroad
1/11/1941
Dear Mother & Jean
was very pleased to
receive your letter Mother last Wed.,
when the mail arrived. Had one
from Betsy, Joan, Alan Baster (who
is down the Western Desert) and
a surface mail from the Herald thanking
Bill & I for the article plus
their apologies.
You mention about
tapestry or a prayer rug and they are
what I have in mind to send you
for a xmas present. There are new
grounds to explore where I am
in Syria and I am anxious to
start exploring. With a bit of
luck, I may go on leave tomorrow
& if the shops are open - business
shall be done. For a novelty,
Bill & I intend to see if we can
attend the races tomorrow and
in this place it's nothing to
speak of to sep spend a pound
here and there as a pound represents
2/10 aust. I am in a
place where fresh air prevails
 

2/
and what a change, for the nights
are much cooler and four blankets
are often necessary. I can realize
how the blanket shortage is so
acute at home when one considers
that with the approaching winter,
all troops have (at least) 4 blankets.
The cedar tree on the hills
are very green & it’s said that
old Noah once built his ark from
these cedars.
There is an abundance of
little grog shops that sell all
sorts of liquers - some that
are weird in taste and for
5 aust. cherry-brandies, creme de
menthe and such like may be
had. It's a bit of a novelty
and I must save say that
these birds are the ones to give
service. Had a turkey supper
for a "pound" the other night but
I'm afraid the turkey had
careered around the hills for
a few years at least. The scenery
is a change and many weird
cloud effects have been seen but
living amongst them, there will
 

 

3/ come a time when too many
will make it unpleasant.
Many thanks for checking my
pass-book number.
There is a small soccer court
in a couple of terraces above and
a couple of footballs have
been providing sport and
warmth when the clouds &
wind have been about.
All the boys are very fit
and Reg Jack Bill & George
wish to be remembered to you.
It was a nice gesture upon
the part of Carlotta to ask
you across at Xmas. They
have a good “side-board”.
Please remember me to them
and wish them a merry Xmas
at the appropriate time.
I guess the old garden &
place with the apple blossom is
looking A.1. and with the tired
land it will be a big improvement
Well, I hope you are both
well and happy,
Love Tom.
BP Lambert
 

BP Lambert
33
Mrs. B.M. Hunter,
277 Springvale Rd,
Tunstall,
Victoria,
Australia.
AWM2017.208.1
 

 

No 35
VX 17049
CPL. HUNTER. T.R.
2/1 Aust Corps Field Survey Coy.
R.A.E. A.I.F. abroad.
Sunday 9/11/1941
Dear Jean & Mother,
Since last writing to you I have
received two pleasant surprises in the shape of a “miscallaneous
parcel” and “cakes & sweets” also your last letter
# 29 enclosing a stamp. Many, many thanks for them
all. The razor blades, toothpaste, powder and film
have already seen use. Ron and Fanny also wrote.
During the past week it has been
fairly warm but today was much cooler and this
afternoon we went for a wander around the hills.
The scenery was beautiful in many ways showing the
ruggedness and sheer cliff faces and a valley or wadi
behind us runs about 900 to 1000 feet deep. Many times
clouds obscured our view to the other side and when
on the high spots I could see right across in the
opposite direction to many miles of the Mediterranean.
It’s very nippy on these high hills and I hope the
camera will show just how wild this place appears.
Two or three mornings lately Jack & I have been for
short walks up to the top of a local crag to see the
sun rise and the moon fading out.
Last Sunday Bill, Jack & I went to the
races at a nearby coastal town. Throughout the
morning at this town we visited the Aust. Soldiers
club & found some “Melbourne” and then wandered
amongst markets & bazaars and I may add that
I could watch these arabs for hours. Every few minutes

 

 

a brawl would commence & they would attempt to up-end barrows.
Fruit, fish, meat, silk articles, materials, pigeon, rabbits, etc are
in various stalls in no order at all and as you can gather,
there was the usual “Wog” atmosphere above all.
After lunch, we arrived at the race-course which
is set amidst pine-cedars and it sported several
nice displays of flower-beds. Not being a racing enthusiast
I nevertheless enjoyed the day. In the crowd alone was
interesting especially in their many varied types of dress.
Many uniforms of different forces were there with
faces from black to white. 8 Races were run - every
half hour and one’s time was filled often “studying the
form” in the paddock, rushing to the tote then to
the grandstand and perhaps (after the race) back to the
tote. After many varied small investments, I finished
on the debit side to about 2 or 3 pounds (Syrian 2/10).
Saw a good picture that evening but was
interrupted through ^”lights out” so we caught a truck & came
back to our hilly abode.
Yesterday, Bill & I again visited the place &
being saturday more shops were open and we
wandered about having tram rides here & there.
It’s a rather untidy place, some of the main
streets (with 2 tram lines) being not much wider than
Flinders Lane and the other vehicular traffic
passes the tram on the side having the most
room to spare. In the afternoon Bill & I
visited the American University there and found
it to be a colossal place situated in beautiful
 

 

grounds they were hospitable to troops and I hope to again
visit the place. Some Xmas shopping on my
part was executed yesterday and in a day or so
a parcel will be on its way to Tunstall. Prayer
rugs & tapestry were not as I think you would like
at a place I eventually found but I believe
those places are yet within my scope so I'll
keep my eye open. A terrible amount of rubbish is
also for sale & therefore is not worth-while buying.
I’m still anxious to get to Damascus & see if
the A.I.F have left anything for me to purchase.
The snaps I am enclosing are very poor in
quality yet they were taken with a good film
in ideal conditions. The Wog who developed & printed
them spoilt the negatives.
At last I have mastered the act of having a bath
in ½ a kero tin & that holding about a gallon of
water. Not too bad when sometimes one manages to
obtain hot water. Better than none at all.
Well folk many thanks again for the most
welcome Xmas parcels & please thank Miss McLelland
In the sac. Tell her that they fit perfectly.
We are all very well & happy & the boys wish
to be remembered to you.
Love Tom.
BP Lambert
 

 
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