Letters of Thomas Rampton Hunter, 1940-1944 - Part 13

AIR MAIL
35
BP Lambert
Mrs. B. M. Hunter,
277 Springvale Rd
Tunstall
Victoria
Australia
 

AWM2017.208.1
 

VX 17049
Cpl. T. R. Hunter,
2/1 Corps Field Survey Coy.,
R.A.E. A.I.F. abroad.
Wednesday, 3/12/1941.
No. 36
Dear Mother & Jean
Mother, I was pleased to receive the confirmation of
the 2/- per day allotment that I had made. Now with the Shilling
a day increase commencing from about 7th Nov., it means 6d. to
yon and and other to myself.
It has been very cold lately and for the last  24 hours
it has mostly rained including several showers of hail. With the
rain which is most heavy we are often enveloped in thick cloud
and I will not be surprised if we get a lot of this for the next
three months. Very lucky to be in a building - a large stone
place and as our sleeping quarters etc., have firmly stood the
rain test, we shall be at least dry for the ensuing winter. By
the temperature at present I am certain that snow is not very far
distant.
During the last week, I have received two bundles of paper
from you and there was some interesting reading amongst them.
A pair of u/pants and a film arrived from Joan, also a book.
Films are very expensive and difficult to obtain here - about two
syrian pounds. Should you ever ponder as to what you would like
to send your soldier son, a suggestion is to purchase a packet
of razor blades and enclose a blade occasionally when writing. One
blade will not affect the weight problem very much. The blades here
are not so good.
I received a Xmas card from Nita and Bert and should I
not be able to write them before Xmas, please send by greetings
to them.
To Sylv. and Wal, Ivan and Doris, Ken and Rosa, Alma and
Syd, Iver and Carlotta and the rest, please give by kind regards
and with them all a Merry Xmas and the Compliments of the Season
from me.
About two days back, I forwarded the December issue of
the Survey Sentinel to you and enclosed in this, is the extra page
that we threw in for good measure. The extra page was too heavy
to go with the Sentinel.
Jean tells me that she has not seen you lately and she
always looks forward to seeing you.
By now, I guess the tennis court should be in fair condition
and I only wish I could have a few sets. One does not see
many courts in this region as it is too mountainous, but at the
American University in Beirut there are some good courts and its
been in my mind to see if we could hire them when visiting there
some time on leave. But with this adverse weather, one could be
unfortunate enough to pick a rainy day.
well people, the news is ever so scarce and all the boys
are well, Jack, Reg, Bill wish to be remembered to you and
hope you are well.
As there will be heavy mailing this Xmas I will commence
wishing you a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. The good  work of
the Survey Ass. will help make our Xmas a good one. Love,
Tom.
[*[[?]]*]
 

From the land where
Christ once wandered
Teaching peace-goodwill
T'wards men
We send the season's greetings
Until we meet again
 

To  Jean & Mother
Wishing you a
Merry Christmas
And a
Happy New Year
from Tom.
AWM2017.208.1
 

9/11/41
Dear Folk,
Hope you have a
Merry Xmas, for our
prospects look very
good here.
The small tokens are
a pair of gloves each
(supposed to be the dinkum
Damascus lace) the
bracelet for Sis. and
the trinket box for
Mother.
Lots of Love
Tom
 

[[?]]
38
Mrs. B.M. Hunter
277 Springvale Rd,
Tunstall,
Victoria
Australia
 

AWM2017.208.1
 

FROM
VX17049
CPL. T. R. HUNTER
Aust Corps Field Survey Coy
R.A.E. A.I.F.
Abroad
 

8/12/41
Dear Mother,
Something for you
to say your
prayers upon
Love
Tom
AWM2017.208.1
 

No 40
VX 170449, CPL. T.R. HUNTER
2/1 Aust. Corps Field Survey Coy
R.AE. A.I.F. abroad
Tuesday, 16/12/41
Dear Mother & Jean,
I received a letter from
you both and I must sincerely thank
you for the Xmas card & Canteen Orders
My mail has been pretty fair lately
and from Nance Findlay & Nance Dodd,
I received letters & Xmas blessings.
Joan informed me, that she, Ron &
May had been up for tennis and reported
that the place and garden looked first
class. She seemed to have enjoyed herself
Just a few days before hearing from the
Nancies, I wrote to them.
A very nice fruit cake arrived
from Fan & I must write & thank her.
I was surprised to read of Charlesworth
leaving the council and it is
to be hoped that his successor will
be able to carry on in the good way
that he did
Very little has happened since
last writing to you, the only places
I have been are to neighboring villages
On Saturday, Jack & I wandered