Letters of Thomas Rampton Hunter, 1940-1944 - Part 7

 

Envelope

AWM2017. 208.1

# 16

VX 17049
Cpl T. R. Hunter.

2/1 Corps Field Survey Coy.

R. A. E.   A.I.F  abroad

Friday, 27/6/41

Dear Mother & Jean

After a fair break

since our last mail, today brought us

your welcome letters of 8^th and  9^th

June respectively also one from Joan &

Jack Gray. Not a bad have and full

of lots of news

Very pleased to hear you

are both in the best of health &

now that the roaming secretary of

the family has landed at the Shire Hall

is the best news of all, seeing as

little Jean was not home amongst

the [[?]]. Somehow I feel sorry for

Lal for the brief come back that you

staged but one's feelings and happiness

count first of all. It sounds to be

the job of jobs and with careful

enquiring Hunter's rates should decrease.

An excellent idea & what assistance I

will be able to get when I'm on the

dole. Start at the bottom & forget our

dog rate and carefully work up.

Accomplish one thing at a time. See

that the foot-path to the station is

adjusted, street lights left on all night 

so as I can get home better. Drainage

easement on north side continued.

 2

Well I could nearly write a book
on benefits and improvements that the
council could do for Oondoroo.
Well Jeannie, Many many thanks
for the canteen order & stamp

thanks to mother for her enclosed stamps.
In both your letters and Joan's I am
informed that Davey Jones was cheated
for the Indian trinkets & they eventually
turned up after being despatched on the
26^th February & arriving 6^th June. Better
late than never. Just a bit unfortunate

that the pendant contraption suffered but
lets hope it can ne adjusted.
 Mother I believe, I previously mentioned
the safe arrival of the films which turned
up will in time for my birthday.
beginning to realize I must be getting old
27 but feel like 18 ( & often wish I were).
At least, home will be like home &
time to yourself all yours now that Mark
is back in Box Hill. None of the
early [[?]] which must have been in the
middle of the night or near enough to it
It is hard to realize you are in the
throes of winter whilst as I said to Joan
we are experiencing a warm, summer &
decent nights Never a rainy or cloudy
day but the way may change &
situations reversed.
I see you mentioned having seeing
 

3

Joan:   have you the phone reinstalled
Enclosed you will find I hope some
seed pods from some beautiful trees in
Tel -A Viv. They have a soft feathery
leaf and the red flower is in a
spray effect which renders the whole

tree a beautiful site. The trees are
plentiful and grow to about 20 feet in
height - spread out well. The soil
was a lose sandy type & I would
suggest that at the right time. they
were planted in flower pots in loose
 soil & left in the sun & warmth
I believe I have seen these trees back
home before but can't place where.
Jack Gray sent a very interesting
letter in his own special style & I

was very grateful to receive it.

News is small from here
Bill & I went to Nazareth a
beautiful looking township in many
ways constructed amongst winding
twisted hills & a church, small but
 tall, looms up on a small hill surrounded

by tall pines & trees & a large 

wall around the lot. But , the
usual ordor emitted was one of the
strongest & the streets dirty & old-fashioned
winding & twisting in and out of new
old and mud buildings & old churches
Hundreds of lazy dirty arabs don't seem
to worry of the world conflict &

4 

are contented to sit & smoke in groups
day in & day out. Here we went
further up but saw nothing except
in the north of this country saw a
Roman aqua duct about 2 miles at
least from what I could see – perfectly
straight & practically level I had many
years ago seen pictures of this kind of structure
& I believe in the old Testament it states
how the water came down from the
Syrian Hills to these fertile lowlands in
exchange for wheat. Whether it came in
this channel I am doubtful for I think
the Romans came several hundreds of years
later. Only out of this country for
about 3 hours & for what we saw it
is not much different. All I can say.
Work has been very slight & with
plenty of sleep one could not help being so
fit & lazy. But you don't know when
the work comes in & then its flat out
for all.
Things look pretty good in the
news now that Russia is having a
go at things & lets hope this will break it
up
Jack George & Bill wish to be
remembered to you & Reg also who is now
back again.
Well Ma & Jean  
Lots of Love
Tom
P.S.  - WEIGHT STRIPPED
10 - 5 ( I thought it was better)

 

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16

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No. 2095

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Correspondence in this envelope need

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contents are liable to examination at the

Base

The following Certificate must be

signed by the writer: -

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of this envelope refer to nothing

but private and family matters

Signature

Name only   Thos. R. Hunter

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same writer. The cover should be addressed

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Address: -Mrs. Hunter,

"Oondoroo",

277 Springvale Rd.

TUNSTALL

VICTORIA.

AUSTRALIA 

AWM2017. 208.1

ENVELOPE

# 17

 

VX 17049

CPL. T. R. HUNTER
2/1 Aust. Corp Survey Coy
R.A.E. A.I.F. abroad

Sunday 6/7/41

Dear Mother & Jean
Was very pleased to receive your letter
# 15 of the 17^th June a day or so ago. It
has been up till now the only mail I have
received for many days & we are all looking 

forward for more letters. Probably gone
astray for two or three weeks to a wrong
destination as have some bags previously but
eventually they seem to turn up. It is

nice to hear that the garden is O K & the
tennis court not in bad condition. Do you
ever play at all? I notice you have
never mentioned the fact. And you say
my little Joannie's looking very well - ah
I wish I could see you all. You

mentioned about sending me things - well

to be quite frank mother I have too much
at present and not until cold weather
comes will I have to review my wardrobe &
then it should be pretty compact. Of
course I don't want to be here in the
winter for then it will be summer in
Melbourne & that would be good enough for
 

2
me socks & underclothes I have plenty.
handkerchief in abundance & no worries
& steady work leaves me pretty fit &
healthy.
Some money in our regimental fund procured
for us the other day - a writing pad, envelopes,
[[?]] for hat, &  an imitation wallet "effect".
This fund has no connection with that
affair being run in Melbourne.
To add to our collection we now have
mosquito nets - an excellent net about
9 feet in height tapering or flared from
a circular top of about 2' 6" to  the base
sides of about 8 feet x 6 feet which are
tucked under ones palliasse If ever I decide 

to go in for children - I will certainly
have to acquire a net or two for the
bassinet. Putties also have been added
to our burden belt so far I have not
even unrolled them. They are short & only
worn around tops of boots & lower calf.
Things were a bit quiet on Thursday
& Bill & I decided to issue a paper (enclose)
the major topic as you can see  was one
we chose through two chaps having a friendly
argument as to what they could do & eventually
 

3

their outcome resulted in a mile challenge
match. Well to use the Army term
Bill & I "went to town on them" &
the paper was the result. It proved so 
popular that a weekly issue seems evident
after the big run on Saturday, some even
expected a "Special". One chap dressed
as a bookie with flower in lapel & bag, a
couple of spruikers 2 large trucks with signs
on their sides denoting “free trip to course" set the
day of properly. Various ones had badges in
their hats & to top it off 2 with special
cameras at starting posts & finishing posts made
the day. After this big event in which
some money! changed hands through the bookies
chaps were challenging one another all.
the afternoon & the bookie & his clerk
were hoarse. I reported all the events &
they are to be edited for the next paper --
The name of which we intend to change
to something like the "Survey Sentinel"
To those not in the unit,  the full
significance & reference on the paper would
somewhat be lost & one must know their
characteristics
Well Mother, I hope you passed your Exam OK
Lots of Love to you & Jean

Tom