Letters from Frank John Mulcahy to his family, 1941-1945 - Part 12

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AUSTRALIAN

WAR MEMORIAL
 

SX 3022
Sgt. F. J. Mulcahy

2 Aust. DR. Section

A.I.F.

2 Aug. 45
Dear Mum,
Received a letter from you today
and was pleased to hear that all was still
well with you folks down there. I also received
a letter from Shirley, and another from Nobby
Eldridge. The mail is taking just on a week to
reach me now from Adelaide, and eight or nine
days from Melbourne.
I have not met George Wade up here - this
is a big place and there are a lot of troops in
it. Laurie Hyams is not here - he only came
part of the way with us on the boat.
I am not with the Sixth and I am not with
the Ninth - you can work it out from that
This Peggy Kerwin, that you mention, may be a
very nice girl, rather nice looking, and have lovely
 

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brown eyes, but if she is the lass I'm thinking of
then she is also fat. Match making – No since.
Glad to hear that Dad is OK again- he must
be going through his second child-hood if that was
a baby's complaint he had. He will probably start
cutting new teeth next.
Things have quietened down a lot here now, and
it is hard to realise there is a war on at times.
I don't know if you saw it in the papers, but Signals
were commended for their work up here
We have several picture shows here now and they
are bringing in other Amenities fast. The AIF has finally
taken example from the Yanks and is starting to
look after the comfort and welfare of its troops in a
big way. I have only been to a couple of shows
since they started, but they have all been good.
The other night I saw Greer Garson in "Valley of Descision".
It is a marvellous picture and when it hits Adelaide
don't miss seeing it. She plays the part of an Irish
girl and speaks with a fascinating brogue through
out the picture. We have been told that Gracie

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Fields will be paying us a visit some time next
month. I hope I am in a position to see her.
The engineers have done a pretty good job up here
and the way they have laid down the roads has
been remarkable. It is a real pleasure to be able
to drive along a decent road instead of ploughing
through mud all the time.
We have had some heavy rain during the
past couple of days but it has cleared up now
and today is very good- nice and sunny, with
just enough breeze blowing in off the sea to
prevent it from being too hot. I forgot to mention
that we are only about 200 yards from the sea
at the moment - surrounded by coconut palms.
It is not a bad area and I am quite content to spend
some time here. We will probably move on again
in a few days and find ourselves dumped in
the jungle somewhere with inches of mud everywhere.
Oh well, such is life.
This in all the news for now, so I will close with
fondest love to all at home/ Yours
Frank

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2/8/45

The Islands

PRO0649

AUSTRALIAN

WAR MEMORIAL
 

SX3022
Sgt F. J. Mulcahy
2 Aust. D.R Section
A.I.F.
8 Aug. 45
Dear Dad,
It was great to hear from
you once again and to learn that you are
feeling OK now. You ought to be like a two
year old after having a complaint like that.
I was interested to hear about the T.T.
Scramble at Springbank - it must be getting
back to old times with all the Sport out
there now. Sounds good to me. I doubt
whether you would have done much good
in the scramble on old "Sitting Bull" -
it has had it's day and I intend getting
rid of it as  soon as I get home.
The garden should look good when all
chose gladiolas are in bloom. I hope you
 

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know what you are doing when you talk
about going in on a commercial stunt with
them.
With regard to those snaps I sent, I still
have a lot more to get yet. The chaps who
took them have not had then printed yet,
but are waiting until they get out
I don't think there is much chance of my
getting those souvenirs that you mentioned -
at least not anything really worth while.
All I have managed to get hold of so far
is some Jap money and cigarettes, - the
cigarettes, incidentally, are not bad smoking,
and I am saving some to bring home.
I shall keep my eyes opened in the meantime
and see what I can get for you, but
don't hold out much hope.
So you are hoping to see me home within
the next couple of months– well, you
will. I have changed my mind and put
 

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in for a discharge under the five year plan.
I have had the Army and everything that
goes with it and I yearn for a civvy suit
again. I don't know for certain when I am
likely to be home but it will probably be
sometime late in Sept. or early in October.
So you can be expecting me.
We had a prime example of the
inefficiency and muddling of Army administration
the other day. We received a screed, evidently
originated by some high ranking "Cut-lunch
Commando" back at Base, to the effect that
approval had now been given for 2 Aust. DR
Section to be classified AIF. After having been
in existence for over five years, during which time
it has consisted entirely of AIF personnel, and
after having been through four mayor campaigns
whilst engaged on the fifth we are informed
that we may now consider the Section as part
of the AIF. Wouldn't it? We don't know
 

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whether to be highly indignant about the matter
or merely amused. It is things like that, that
have made me re-consider and decide to get out
of the Army.
It is raining heavily here at the moment
we have had quite a lot of it during the
past few weeks.  It is a pity to see it all
wasted, when there are so many areas back
there in Australia crying out for rain.
I guess there is very little else I can
write about, Dad so I will close
Love to All at Home,

Frank
P.S. Will you tell Shirl to send a Telegram
with my Bank A/C No. as soon as possible
I want to do a little financial business
FJM

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Coming home

8/8/45

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WAR MEMORIAL