Letters from Frank John Mulcahy to his family, 1941-1945 - Part 5

PR00649

Australian

War Memorial

 

SX3022

Sgt. F.J. Mulcahy

2 Aust. DR. Section

"A" Aust. Corps Signals

AIF. Australia

10 Jan 45

 

Dear Mum,

I was glad to hear that you finally

decided to take the holiday at Renmark, the rest

should do you good. I see by the writing paper

that you were staying at the Hotel Renmark. I have 

been inside that hotel and it is very nice. We

called in there on our way back from Sydney,

and had a few drinks. The river trip should

be alright, although I found that it got very monotonous

after a while.

There is a chap up here by the name of Flannagen,

he comes from Alberton. He knows Arthur Mullins and

he was asking me if I knew his address as he wants

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to write to him. I couldn't think of his address, so I

was wondering if you would get it and send it up

to me. It doesn't matter about the number, the name

of the street will do.

By the way, did you ever transfer that money to

my account. I know you said you was going to do it,

but I can't recall you having told me that you had 

done so.

It is the same as usual up this way, nothing

much doing, and we are absolutely bored stiff. When

I think of the eighteen months we have wasted in

this place it makes me mad. I see that they have

made it public that Australian troops are now in

the Solomons and New Britain. We were wondering

how long they were keeping it quiet, for we have

known for some time that they were there. I doubt

very much if we shall be going to either of those

places, they are only side-shows, although the

troops concerned have a pretty tough job ahead

3

of them. The Yanks seem to be doing O.K. in the

Phillipines - I hope we finish up there. There should

be something worth seeing in that part of the world.

I had a letter from Jack Shepherdson a few days

ago. He told me that he heard that Roth Carter

had been killed, but I think that he has been

mis-informed.

We saw the picture "Rats of Tobruk" a few nights

ago. Take my advice, if it comes to Adelaide don't

waste your money going to see it. It is a terrible

show, and is an insult to the men who were

actually in Tobruk. The sound is indistinct, the

scenes are poor, the story is ridiculous, the acting is

terrible, and the crowning incident of a positively

inferior picture is at the end when you see a 

Sergeant with his strips on the left arm. That

is unforgivable.

Things are looking up as far as pictures are

concerned up here. We have been having three

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shows a week lately - Tuesday, Thursday and

Sunday nights. There is a concert on to-night but

I did not feel like going over. Last night we saw

Bing Crosby and Bob Hope in "The Road to Zanzibar".

It is not so good as "The Road to Morocco" but nevertheless

it was still good.

I guess this is all the news at the moment, so

I will say so long until next time.

Love to All

Frank

 

[[?]]

 

10/4/45

 

PR00649

Australian

War Memorial

 

AIR MAIL

 

M^rs. J. Mulcahy

32 Corunna Ave.

Colonel Light Gardens

South Australia

 

AUSTRALIAN

IMPERIAL FORCES

PASSED BY CENSOR

[[?]]

935

 

PR00649

Australian

War Memorial

 

SX3022

Sgt. F.J. Mulcahy

2 Aust. DR. Section

"A" Aust. Corps Signals

AIF. Australia

21 Feb. 45.

 

Dear Mum, 

A few lines just to let you know

that I am still alive and kicking. I received

a letter from you a few days ago, but this is

the first opportunity I have had of answering it.

Yes, the rain finished up this way the day

before the Duke arrived and we have had

glorious weather ever since. I am very much afraid

it cannot last, though.

With regard to that story competition you

mentioned. I hope you are not contemplating putting

one of my letters in for it. I shall be very 

annoyed if you do.

I was pleased to hear that Jack Lundie is home

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for good now - he certainly has seen his share of

this war. I can imagine just how happy Auntie

May will be about the set-up.

During the Dukes' visit here, myself, another

DR Sgt. and several DRs from this unit had

the job of riding around with him on his tour 

of inspection of the troops in this area. I felt

rather self-conscious at times, riding past the

troops all standing stiffly to attention, because

they were all on us, being as we were, rather

conspicuous. There was definitely a panic up

here whilst the Duke was around and I heaved

a sigh of relief when I saw him climb into

his plane and fly away back to his "missus".

All the guards of honour were well turned out

and the one supplied by a South Australian

battalion, with Derrick, the V.C. winner in charge,

was exceptionally good. They looked marvellous

and they moved as one man. There is no doubt