Correspondence relating to William Dunstan, August - December 1945 - Part 14

4
see how the land lies. 
In the mail was your long letter (3 Dec)
describing the offer of a job with Gollins.
It sounds very attractive and I am glad
to accept it providing George Caro is
willing to take me when he sees me
and I have no idea when that will be.
Officers are starting to be released again
now and should catch up to the O R's
again fairly soon. The O R's up to group
26 have gone so it looks as though I
might get away in 4 or 5 months.
Yes, it would be a good idea to book a
priority for suits with Jack Lewis - I
can't wander about Melbourne in Jungle
green and a xxx bushwhackers hat. It
might be a good idea if I wrote to Mr
Chard to do the same with a London
tailor.
When I arrived here I found that
some Australian xx newspaper correspondent
had been inquiring after me. I will

5
contact him as soon as possible and see
who it is - some-one you have cabled,
no doubt.
I might say that the Britain is
xx doing a very good and difficult
job with this bloody place so if you
hear any adverse criticism tell them so
from me. I would like a yarn with some
of the wharf labourers who refuse to load
ships coming here
Had a letter from Marsh Addison telling
me how he enjoyed your cocktail party 
wish I had have been there too. He seems
ll settled into civvy street again. Also
heard from Peter Stephensen who has renewed
his studies at the university.
That is all for now — will write
again soon.
Lots of love
Bill

COPY
309493,
Capt. W. Dunstan,
122 Battery,
178 Field Regt. R.A.,
S.E.A.C.
30th December, 1945.
My dear Dad,
There was quite a large stack of mail waiting for
me when I arrived here yesterday. The trip from Singapore to 

Batavia took only 48 hours on the good ship "CIRCASSIA", which 
is a very comfortable, modern 10,000 ton motor vessel.
I met the C.O., who posted me as 2 I/C, 122 Battery,
which is a better job than I expected to get. The regiment
seems to be in a great stage of disorganisation owing to large
numbers of troops and N.C.O.'s going home on release. Naturally
most of the experienced N.C.O.'s are in early release groups
which means that bombardiers are becoming sergeant-majors in a 
matter of weeks - not a very satisfactory state of affairs.
The situation in Batavia is fairly quiet, although
one or two chaps seem to get knocked off every day. No troops
are allowed to go about unarmed or by themselves - they all
look very impressive walking about in their jungle green clothes,
armed to the teeth. The Dutch population is very friendly and
there seems to be quite a social life here.
We are very comfortably billeted in furnished houses
on the outskirts of the town - all mod. cons., running water,
showers and several refrigerators. There is also a large supply
of all sorts of drink which is a good thing. The cost of living
here is exactly nothing, because the local population is still
using Japanese currency and will not accept the official Dutch
guilders. Because of this the Dutch are anxious to inflate the
Jap currency to a state where it will become worthless. To do
this, they issue all of us with 350 Jap guilders per week as
spending money - an extraordinary situation. However, it suits
us fine as we can save all our pay and as mine amounts to £56
sterling a month, I should save a considerable sum.
Java seems a very pleasant spot from what I have
seen so far, and I think I will enjoy my stay here. It rains
every day and the climate is very humid, but I don't think it will
worry me too much.
During my short stay in Singapore, I made a flying
visit to H.Q.,  A.L.F.S.E.A. (Allied Land Forces South East Asia
Command) and had an interview with the G.S.L.I. (R.A.) regarding
leave to Australia. I told him a very sad story which brought
tears to his eyes, and he took down all my particulars and said
he would look into the matter. Unfortunately, having been
posted to a unit here, I cannot very well bring in an application
 

 2.
for leave from here. I am sure the C.O. would be very annoyed
at being asked for leave after my being here for one day. I
will make a few discreet enquiries and see how the land lies.
In the mail was your long letter (3rd December)
describing the offer of a job with Gollins. It sounds very
attractive and I am glad to accept it providing George Caro is
willing to take me when he sees me and I have no idea when that
will be.
Officers are starting to be released again now, and
should catch up to the O.R.'s again fairly soon. The O.R.'s up to
group 26 have gone, so it looks as though I might get away in four
or five months.
Yes, it would be a good idea to book a priority for
suits with Jack Lewis - I can't wander about Melbourne in jungle
green and a bushwacker hat. It might be a good idea if I wrote
to Mr. Chard to do the same with a London tailor.
When I arrived here I found that some Australian
newspaper correspondents had been inquiring after me. I will
contact him as soon as possible and see who it is - some-one you
have cabled, no doubt.
I might say Britain is doing a very good and
difficult job with this bloody place, so if you hear any adverse
criticism tell them so from me. I would like a yarn with some of
the wharf labourers who refuse to load ships coming here.
Had a letter from March Addison telling me how he
enjoyed your cocktail party - wish I had been there too. He seems
well settled into civvy street again. Also heard from Peter
Stephensen who has resumed his studies at the University.
That is all for now - will write again soon.
Lots of love,
(Sgd.) BILL.