Letters of David Francis Smith, January-June 1941 - Part 1

8 Dir signals
Bathurst

27.1.41
My darling Rene,
Just a few lines to let you
know that I'm still in the land of the
living, although feeling very lousy since I

left you on Wednesday. I'll have to improve
a lot or else I wont be able to stick it
It's pretty awful sweetheart but I suppose
its entirely my fault if I had my chances
over again it would be different but if
I hadnt transferred over I'd of never
lived it down, its hard to say what
to do for the best, as you say the Chocoes
make you sick if I hadnt done it I
may have made you sick Cheer up
Sweetheart the world is going to owe
us a lot after this lot is over, and I hope
& trust that we catch up very shortly.

Gee Hon I've been in a daze ever
since I left you sweetheart. I cant realize
that it will be a while before I see you
again, dont think that I realized how
serious it was until I got your letter,
the other day. Then I woke up.
Hope that you are feeling quite

2
a lot better by this, its not much good
worrying & making yourself miserable, we
will just have to make the best of
it Love, I hope & trust that we will
be back together again very shortly, so
try and have a good time & look after 

yourself Hun.
I dont feel too bad while Im
working, which is quite a long time
these days, but I'm afraid Ive had a 
silent weep when I have had time to
think.
I received your letter on Saturday
was very glad to hear from you & was glad
that you sent it by Air Mail, afraid
I'm very thoughtless I had already my
addressed & stamped to go by ordinary
mail.
Things are extra busy here  with
us at present dont know which way to 
turn. I thought that I would be able
to write to you last night, but had
to work late & I look like doing the
same tonight. I'm starting on this just
after tea hope to finish it tonight after 
I finish.
No word yet as to when we

3
are going, but it wont be long we have
to send a load of stuff down tomorow, a
week may see us out. It looks like we
are going where I said sincerely hope that
its right, that wont be so bad, if its
not for too long, the day I get back wont

come too soon for me
No sweetie I didnt feel much
better than you did when the train left but
didnt feel like coming back from you
Junnal thats too drastic Love, we will
be together again. I'll say its an ordeal
at the finish, wouldnt think that it would
be so hard & I wasnt the only one that was
feeling it either, were quite a lot of sad
faces around the place after the leave.
Wo I didnt meet Robbie at
Albury, he caught the Spirit & passed us
at Benalla, caught the first Division to
Sydney. Arrived there just in time to
get on the morning train to Bathhurst wished
I had as much luck as I had no desire to
spend the day in Sydney. I walked around
stunned all day.

It would be wonderful if it
was all over before we left. I had no
desire to leave here, you think Id

4
I'd like a trip dont you well Love you
are well & truly wrong, theres nothing I'd
like better than us get back & start our
time again.
No I didnt know that Sgt who
was killed from the [[?]] maybe his people
were living there
Dont I wish you were getting on
that train with me, do you remember the
last time I got on that train & was away
for 3 yrs this time it cant be for so long.
Yes dear train was delayed but
not quite long enough
Sorry I offended about the money
at lunch time but just then I would
have said anything, & not know it.
Suppose by this you have shore
maps, am wondering how they found out,
hope to get a few in the next letter
would like a small one of you and I
taken in town if they are any good
How is everyone at home, hope they
are getting along O.K. how is Mabels job
going.

What are you doing with yourself

(over)

5
hope you are finding some way of
putting the time in, what sort of a job
are you interested in getting. I do think
now that it would be a good idea
would give you something to occupy your
mind.
I havent seen much of my boss he
has been in town all the time, he is
kept pretty busy these days.
I must dropBill a line before
we get away. Has Mabel had a letter
from him lately & what is the news

Well Love I didnt get a chance
to write anymore last night as a
matter of fact I finished up at 4am
this morning.  just 23 hrs for the days
work its a bit solid, got up again
at 9am so didnt get much rest.
Cant find any news to tell you
Hon, so I'd better give up and post 

this, & get back to some more packing.

Cheerio With all my Love & Kisses
Frank xxxxx

Regards to Ma Pa & Mabel
Will write again on Thursday
PR00460

Department of the Army

Concession Postal Rate

MIL. P.O. Bathurst

AUSTRALIA

POSTAGE 1^d

M^rs D.F. Smith

c/o M^rs H. Watts

Symonds St.

Queenscliff.

VIA MELBOURNE

VIC

^{Australian War Memorial} 

8 Din Sigs

3.2.41

My Darling Rene,
Just a few lines 
to let you know that Im OK &
still in the land of the living,
left Bathurst at 5 am this morning
so its no good addressing my mail
up there, it will be just the same
as Mabels now.
Our new quarters
are very nice, looks as if we are
going to have a pleasant trip,
but afraid that I'll never be
able to find my way around.
Yes Hon I have a 

lot of sleep to catch up, havent
been to bed for 3 nights now,
so it wont be long before Im making
up for lost time. I wrote to you
on Sunday night, would of liked
to send a telegram or letter this
morning but I wasnt in the race

** I  will be writing again in 2 days time, am
starting off calling this letter No 1, number yours
from now on

.2.

Noel Robbie, another chap & I
are in the cabin, & its very nice
too, we should knock out a
fair time.
Would like to be doing
the trip under different conditions &
have you with me Hon.
Our bookies favourite still
holds good, it still odds on , & its
pretty definite now that he will
have to pay, believe it comes off
on Tuesday.
Was rather glad in a way
that you are all not over here worried
only make it worse as you would
not have been able to see ^me ,just
like the day Bill left.
It will be hard for us
to know just when to expect letters,
suppose you will already have 
posted a letter to me at Bathurst
hard to say when it will catch
up with me.

Well Darling I had a few regrets

** May be this letter will appear a bit
disjointed to you, but I seem to be in
in a bit of a daze, I dont just seem to realize
that Im leaving, perhaps all the work Ive 
had lately is to blame for it

.3.
coming down the bay this
afternoon thought quite a lot of
trips you and I had, & wondered just
when Ill be seeing it again after
we get away. Met Syd Harkness
just a while ago, dont know whether
you know him or not, used to be
at the Qcliff a few years ago.
Up to date I havent had
much of a look around but when I
start it will be a long time before
I see all of it.
[[?]] hon Im not breaking my
neck to get away but I'm feeling a 
lot better that I thought I would if
you had been over it would be pretty
hard too as just as well we said
goodbye a fortnight ago, didnt take
us long to get away after that.
Remember that trip of ours in the
showboat, was a certain item of
interest going & coming that day just
made us think a bit didnt it.
well Darling, what we both wondered

** Have a sweet bathroom attached to our cabin.
The only thing that I'm missing Darling is my
wife. Would be heaven if you & I were
making this just for pleasure