Letters of David Francis Smith, July 1941- February 1942 - Part 4

No 57

VX25593 W.O^ll D.J.Smith.

8^th Divisional Signals.

A.I.F.

Malaya

18.10.41
My Darling Rene,

Just a few lines to let you know

that I'm O.K. & still in the land of the livingx,

hope this finds you & all at home in the

best of health etc.

Things are still very much the

same with us over here nothing startling has

been going on.

Am wondering if you got on 

to the winner of the cup this afternoon, we

had quite a lot of trouble & heard a numberx

of rumours as to what won it, they say it

was Velocity, but will have to wait for a

paper to confirm that. They purchased an eight

valve wireless for the Mess the other day but it

didn't live up to its reputation & bring

Australia in. We ran a Sweep in the big race

I drew the usual goat "Galliard" can't say that

I have ever heard of that animal.

.2.

Had a fair game of hockey on Wednesday

last, got beaten 2 to 1, but it was very

enjoyable hope that we are able to get a few

more of them.

I missed out on a letter from you on

Thursday. am looking forward to receiving two

tomorrow, that appears to be the way they are

arriving these days.

Well Love I suppose Ma & Pa have finished

their leave by this, & that you have handed

the cooking etc back to Ma, wish I had

been there to try some of your grills again, you

always did a pretty good job in that line, am

hoping that it won't be so very long before I'm

sampling them once again.

Was rather surprised to hear that Jock

& Lou had joined up, thought that they were

old enough to know better, there can't be so

many of the old crowd left these days.

Pleased to hear that our [[Ivery?]] got his

promotion, he wasn't long once he got a start

can't say that I know any of those Artillery [[?]]

chaps that you mention.

-3.

Church seems to be popular with you

these days sincerely hope that you say one

for me now & then.

Pleased to hear that the weather is

coming good & that you will be able to get

a few sets of tennis in. Gee Hon I'd give a lot

to be having a game with you, even if we

were still having the usual arguments.

What is your opinion of things over the

other side don't look too good do they. looks like

being quite a good while yet.

Evidently you have had a few talks on

the wireless about Malaya, they may have been

pretty good, just wait until you hear my version

of it, wouldn't say that it would be quite fit

to go over the air..

Havent met Frank Dean since the

first night I ran in to him. must look him

up, as I never had a chance to have a decent

yarn with him.

Well Sweetheart I'm afraid I can't find any

news to tell you for the present, so I'd better close up.

Cherrio

With all my Love & Kisses

Frank x x x x x x x x 

Regards to all at home.

No 61.

VX25593.

W.O" D.F.Smith

8^thDivisional Signals

A.I.F.

Malaya.

4 . 11.  41.

My Darling Rene,

Received your most welcome

letter on Sunday night, was very pleased to hear

from you, seeing I missed out on the last, glad

that you & all at home are enjoying the best

of health etc. You certainly excelled yourself

with this one (109), I liked it very much, its your

best effort up to date must be catching seeing

you reckoned I made a job of one of mine, drop

that idea of letter writing being a matter of

course with me, I certainly don't feel that way about

it Hon, its not the easiest of jobs at the best of

times.

Many thanks for the way you're looking

at that humour of mine, its quite a load off my

mind, having it fixed, & your broadminded view

of it, am sure that I'll be lots better for it.

Am pleased my guess about this "lonely"

business is a long way out, think you know just

4

this afternoon, missed out on the last game on account

of the weather we are starting to get our fair share

of rain these days.

Do me a favour & don't mention that one page

letter of mine, believe me that was an ordeal.

Had a bit of a ceremony in the Mess the other

night, one of the boys, had an arrangement with his

wife that he would drink her health & she

his, at a certain time, 15 years  married, we were

all there,was rather impressive & made a few

of us think quite a lot, ours is very shortly isn't

it Love, don't think I'll forget the date this year,

would just love to be home for the event, hoping

that I'm more fortunate for the next, i'll take a

lot of shaking off after this lot is over do we make

it ideal for the re-union

Well Darling I'm afraid its the usual

cry, can't find any news to tell you. I do Love

you & miss you more than ever

"Cherrio"

With all my Love & Kisses.

Frank xxxxxxxx

Regards to all at home

BY AIR MAIL

PAR AVION

POSTAGE PAID

25 CENTS

AUST BASE P.O.

10 04 

26

Mrs D.F. Smith

c/o Mrs H. Watts

Symonds St

Queenscliff

Victoria

Australia

PASSED BY CENSOR

No. 27811

[signature]

VX 25593 W.O". D.F Smith

Signs 8 Aust

A.I.F.

Malaya

 

No. 66

VX 25593

W.O". D. F Smith

Signals 8 Aust Div

A.I.F

Malaya.

25.11.41

My Darling Rene,

Just the usual to let you know

that I'm O.K  & still in the land of the living,

received your most welcome letter on Sunday

night, & was pleased to hear that you & all at

home are in the best of health.  Also received

a letter from the [[Ach?]] Club, enclosing a

Canteen Order for 5/-, they seem to be doing a

very decent job, must cost them quite a few bob

by the time they get around all the boys.

Nothing startling has happened her

since I last wrote.

So you collected two letters last mail,

that should take the blame from me for the one

you missed.

Yes Hon I did appreciate that one particular

letter you wrote, don't mind how many I get

like that one, they bring back extra pleasant

memories, & a reminder of good times to come

which I trust are not so very far distant.

 

.2

Those Xmas Cards I was telling you about

were about to the worst that I have every seen,

will get you half a dozen local ones next time

I go into town.

You seem to have other definite ideas

re that request of mine, hope I haven't too long

to wait for the surprise, why not commit yourself

now, I'll keep my part of the bargain.

Yes, I still have those elephants, will

bundle them up & get them away very shortly,

hope they arrive by Xmas.

Am afraid you're information as regards Field

Allowance is unfounded, it works W O' 1/- per

day, think that officers get 4/-, our exchange is

1/- per day, which doesn't compensate for the

difference in value of the respective monies.

It will be just too bad if I miss out in

that date of ours, time certainly does fly, it

seems nothing like 6 years, since I did the most

pleasant thing that I have ever done in my 

life, so here's to Healesville, I wonder just how

long, am I anxious?

Sorry that I disappointed you with regard

to my comment to the ship in the [[?]], maybe

I could have said a lot, but as long as I have

 

.4.

much of it.

That letter card service should be a great

help to the Boys over here, the normal rate costs

anyone that does much writing a few box

Had another accident with that plate

of mine the other day. The tooth fell off, its

in three bits now. Think I'll get a new one

next Dental parade.

Kenyon's always seem to put in a fair

show with their weddings, can't say that I

particularly remember having a look in at Ralphs

the way you speak there is a reason why I

should remember, that was when I was living

in barracks for a week wasn't it.

Well sweetheart I'm afraid that I can't

remind any news for the present so I'd better close

up. I do love you & miss you more than ever.

Cheerio

With all my Love & Kisses

Frank xxxxxxxx

Regards to all at home.