Letters of Jack Lusby Burns, 1941-1945 - Part 2

No. 4.
Lieut J. L. Burns.
No. 1. Indep. Coy.
A.I.F. Abroad
dear Mother and Father (You Old Dears)
Here at last
and was it good to have ground once more under one’s
feet. The climate here is very humid, and very
tropical. We now only have shorts and shirts, ‘tis a
great comparison from our last camp. Here it
rained every day & we had ample water. Now,
water is a very serious problem. They say it
hasn’t rained for about six weeks.
In the same mail,
I am forwarding some parcels to you for your
wedding anniversary. So far I haven’t seen anything
worth while for you dad, although there are a
couple of mementos I picked up off the boat.
Twas a grand sight
to see the coloured sarongs of the natives, lining
the wharf, in a brilliant tropical sun. The
night we docked our boys were on duty unloading
& by golly we worked dad. Gee I was wild when we
found out that our comforts had not as yet
arrived. Considering that one can look at it as
£50.00 vanishing into the air. While I think of

2.
it dad could you forward me three sets of radio
batteries for my portable set. I very glad & grateful
that D.J. Lack & Co. supplied me with a radio xxx as
it is a shortwave and one can hear Melbourne. It
is our plainest station I forgot to mention to get
these things through Mr Gaston dad. Unfortunately
we are not allowed to forward a cable or telegram.
Hope you got my previous three
letters. Could you ring up D.J. Lack & Co & tell him
about the radio please? It is going to be a great comfort.
As a matter of fact we are bivouaced in the on house
of the ex German District Officer. We did not stop at
where I thought we were going but proceeded ^further to the
North. Now, dashed ^near on the equator.
Slept under a mosquito net last
night for the first time. I was to tired to worry
about it. We have a contract here for washing.
a chinaman & coons (native) - one penny per garment.
For the first day or so we dined at the “Club”
which is a dashed nice place. They have a pub
here also run by a chinaman. No one is allowed to
drink until after dark then the lads don't take to it
much as they all realise I think that beer &
the heat don't mix too well.
The houses here have
comparatively
 

3
small rooms and huge verandahs which As the
house is built on piles it is relatively cool. For
the mess we have ice at 3/- a block. Pretty
pricey??
So far we haven’t received any mail
but I’m still hoping. I think that our arrival
here was heralded by the Japanese radio.
Announcing that “Australian troops had
landed at —.”
cheerio my darlings and Chins up.
Your Loving Son.
Jack.
Hugs & Kisses
P.S. Everything here so far is extremely novel & New.
Mother ‘twas very interesting that Frank Ireland
should be, by now, married.
Bye Bye
P.S. Give my regards to Joan.
 

5
Vx 39159
Lieut. J.L. Burns
No.1. Indep. Coy.
A.I.F. abroad
My dears
‘Twas a grand thrill on Saturday
last when I received four letters. Two ^(Nos 2 & 3) from
you mother and one each from Margaret Gaston
& Lelene Staley. They are the first for over
five weeks.
That was a noble effort on your
part to raise £7 but its a bit tough to have
to give 25% away. Actually the money is the
best “comfort” for us as from now on our
mails are going to be few far between & packages
often go astray. I’ll let you know in a later
letter how to forward the cash. Hope the
Annual report of the Bowling Green was O.K.
Dad. Margaret Gaston is going to be married
at the end of this month. I believe she is
going to get you & dad along.
At present I am becalmed in a
port. It has been atrocious weather the last
2 weeks & as Finance Officer it was urgent
that I come from our base there in order
to contact the District Finance Officer. -
Lt. Colonel Arnold. Golly I got a shock when I
saw him. He may be down on Melbourne very

2.
soon. I believe Mrs Arnold has written to you
So I could get here our boat (of a schooner type)
had to make a detour. (Doug Millican is in
charge of it.) However once in harbour they
find that they are unable to get out on account
of the weather. At the present moment conditions
are very unpleasant as a volcano here is
in a bit of turbulent state; throwing dust
and cinders all over the place. In addition,
I have a couple of boils on my tail.
On the way over in our boat
I was extremely sea sick. I just lay in my
bunk too frightened to move as every time I
did I felt sick again. The boat pitched
tossed etc and every now & then the propellor
wk would come out of the water absolutely
shaking the whole boat.
Have been very busy the last
few days, but it now looks as if I am
going to have time on my hands. On
Saturday night last the officers of the units
stationed here turned on a dance for
the locals (to try & recompense for their
kindness) as it was a while since I last
went to a dance I had a dashed,
Good time. I finally, collapsed on my bed
about 5 A.M. Monday night, I also went to

3
a picture show my first for ages. This
place is really quite civilised compared with
where we are.
Incidentally, the night before I
left our base (Tuesday) we turned on
a Dinner for the local inhabitants. A
good time was had by all. I hope you
received the parcels (one) I sent you. So far
have purchased, 3 prs shorts & 2 shirts for
a sum total of £2:15:6. Dad as soon
as I get back to our base I will refund
The 20 I borrowed (I think I owed you
£10 for the automatic another £10 for some goods
I bought in town). The shirts I purchased
from the Chinese. - Kongs we call them. Now,
I am just beginning to feel my way as regards
speaking pidgin english.
The Dance, attended on Saturday
night, was held at a Club. Coloured lights
were “run out” around the grounds and
in a marquee was a buffet supper. Lads
in the forces made up the band.
Although I stayed at first at a
hotel I am now quartered out with a
unit in which I know quite a number
of officers & chaps. They were a neighbouring
unit to the 29th at Bonegilla. I am using

No 5.
VX 39159
Lieut. J.L. Burns
No. 1. Indep Coy
A.I.F. Abroad
Dear Mother & Father,
The mail closes
in about 1/2 hour. - This is due to
the fact that our movements of mail depend
on schooner arrangements.
At present we are
billeted in an old bank house -
on the verandah of the top storey.
I have had a temporary transfer
- now being classed as Messing
Finance & Canteen officer. Believe
you me there is plenty to do as
regards this.
Below us is a super
nine hole golf course & we quite
enjoy ourselves of an evening trying
to break par. Yesterday was pay
day and I think that Chinatown
did a record sale judging by

the number of parcels that are going
through the post.
Most of the officers are
flat out trying to censor their ^boy’s mail.
It has been fairly warm the last
few days. - in fact their is a
drought on at the present moment.
The water position is fairly acute.
We received a mail the other day
but unfortunately there were none
for me. Let’s hope some turn up
in the following mail.
Margaret Gaston is to be
married this month. Sent her
a parcel. By this mail Mater, there
is also a parcel for you.
Have got quite used to
taking my 5 grain quinine
capsules. – They are ever so much
better than the tablets. Cheerio
my darlings. Tons of love
Your Loving Son Jack

VX 39159
Lieut. J.L. Burns
No. 1. Indep. Coy.
A.I.F. Abroad.
My dear Mother & Father.
attached, dad you
will find the “acceptance form” for
Electrolytic zinc. - you will see that
I have inadvertently filled it in.
However, under separate airmail
& by ordinary mail I am
sending you a “power of attorney”
I completely forgot to fix one up
before I left. This should enable
you to take care of everything.
Mother received
yesterday the first letter which
you had posted to me per
ordinary mail. The airmail
arrives here once a week - the
ordinary mail depends on ships
which are few & far between. I
am still “stuck” here – waiting on

2.
our ship so that we can sneak out
of here. The weather has been atrocious
of late; not to mention this confounded
volcano which is spilling dust
everywhere. I believe that yesterday
a report came out that the “dust”
had been examined by an analyst
who pronounced it of “crystal” formation
and therefore injurious to the public
health. Still they said the same
thing four years ago when last
it blew up.
The last three or four days
have been a complete loaf & rest
cure as we have nothing to do & all
day to do it in. My “boils” are
practically better. I had four on
my tail & two on the upper part
of my right leg. I get on famously with
the sisters who dress them.
The chappie who made out
this "Power of Attorney” for me is the