Letters of Jack Lusby Burns, 1941-1945 - Part 3

3.
local Registrar (I met him officially
just after I landed & he then said
“anything I can do for you please let me
know” - in fact this has been
symbolic of all the people here. They
have been most kind.) Yesterday I
went to his place for afternoon tea.
Met his wife & had a “spiffing" feed
They are up on the high parts overlooking
the town & from there you get a marvellous
view.
The working hours here
take a bit of getting used to. e.g.
Banks 8 - 11 Am, & 2 - 3 pm other
business houses 8 - 12 pm 1.30 - 4.30 pm.
The Kongs (Chinese) keep open
all day & till 11.0 pm at night - the
same goes for the pubs. Tis very hard
to get a decent wash here. The water
is very “hard" & even although you
have special soap it does not
remove the dirt etc. The coons (natives)
 

4
here are very cheeky compared
with our domicle. The taxis, & I have
used these quite a bit of late, are
driven by coons & do they like to get
the bit between their teeth. However
I think all cars have a “governor”
on them. There was a decent smash
here yesterday - one person ^(coon) being killed
When you ask a coon
(“boy" coloquially) for hot water to
shave with in the morning, the conversation
follows these lines. - “Hey boy
you catchem one fellar for
hot water along cuttem grass - you
savvy eh?” The boy vigorously
nods his head & says “Me savvy
master” & off he trots. One must
always finish a sentence with the
exclamation – “eh?”
Cheerio my dears & keep
smiling - lots of loves hugs &kisses
Your Loving Son
Jack
 

No. 7.
VX39159
Lieut JL. Burns
No. 1. Indep Coy
1649 Malvern Rd.
A.I.F. abroad.
E. Malvern SE
Dear Dad.
Enclosed you will
1/ find a "Power of Attorney" 
Besides this one I have posted ^another
2/ one by ordinary mail.
3. the third to you care of
the Bank Elizabeth Street
4 The fourth I will post later.
The first & second I will register.
Dad. These "Power of Attorney's"
will need I think a 10/- Stamp
Any how charge to my a/c.
Hope you got my wire re
the £20.0.0 It is being forwarded
by the Commonwealth Bank from
here to the credit of your account.
Many thanks for a loan of
 

2.
same.
Mum by separate ^registered parcel I
have forwarded a couple of handkerchiefs.
Geoff Vincent is now a Pilot Officer.
Jolly good on his part. So you
think the radio announced where
we wh were did you mum.
Was it the Aust. or a foreign radio.?
Cheerio. & chins up.
Your Loving Son
Jack.
 

.
Dad.
Here is your 2nd
Copy "Power of Attorney”. Am
forwarding same date as others
so see difference in time
taken for delivery.
Many thanks for fixing
up. Elect. zinc. for me.
Tell mum will look up names &
numbers of the lads for her. Doug
Millican sends regards.
Hope the football is OK.
Mum if you are thinking of
anything for me a portable
gramaphone wouldn't go far
astray: - God Bless you both.
Love.
Jack.
 

7
VX39159
Lieut. J.L. Burns
No.1. INDEP COY
A.I.F. abroad.
My dear Mother & Father.
It is just over a
week since I returned to base from
our “Cooks tour”. The trip back in
the boat was not it ¼ as rough as
it was on the way down. However,
I was very sick and managed to
have a bunk conveniently near a
port hole. The trip down took 32
hours and the one back about 16
hours.
As I had been away
for over a fortnight there was a
good bit of work piled up so I have
been fairly busy during the last
week. Saturday last I had a
hit at cricket Sunday I tried to
play golf - took about 50 for
9 holes twas wretched golf.
Yesterday (friday) we had an
 

2
I should say there were conducted
“Tabloid Sports." in which there
were a series of things arranged
e.g. 100 yds in 12 secs, 3 hops - 20ft,
10 “pumps” etc. The chaps were
divided into groups of 10 and as
each chap completed he received a
point. The “team” with the biggest
number of points thus gained won.
Pay night (Thursday)
there was held in the canteen
the First Inaugeral Meeting of the
— Turtle Club. A Kong
(Chinamen) gave one of the lads
20 Turtles. A few of the lads got
together and ^decided to conducted a race
meeting. The idea spread very
rapidly. However, at the “meeting”
they had “Books” announcers
etc. Practically all of the local
whites turned up and an
extremely good time was held
 

by all. The Canteen took about
£35. I bought some buns and
saveloys converted them into
“hot dogs” and they went like
hot cakes.
As yet we have had no
rain for quite a while and
still have to cart it. Cheerio
as only ¼ hour warning was
given to closing of the mail.
My regards to Joan when next you
see her. With lots of love
Your Loving Son
Jack.
 

VX39159
Lieut J.L. Burns
No. 1 INDEP. COY
A..I.F. abroad
Dear Mother & Father.
Just returned
from a trip in our truck
about 45 miles down the road
Went down to a plantation to
buy a couple of beasts. We
pay 4’ a lb for dressed beef.
We left about 4.30 on Monday
and arrived about 6.30 - a
rotten road. Arriving there
(a day before the people expected
use we found an empty
house.) However, we had our
own rations but only 1 fork
& one spoon. Twas funny
borrowing each others knives.
spoon & fork to eat tinned
peaches etc.
Slept in the truck
at night and was up at 5.30

2.
in order to view the beasts.
Unfortunately, they had had a
fire there the day previous &
as the beasts are wild especially
as soon as they see a white man,
they were very restless. However,
we shot two got the coons
to drag them across to an
improvised gallows where I
hacked about with my knife.
Was covered in gore but twas
good fun whilst it lasted.
Saturday last had a
game of team's and on Sunday
played cricket. Each Sunday
there is a match played
between the various platoons.
Our side won fairly easily
but it was an enjoyable
game. I made 46 not out and
took one wicket. When I first
started to bowl managed to