Letters of Jack Lusby Burns, 1941-1945 - Part 7

VX39159

Lieut  J.L.Burns

No.1. Indep Coy

A.I.F., Abroad.

30/11/41.

My dear Darlings

I am so pleased and 

bucked to receive your letters on Sunday

last but more joyful to hear once 

again your voices- It seems such a 

long time since I heard you. It seems

strange being thousands of miles apart and 

yet hearing you speak as if we were 

conducting a conversation over the meal

table at 1647 Malvern Rd.

As you have guessed I 

am away from Base - it being over

4 months since I was here last. Last

time I did not know that you could avail

yourselfs of this opportunity. Still I made 

up for it this time. Cost me £6 but 

was worth it. You both sounded 

exceptionally well when you spoke. I guess I 

sounded a bit incoherent after I heard 

your voices.

Dad in regards to Ted

Donaghue- he borrowed £27 off of me

so as he could go home. His father died

2

anyhow he may have a bit of a struggle

to pay back the money but I'm going to write 

to him and tell him to pay the money to you

when he is able as I have no need of 

it up here.- Besides the £27 when you 

receive it will offset some of the money 

I owe you.

Twas great news re the selling 

of Albert Street but I think you sold 

out at a very cheap price. Still if you

get the cash it wont be so bad.

Thanks mother ever so much for getting

the gramophone etc I am looking forward 

to it. Life gets a bit lonely at times

up here but as the chaps are such

a grand crowd it offsets quite a lot of

the loneliness.

Thanks for getting that message 

of Major Wilson's to that lass in

Adelaide. Judging from what the told

text of message indicates it may be

some time before we reach Australia.

Am at present on our boat

which is waiting to pick up some

stuff preparatory to pushing off. I hope

to get this letter away. Mother twas

3

rather sad and sudden news about 

Murray Sutherland - he is the first one 

of us to go. Am writing this mail to 

his mother & father expressing my sympathy.

Saw Bob Sherrington last night when

I attended my first dance for over

five months. He was one of the picquet.

Had quite a yarn with him. Have 

seen four picture shows this

week, believe you me its a bit of all

right. Have been extraordinarily busy

whilst over here. Doing financial

stuff. Balanced exactly to the penny

for July Aug Sept & Oct.

Glad to hear that you both 

are going to Avoca for Xmas - give

my regards to all whom I know. Guess   

the bowls will receive another belting at 

Bairnsdale - You’re lucky getting 

petrol - dad up here it costs 2/9 a gal

& in an unlimited supply. By the by

I think I mentioned before that my 

car had been smashed up. It probably 

will realize £15. So am really £20 in  

debt which the chaps involved are 

going to refund to me. Twas tough 

luck for them.

4.

Received a letter from Leline Staley who

abused me up hill & down dale for not 

writing to you. Evidently you told her

mother that you had not received any 

mail from me. I don't know how this 

came to happen as quite a number
of the lads are are complaining about the
delay of their mail.
over in Li Things now seem interesting
over in Libya. All what concerns us 

most is what Japan is going to do. 

The Canteens Board are
doing a good job here - Goods are now
free of duty and prices have dropped 

considerably. e.g. Beer 1/- a botle a 

2oz. tin tobacco 1/-, Cigs 8d - 20 &
Craven A's 1/-for 20. These prices are 

at least a 100% reduction on
local prices.

Well my dears a most
happy & enjoyable Xmas & an extremely
prosperous new year - may I be home for

the next. Hoping my camphor wood box and ^enclosed presents
arrives un good order - Cheers darlings.
& tons of love & hugs & kisses
Your loving Son
Jack
J.L.Burns
 

Was extra news re the gramophone.

Burns Philp & Co are a good crowd
to send things through too. I only
hope that the records arrive in good

knick.
 

VX39159

Lieut. J.L. Burns.
No.1. INDEP. Coy.
A.I.F. abroad.
9/18/41.
My dearest darlings.
Well I guess by now that

you have heard the Japan has finally made
her decision and with the raids its making
in the pacific I'm afraid that we are

very much on our toes.
I'm afraid dear ones that
it may be some time before you may receive
mail and as depending on transport services
as we have in the past. - they're sure to be

a bit erratic. Nevertheless I'll keep

on writing at least once a week & when

they do get through you'll be snowed under

by correspondence.
Had a marvellous surface

mail when I returned from my trip. There

were parcels from yourselves, Joan, Auntie
Eva & Jannette Downing., besides your numerous
bulletin & Sporting Globes Dad. Golly it was

great to receive them.

Now that I am away from

home you'll have to look after Mum, Dad
 

2.
- at last, the government seem to be making
up their minds to do something. Guess your
Xmas trip is sll up the spot as there are to

be no public holidays this year. Its about time

they brought conscription in.
Well my darlings will have to
close now as this as only a rushed
note - Look after yourselves and this
new threat brings danger much nearer
to you both. Don't WORRY as we're safe

as houses here.
Cheerio my darlings.
Hugs, kisses & tons of love.

Your ever loving Son
Jack.

J.L.Burns

 

VX 39159

Lieut. J.L.Burns.

No.1.INDEP. Coy.

A.I.F. Abroad

14 Dec. 41.
My own dear Darlings.
Nighttime - time
and everthong seems so strangely

peaceful - I wonder how long
it will last. Today it has
been drizzling rain - and
cool - the nearest approach
yet to a southern day we've
had since we've been here.
I believe
the 2/29^th are in action at

the present moment - that means
I lost a bit with Jimmy

Brown as I said that I

would see action before him.
Twas rotten news re the

sinking of the two battleships.
I guess without exception that

 2.
every Britisher felt a sinking
feeling in his heart when he

heard the news. Myself &

others felt a violent hate

for the the little yellow swine.

This little portable of mine
is proving a godsend as it

regularly gives us news four
or five times a day. The

lads here taken great interest

in the news now.

Received a letter from

you the other day mum, also

one from Joan who is now

back with her husband.

I will be grand when I receive
your gramophone - I as well
as the boys are looking forward
to it with great expectations.
I only hope that the boat which

is carrying it is not
sunk. - I would be another to
 

3.
add to the scare of those little

yellow men. I am keeping all
Xmas puddings for Xmas day
although heaven alone knows

when & where we shall spend
it. - Seems a bit of an anti-climax - 
"Peace on earth, goodwill to all men".
Everyone now is

tremendouly keen and on their
toes. At times you see some
very funny sights such as

chaps running pulling their
trousers up, now with one

half of their faces shaven, others
clad only in a towel. Deadly
serious at the time but you
get a great laugh out of it

afterwards.
I don't know whether
I told you but we all now

get a 1/- increase in pay