Letters of Jack Lusby Burns, 1941-1945 - Part 9

AUSTRALIAN COMFORTS FUND

(QUEENSLAND DIVISION)

...........................................194

4

separate air mail have sent you 4 tins of [[?]] 

"havelock" tobacco. As long as I don't make

a welter of this can send ½ lb tobacco home

say once a month.

Petrol here is still unrestricted

although we pay 2/9½ a gallon for it.

Forgot to mention dad I also

received from you a bulletins sporting globe

& some a pipe. By the way I have started to

smoke a pipe (tobacco here is 1/- for a doz.

packet) so if you like you could send me up

a decent pipe & debit me up with the cost of

it. Don't make the bowl too big dad as I

haven't broken myself in as yet. By the way

could you please send it by "registered air

mail"

Guess Jimmy Brown will be well

into things over at [[?]] xxxxx east by now.

Here we are still on our toes waiting &

watching.

Have now just over a £ 100

in the pay book. Guess I had better transfer

that another £50 to you dad to meet the cost

of the shares. Could you please forward particulars

of what the transaction re these Elid Zinc.

shares were dad. By the way, have you

checked up on my new allotment of five shillings

5/.

AUSTRALIAN COMFORT FUND

(QUEENSLAND DIVISION)

....................................194

5

has been paid into my account as from the

7th November 41 (7/11/41)

At present it is raining and 

is now quite refreshing. afterwards when the

sun comes out conditions will be quite muggy.

Our water supply for drinking purposes here

is really dependent on the rainfall so

really we are pleased to see it rain. Although

whilst raining the water collects on top of

the ground, it soon runs away or is

absorbed. Tis only necessary to sink a

hole about 6 or 7 feet & you have water.

All our washing water comes from one of

these holes. Now that the rainy season has

set in, living conditions are much more

bearable. One is able to get plenty of fresh

fruit & vegetables. Pineapples are ridiculously

cheap so are bananas, 3' each & 1/. a bunch

of 4 doz - 6 doz resp

Cheerio my dears & loved

ones. At the present we are just a ball of

muscle No incidents. (5/1/41) or anything to

report.

Bye Bye Your Loving son

Jack

Hope you enjoyed your Xmas vac as I thought of

you often during the Xmas - New year festivities?

6

AUSTRALIAN COMFORT FUNDS

(QUEENSLAND DIVISION)

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Dad - nearly forgot

Joe (M.S.) Lyons my batman

came to me the other day for a bit of advice re

rates. It appears that his mother (address below)

as well as he, think that the rates charged

or accrued to him are very high. Could you

please contact Miss Lyons dad & go into this 

matter for her, Joe is writing his mother

telling her to expect you so as she will know

what to do. Thanks a lot Poppa.

(Mrs A.V. Lyons 159 Lennox Street Richmond E.1)

Take tram (any) in Flinders Street - 3C fare - Tram stop ^sign at Lennox St.)

P.P.S. How remiss of me - Thanks ever so

much for the Canteen orders. I wrote

Aunt Blanche thanking her. She's a

good old stick. Aunt Nell also sent me

10/- of canteen orders - she also is one of

the best. Am yet to write to her.

Tough luck re the gramophone - if you can

get the refund the best way to send the cash

here is to contact the D.F.O (District Finance Officer)

3.M.O. (Third Military District) Melbourne either at

Craig Bdlgs or Manchester Unity (Be sure & obtain

a receipt for the money.

 Ran a sweep the other day. Prize a Bottle of Rock - made 

30/- so bought 2 torches & an alarm clock for the boys.

14/1/41

My dearest Darlings.

Again I

am taking advantage of the

unusual means as availed

of before & am trying to get a

letter home to you both. The

mail came in last night 

& was certainly good to hear 

from you. Two from you

Mum (dated 28 Dec & Jan) and

one from you dad (dated 30 Dec)

also a telegram. Gee it was

grand hearing from you.

Glad to hear that you 

both had a good time at Avoca.

Grandma is certainly getting

on isn't she? She's has

been though some troubled times

of world history during her

90 years of life.

 It must be a relief

 2.

for you dad to be able to realise

on your mortgages now that

troublesome times are ahead. Funny

you down there getting temperatures

of over 100 whilst here practically

on the equator have temperature

of not more than 90^o-95^o. I'll

bet the garden suffered during

the heat wave.

As yet the news

from this district which should

rock Australia -(although as

Geoff Vincent says it -"The

complacency of portion of the

public is amazing". has so

far not affected us.

Since war was

declared by Japan have not 

slept in my pyjamas - bought

a new pair a week before

war was declared too - Wouldn't it?

At first I slept only removing my

 3

boots but I started to develop

tinea "twist the toes so had

the added luxury of sleeping

without socks.

I think it would be

very wise for you to put the car

up on Blocks as it would be

a very expensive luxury otherwise.

We adopted the "daylight

saving" here for a while but

reverted back to the old times

after a few days as being 

near the equator, we found

it rather impracticable as

the times of the rising and setting of 

the sun remains practically

constant.

Have a sore finger

at the moment - split the knuckle

when I fell over a coconut log

Unfortunately the thing became

infected but is well on the way

 4.

to recovery by now.

It will be your

birthday on the 22/1/41. Mum

so many happys. I hope

I can be with you on your

next. I have forwarded a

parcel per airmail for you

mum - I hope they fit.

The blowflies are bad

up here - they seem to take a 

delight in "blowing" your

blankets.

Sorry run out

of ink, Well my dears 

must close. My love

to you both hugs & kisses

Your loving Son

Jack.

16/1/42

Dad,

Could you please

write & advise as to

whether there are any

investments you could

recommend for £200 so

as it bears 5%-6% interest

My Commanding officer desires 

to know

Mrs A R. Burns

1647 Malvern Road

East Malvern 

S.E.

Victoria

316 Elizabeth CL.