Letters of Jack Lusby Burns, 1941-1945 - Part 11

4
Tuesday 10^th March.
What do you think of your mother not getting
your letter away before. We went over to Clarks
on Sunday afternoon & Mr Clark hadn't been
well. We met Bill's young lady. & Ian Wilson
(who is a Doctor now & is at the Heidleberg
Military Hospital & of course holds the rank
of Captain) He hasn't grown at all & doesn't
look as well in his uniform as my son does.
He is a nice lad anyway.
Last night we had Miss Williams out for dinner
& she stayed the night as the black out is
so intense that it isnt very safe to be out
late these nights. She brought Dad ½ dozen 
very nice handkfs & me a pair of stockings
Dad's was for his birthday but I dont know
what mine for although I loved them.
Mrs Rogers came over & we had a game of
Rummy. Dad was out & I gave him a spade from
you & it cost 17/6. & I gave slippers so he was
very pleased. He has used the spade quite a
lot. since getting it. He has gone to the Green
& its  only 12.30 pm as he has to cut lawns before they
start playing today. That is his duty, to cut green.
Well son I dont seem  to have much to write this week,
but you are ever present in our thoughts. May God
bless & protect from any dangers & may you have added
courage & fortitude given you. Dad joins with me. Hugs &
Kisses. Ever your loving Mother.

2
Yesterday I had Lueline Staley over to
see us. We picked her up at Wattletree
Road corner. & we went out near the
Commonwealth Golf Club & sat under
some lovely trees. She was saying that
she has started to ride a bike & she
is coming over on it one night to show
us how it is done. She has settled down
to her 2^nd  Year at the University. Had
a very good holiday at Mornington
during January & saw quite a lot of
Mary Graham & her boyfriend a 4^th Year
Medical student. He was staying with
Grahams. They had a house. Anyway
Lueline said she would be writing to
you herself in the course of a few days
I had [[?]] too on Sunday.

42 
[["Minushae"?]]
1647 Malvern Road 
Glen Iris SE 6.
May 12^th
My darling Son,
We are at last in the depths
of winter very cold here today with a
real squally showers. Mrs Sargent & I
have been into the city today. We went 
to see 49^th Parallel. a very good picture.
We both enjoyed  it very much. Its
awful since Mr Curtain announced 
clothing rationing what the people
are doing. The shops are allowed
to sell so much goods every day.
& it was strange to see nearly all
the shoes shops closed at dinner
time reopening tomorrow at 10a.m.
Foys closed at 2pm & not opening
until 10.a.m. today. Leviathean the
same. Myers had quite a lot of their
different departments & no sales today.
The Govt shouldn’t have said a word
to anybody but just brought in the
coupons right away & everyone had the

2

same even chance I bought a couple of
pairs of shoes a couple of weeks ago. 
Also some underclothing for Dad at the
annual sales. So we won’t be wanting
anything for some time to come. The
people have gone simply crazy. It 
makes you sick to see it. Nobody 
would think a war was on.
Tomorrow. we are going to have lunch
with Joan. They have got a flat at 
the corner of St Kilda St & North Road
Brighton. She rang me last week to
come & have lunch with her. I hope
its a nicer day than what it has been
today. Im quite looking forward to seeing
its nearly 3 months since we met.
Sunday was Mothers Day. Dad came
& gave me a kiss for you. Son & also
said he would give me a pair of
shoes. from you so that was decent wasn't
it! I envied the Mothers on Sunday
at Church with their sons who had
recently returned from all parts of
the globe. Young McBride is back. He was
in one group of Islands & escaped -  

3
Never mind Son when you return we
will make it a Mothers Day. & no
doubt we will have a great rejoicing
We had Mr Cocker out to see us last
week. He was asking very kindly after
you. No Bank in Bruthen now. The men
have been absorbed in other branches.
Its a back ward step anyway.
Do you know who is coming out to
have dinner with us tomorrow night
but Pat. & both Dad & I are looking 
forward at meeting her. She is in the
D.A.A.F.S. & has come over here to
finish her training. We are also having
a boy who was in Rabaul coming
to see us one evening. We really wish
it was our own boy, but will have
to continue to have a little more
patience. I was out having a game of
Solo Monday afternoon. I'm getting
quite a card sharpee! We went to
Pictures in the evening. Mrs Rogers came
with Mrs Sargent & I. Eva has gone 
up to Avoca to stay with Auntie Nell for
a couple of weeks. & of course to see her
little daughter Jan who has been in Avoca

4
for about 4 weeks & intends staying
the whole winter. Thursday we went
over to see Auntie Lil. Bill is somewhere
in Queensland. Sunday we sent out
to Glen Alvie Rosemary came out to. 
spend the day with her mother. She
had her uniform on & looks very nice in it
She is in the W.Army Service & is
at Victoria Barracks in the Stores. &  
loves the job very much. Dad is fairly
well. Still busy with the Green They
are top dressing it now. I must away
& go & put on the tea. No pudding tonight.
Wedy 13^th It's a very miserable morning to
be going down near the sea. to have
lunch with Joan. & I've got such a lot to do
before I go. I want to bake & do my flowers.
& lay table so before I'm finished I'll have
my running shoes out I guess. Shops in the
city are not opening until 10.a.m. You've got
no idea what it's like. Well my darling Son
Are you well & happy. Joe's mother rang me last.
I must meet her again & have after tea with her. 
Once again may I give you in God's good keeping,
& may he sustain you, in every venture you are called
on to perform. Good bless you Son. Dad joins with me in
hugs & kisses.  Ever Your Loving Mother.

43

[[Minushae?]]
1647 Malvern Rd,

Glen Iris SE6

May 20^th 42
My darling Son,
Another week has
Gone, & still we have no idea where
our one & only boy is. Quite a number
of boys from Bairnsdale & district
are back home again. We see it by
the paper of the District. It would
be too much for us to see you
walk in on us one day. They say
joy never kills, & I would chance it.
Still we think & pray that God in his
goodness & mercy will some day restore
us to each other whenever He see's.
fit to do. so. Both Dad & I are well &
we keep our old chins up, as the 
saying goes. Mrs Sargent goes back home
tomorrow. She had a cable from Nevill
to say he was well & happy. That
is the third one she has received
in 6 weeks. She really doesn't know
where he is. He may be very near or a long
way away.

2

We had a lovely day with Joan,
on the 13^th of this month. She is
in a flat & keeping house for her
father. She served us a very nice
lunch & she has the place very
nicely furnished, & appears very
happy. Its very easy to get to from
hers take the bus that passes the
door & it goes through to Brighton
& her flat is Cr of North Rd/St Kilda
Street. She is coming to have lunch with
Dad & I on Friday next. We had Pat
here on Wednesday, but we could see
that she knew for all as a body of men
rather than an individual. They must
have had some thrills coming across,
& its bad luck a person losing everything
that they possessed. My word she speaks
well & is very entertaining with the
descriptions of places. We are hoping
that she'll come again. & entertain us.
She had a shocking cold. but was
very interested in her training. She hadn't
her unform but hoping to get it at end
of the week. She was giving us her experiences
with the natives it was very funny
 

3
Went & saw Joe's mother on Sunday
last. We first of all called on
see a lady in Masonic Hospital, who is
a member of the Drs Hospital Auxiliary
I work for. & I said to Dad we would
then go & see Mrs Lyons. She was very pleased
to see us. We also met Joe's three sisters
& we had a cup of afternoon tea
with them. It was the youngest boys' 17^th
birthday, & they had invited a couple of
boys in for tea. so they were busy
preparing I have invited Mrs Lyons to
go to the pictures with me early
in June. went into the Y.M.C.A on
Monday & made scores of beds & mended
sheets we got their at 9.30 & left again
at 2.30 pm & put in a good days work.
Yesty Mrs Sargent & I went into city &
tried to do some shopping but the
shopping is dreadful these days. People
have gone silly & when you go its sold
out for the day. We went to the Tivoli
in the aftn It wasn't much tho was
on so you can guess the rest. Very common
& the place packed out. Ive got to leave
this as we are going out. Bye Bye Love,
 

4

Thursday 21^st Dad has gone to Station with
Mrs Sargent. Its an awful day misty
rain. We have enjoyed having her with
us Last night she & I went & had tea with
Syd & his wife. She is a very good cook
& we had a good tea. We played Rummy
afterwards Syd is  earning wonderful money

at Munitions. It doesn't seem right one
boy away fighting, & getting such a small
wage, & the other brother earning big money
& no risk. Ive got [[AusLove?]] coming today
to help me. Last Saturday we went to
His Majesty's & saw the musicial Comedy
(Nightbirds" we went up in the "Gods"
& enjoyed it immensely. Alex Rogers & Auntie
Lui also came with us. Well my darling
must away & see to the numerous household
duties Poor old Dad can't get out. its too wet
& its been the same for a week. May.
God watch over & protect you wherever you may
be or whatever circumstance you may have
to face.
In the sincerest earnest
prayer of your Loving

Mother.
Dad joins with me in the usual love &
kisses. "Mum"