Frank Sherral Bissaker, Letters and documents, 1941-1942 - Part 6

(4)
Furthermore, Sweetheart I repeat
once again that you will always
come first, well before my people,
even though Mum might have
other ideas. When I return home I'll
soon show you what I mean, so
please, darling, don't misunderstand
my real, inner feelings on this
subject. I've laid my cards on
the table quite openly, so let's
close the subject, knowing that
I am well aware of Mum's tactics.
Incidentally, darling, she has always
written very lovingly of you & Terry.
Although I know that she is always
expecting you to stay at "Wyrella"
I don't blame you for refusing.
I have been sorry to hear of
Mater & Pop's ill-health & only
hope they are well by now.

(5)
I realise the mistake I made about
Leo Cheers arriving home. You see dear
when I heard of Terry's safe arrival
I went haywire & cou used to
rush through your letters; so I
got lots of things hopelessly mixed,
even the name of your doctor. I
know you'll understand just how
your very, very, very proud hubby
acted xxxx Haven't heard from Leo,
or Keith for some time, so I'll drop
them a line tomorrow. I know
where Keith is, but its miles
from here, worse luck & I am
not permitted to leave this area.
Have been posting 'AIF news' regularly
to you, dear XXXX.
You will be puzzled when your
birthday present arrives. I forgot
to mention it on the outside
of the parcel & only stated

(6)
'Infant's clothing', so I hope the
censor doesn't complain, as we are
compelled to state details of
price, article etc. on the outside
Razor blades & believe it or not,
pipe tobacco are fairly easy to
obtain at present dear, so don't
worry about them for a while. You
have been so wonderful to send 
such a lot to me, darling wife XXXX
Well Sweetheart, I'll close now,
with all my love & the fervent
hope that I'll be home soon.
Ever your devoted hubby
Frank XXXX
A big hug for Terry from
Daddy X
Love to Mater, Nita, Pop
Elsie, Maureen, & Horrie
FB.
FBissaker

Letter No. 27
NX57392.  Hubby
A coy. 2/13 Battalion
AIF (ME) Abroad
19 October 42
My Darling Sherrie & Terry xxxx x,
Hullo,
family, how are you, this bright
sunny day? - very well I hope
and so am I too!. I only wish
'We Three' were sharing such a
lovely day together. xxxx. x
I still have to answer a few of your
letters dear, so here goes. Incidentally
young lady your spelling is not
improving, so in future I'm going
to send you a long list of all
mistakes & I'm going to spank
you, too, when I get home. Consider
yourself sentenced to 7 Days C.B. on
bread & water. I wonder if 'C.B.'
means caned & banged?? ahem!
xxxx

2
If I could spell the word 'atrocius'
I'd say your spelling is atrocius. XXXX
5 minutes later:- Pardon my absence, but
there is a dog-fight proceeding nearby
& a Jerry 'plane just skimmed uncomfortably
close to my dugout. He made
such a roar whilst diving that I
couldn't hear myself write. Our ack!
ack! guns gave him a few souvenirs
of lead. We often seen 'planes
crash & watched the crew frantically
endeavouring to parachute.
Quite some time ago, Jerry infantry
attacked our position. Their artillery
shelled us for an hour & then the
infantry put in an attack. We settled
down to some rapid firing & just
before daylight Jerry withdrew. During
the attack 'Snowy' handed me a
hand grenade, for which I thanked

3
him until I noticed that the pin
x was missing. "Hey! Snowy there isn't
any pin in this B-B !!?! grenade."
"I know that Sir, I dropped it in
the sand" was his answer. All I could
do was throng throw the dammed
thing out & it landed on our
latrine, blowing it to pieces -
wouldn't it?. The ne When daylight
came we collected a few prisoners
but not without a funny incident
occurring. Our skipper wandered out
to see what weapons etc. that Jerry had
left & was returining returning to us when
I noticed a big blonde Jerry (about
6'2" high) following him back. Hi!
Skipper, look behind you!" I yelled.
When he saw the Jerry, he nearly
collapsed. Actually he voluntarily
surrendered & was only too willing
to be taken prisoner by one of my lads.

4
When this Jerry saw our Skipper returning
to our lines, he merely followed
behind him - it was the funniest
thing I've seen for a long while.
Germans are very similar to us in
looks & build, but some of them are
very haughty & definitely, a pain
in the neck. Whilst out on patrols
I've been as close as 10 yards to them
& have heard them laughing & talking.
But I'm blowed if I was laughing
at the time. Actually, I was wondering
how soon it would be before I was
either a prisoner or in about 100
pieces. However, all's well that ends
well & I was always lucky enough
to return safely to our lines. I'll
tell you all about patrols etc.
when I return darling, as censorship
regulations won't permit me to
write about such matters.

(5)
I don't remember either Beveridge or
the name of my ex-batman dear,
but if the latter has returned home
he's a lucky fella!
Sweetheart, I realised just how
difficult it is to buy suitable
items to pack in parcels for me. I've
enjoyed everything you've sent me
darling, but now with coupons
operating & everything so dear, I don't
want you to send so many. Our
canteen supplies dozens of necessities
& I'm well fitted out at present.
Tobacco x is fairly plentiful, also
razor blades, so I'm doing very well
for myself. Another thing, please
remember that I am quite O.K.
financially (word of honour). If
ever I need any cash darling, I'll
let you know by cable XXXX.
Nevertheless, thanks for offering, Sweetheart.
XXXX

(6)
I have taken my Platoon Sergeant
in hand and convinced him that he
will marry his fiance immediately
he returns home. I told him all
about us & Terry & he now wants
to catch the next boat home (so
do I incidentally) XXXX
I've digressed in all directions, as
usual, but I knew you would like
to hear some of the incidents which
I've experienced.
O-o-h! Sherrie! You mentioned
MORE children, when I return. Do
you realise young lady that I haven't
any even met our first bonny
baby yet! X. Anyway, whilst on
the subject, I think we (or should
I say "you") will have a feminine
gender, next time - wow!!
Bang! Bang! Bang! I just

6
heard a few rifle shots. Bang! Bang!
there goes a few more. XXXX
I wrote to Mater, Uncle Bert,
Ella & Lieut. Osborne (the chap who
sent me those snaps) and also Keith
Cole last night. I can't keep
my correspondence up to date, although
of course I always write to you, at
every opportunity. XXXX.
Attended Church followed by
Holy Communion yesterday and prayed
to God to keep you & Terry safe &
to send me home safely, SOON.
Lots of Love Sherrie darling,
Ever your own loving hubby
Frank XXXX
X Terry
FBissaker
PS. I miss you terribly, darling XXXX
FB.