Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 1 - Part 4 of 14

C.W.O.
Catholic Welfare Organisation
CAMP................................
NO...............UNIT ............            ............... / 94

3/

And now Kay we must say
farewell for today with regret too but you can
rely upon me to write, cable or phone to
you at every opportunity. In case, this
should be my last note before embarkation,
there might be a gap of a day of two before
my next but stand by for the news.

Syd sends his love and give
mine to all our folk. To you,
Kay every blessing God can give you,
and keep your flag flying.

Mick

3  2  41

[POSTMARK]. MIL P.O. PUCKAPUNYAL - AUST-VIC. -4FEB41

Miss. K. Clarke,
C/o China Dept.
Mutual Store Ltd.
Flinders St.
Melbourne C. 1

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
CONCESSION POSTAL RATE 

CATHOLIC WELFARE ORGANIZATION
FOR THE FIGHTING FORCES

LEAGUE OF SOLDIERS FRIENDS - TAKE CARE OF HIM 
CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Military Camp at Puckapunyal
BATTALION OR UNIT 2nd. A.A. Regt.
20 19.  1  1941

My Sweet Plum Pudding.
Taking time by the forelock,
I sit me down to indite a word or two
to thee. Not that I can think of much to
write about. Let us commence by trusting you
had a pleasant trip home last night
and had a dreamy slumber in which I
figured largely. If I had have bin there
you would not have had much slumber. Just
as I write, the radio has burst forth with
“I'll pray for you while you're away“ and I
am seized with a degree of longing for your
soft arms and so forth. Still I am
soothed a little by the thought that it will be
a reality in a few days. Poor old Syd is a
bit restless today. You can imagine after the
treat Dot gives him when she comes up here
that the thought of early embarkation does not
appeal to him, particularly on a Monday
Not that I'm any bloody martyr and
feel much better about the business. Still, we're in
the mullock now and moaning won't get us
out of it, will it Puss?

LEAGUE OF SOLDIERS FRIENDS - TAKE CARE OF HIM 
CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Military Camp at...........................
BATTALION
OR UNIT..............................................
................................19 ...........

2/

In more cheerful vein, when we
returned to our lines last night, tidings that
set our voices raised in glee awaited us.
To wit, duties for today. Gunner Ridge as
kitchen orderly and Gunner Billings returning
to his old craft as Mess Orderly. So Nugget 
cut a ton of wood and I ladled out grub
to the A.I.F and dutifully cleaned up after
the charming fellows. I turned to this
morning at 6 fashionably clad in Giggle
ensemble with hat to match. Bai Jove, I was
a stunner. My suit now smells like the
Sgts. & W.O's dunny. We will probably be on
again Wednesday.
Last night, we picked Bob
Sutton about his excuses yesterday and told
him Dot and you were furious. The
poor chap went red and stammered some
tripe about always cash crashing in. After
the march we will bring him along and
make him shout. Regarding next week end
it came out in orders today that leave would
only be until Sunday night.

LEAGUE OF SOLDIERS FRIENDS - TAKE CARE OF HIM 
CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Military Camp at...........................
BATTALION
OR UNIT..............................................
................................19 ...........

3/

Not so good but better than nothing. As there
is a bit of doubt just where we will be
dismissed after the march.  Syd has
asked Dot to meet him at the Mitre owing to
the thousands who will congregate at
Spencer St. So if that is hunky dory with you,
will you arrange to meet up with Dot and
we will come straight up there.
The Ball preparations are well in
hand and the bookings for tables and grog
were fixed up today. So dig out your
glad rags and become refurbished (I think
that's a good word) and we will go to
town.
Well, gal, I think that's about
the issue so will cease firing now and
stand by Wednesday for the weekly call
from Pucka (Puckapunyal means " Death
to the Eagle)
All the best to Ada, Bill & Red, and
everything to you, mate.
Mick
PS We I did have a hearty supper last night
- Hee Hee.
 

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
CONCESSION POSTAL RATE 

20/1/41

[POSTMARK]  MIL.P.O.PUCKAPUNYAL-AUST-VIC
21JAN41

Miss. K. Clarke,
548 Barker's Road,
East Hawthorn.
Victoria 

LEAGUE OF SOLDIERS FRIENDS - TAKE CARE OF HIM 
CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Pucka
4. 2. 41
Darling,

What with cleaning up
our lines and huts
preparatory to our departure in
the morning. I did not think
I would have a chance to
write you today but as I am
sitting on the P.O. steps waiting
for my call to come through
I have borrowed Syd's pad
to wish you all my love
and farewell for the time
being. By the time, you get
this I think I will be out on
the blue water. Between you & I
we leave for the seaboard early
tomorrow and so to our
appointed destination abroad.

2/

Thanks a whole lot for your
pep talk to hand today
and I now may say that
I can depart tomorrow with
your encouragement ringing in
my ears. Today I strolled
up the hill for a few minutes
as the wind was blowing &
I wanted to recapture the
rapture I knew when we spent
our last day together just
a day or two ago.
And now, my love
I conclude sending you
my all and fervently hoping
to be reunited to you soon
Mick
 

4.2 41

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
CONCESSION POSTAL RATE

[POSTMARK] MIL.P.O. PUCKAPUNYAL- AUST- VIC-5FEB41

Miss. K. Clarke.
C/o China Dept.
Mutual Store Ltd
Flinders St
Melbourne C.1 

At Sea -  6 . 2 . 41 

Darling,
Perched in my bunk, time 7 p.m. I can see
your sweet face rising with the swell of the ocean.
And so that the same beautiful thought will keep that
sacred memory of our last day together constantly
before me. I am penning a few lines each day. I
suppose you are anxious to know just show we are faring
on out luxury liner. To begin at the beginning, we
kicked off from to Pt Melb about noon Wednesday, leaving
about 4 pm the same day. Although most of the boys are
in hammocks, 40 of us were lucky enough to be put
in the Cinema in bunks, Syd & I are together, he
on the top. The bunks are tip top, having
spring mattresses, ticks and pillows. The tucker also is
splendid and everything in the dining room spotless. So
generally speaking, the shipboard life is very pleasant
and compensates us a bit for the things we miss but I
fear me that a longing for the folks at home will
soon manifest itself. When we get to the scrap, I hope
that they work us hard so that we will not have any
sitting about. This trip though is something I'll never
forget and as the swell has not troubled my tummy
I can observe all that's going. Beer and smokes are dirt cheap
beer 5' Imperial pint, cigs 1/8 for 50 English Craven A,
Tobacco 2 oz for 1/- - Makes your mouth water, eh!