Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 1 - Part 9 of 14

VX38483 Gnr.M.Billings  
2nd A.A.Regiment
Palestine 31.3.41
[*PS More enclosures to come*]

Darling Kay,
Good news today - your letters No.s 12 & 13 
just handed over and very pleased to hear from you as 
last mail I missed out. Sorry you have not had 
anything from me up to date but a matter of a day 
or two should remedy that deficiency. I wrote by the 
first  airmail after arrival here so perhaps a slight 
delay occurred through censorship. Firstly, your news of 
Syd was most welcome and I now look forward 
to a letter from him although it appears he had 
not got to Melbourne when you wrote. As you say, it was 
a blow, felt very keenly at first but time has softened the 
blow and am now quite reconciled to his absence. Bob 
Sutton is still about, in the same section as yours 
truly and he sends you his warmest regard. Have 
shifted tents recently and am with a bonzer crowd now 
and great fun is the result. I have omitted on several 
occasions to number my letters owing to haste but from 
henceforth will put one down. List this one by No. 6  which 
from memory I think is correct. All your letters have 
arrived safely so the service seems to be pretty reliable and I 
am encouraged to believe you will receive all mine
Well, Lady Fair, I hope this finds you 
in good form, equal to that when you wrote and I

2/

agree that your philosophical attitude to things is the 
right slant although keeping it up for 24 hours per day 
becomes a bit of a burden. I am first dealing with 
your letters and shall then pass on to the tidings from the 
Middle East. I suppose I should feel flattered that you 
miss me so much but you can guess how pleased I 
would be to spare you the ordeal. Anyhow, I vow 
that lost time shall be made up “apres la guerre 
fini".  I see all your associates have returned from 
vacation after much festivity, well it's great work 
if you can get it, say I. By the way, its about time you were 
off on your annual jaunt if my memory serves me correctly. 
See you have a good time, Puss. You probably deserve a 
rest after the revolution at the Mutual. I would not 
refuse a banquet at the Elizabeth Collins just now. Its 
so long since I had a good hot meal that my digestion 
would be seriously impaired. Our staple diet gravitates 
between stew, mash, custard, rice, eggs and Camel 
beef all coming around in its monotonous turn. At 
least, I think its camel, maybe it's goat. Still trying 
to sneak out to see John and Norm Harris, but as 
their camps are a fair way away, have not made it 
yet. I believe Arthur Newton left here just before we 
arrived. By Jove, I would have liked to have seen him. 
Have not been to the pictures lately but a few of us hope 
to make the trip one night this week.

3/

The shows are not too bad and if you don't mind the 
walk of a coupla miles. Regarding your number 13, 
I will give Bob your address although I view the proposal
with grave suspicion. I know that old philanderer with 
his soulful eyes. Today, we had a route march and 
I now feel my best since getting here and with my 
simple mode of living and naturally sound constitution,
 it will be me who will have to look after these old 
jokers.  If you are writing to him, his number is VX34163 
Gnr R. Sutton, same address as mine thence. It will be 
good when a swag of Australian papers come to hand 
but deliveries of papers I believe are few and far between. 
Glad to know the courting of Val and Jack has 
reached such a happy stage in view of the disparity in
 certain things afflicting them.  In "affaires du coeur".
Val I think could do with a slice of luck.   Id You 
keep me well posted of the doings of our mutual 
circle and this mail seems to contain news good and bad.  
I hope Flan's mater does not get any worse as if he 
is sent away now, the shock could prove fatal and 
if she is to seriously ill if would be hard to deprive 
her of his company, limited though it be these days. 
And now, I have some good dope to tell 
you and as I would like you to share in my good 
fortune, I will tell the tale at some length which 

4/

may necessitate the writing of another letter next mail.  
To begin at the beginning, a party of us journeyed per 
bus to Jerusalem yesterday and for my part, a wonderful day 
was the result.  F Kicking off at 7.30 we arrived 
at the Holy City about after a few hours driving which in 
truth was a thrill. Near our destination, the road becomes 
a labyrinth of twists and turns and at one stage you 
sail down a stiff grade essaying 7 Devil's Elbows one 
right on top of the other. We had a Russian chauffeur 
and talk about a wizard at the wheel.  Arriving at 
Jerusalem we had a short stroll,  and then set out 
for Jericho and the Dead Sea.  Except for a pub, that 
part was pretty uninteresting. En route, we passed quite 
close to the Mount of Temptation at the foot of which is 
grove of fir trees.  As the country around there is rocky and 
barren, these trees of themselves are rather miraculous, 
such flora looking incongruous in such a setting.  The 
next stop was at the Church of the Garden of Gethsemane 
and believe me, it was a marvellous place.  Enclosed 
you will find some photos of various points which I know 
you will treasure. The church itself took my breath 
away, the altar, marble flooring and mosaic ceiling 
being something never in the least met with in Australia. 
Well darling, I will continue the narrative a little 
later.  Cheerio and tons of love to go on with and 
what you can't use pass on to your folks and friends.
Mick
[*R R Smith*]

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL
FORCE
PASSED BY CENSOR
206

AIR MAIL

Miss. K. Clarke.
China Department,
Mutual Store Ltd,
 Flinders St.
Melbourne. Australia

[*JMDonaldson*]

Palestine
15.4.'41

PR00610
Australian 
War Memorial

VX38483  Gnr M Billings 
2nd A.A. Regiment                

Palestine
31.3.41

No. 7

Sweetheart,
Here goes for chapter 2 of the Jerusalem 
crusade.  At the Gethsemane church run by the Franciscan 
Friars no service was in progress unfortunately but the 
examination of the Church and Garden were splendid 
opportunities.  The church is known as the Church of All 
Nations because all the Catholic countries contributed to 
the cost of the edifice and the national emblems are 
worked in mosaic on the ceilings.  From the photos you 
can get some notion of the splendor and color.  The 
grounds hereabouts are divided into three sections. the 
Catholic, Greek and Russian.  On the left of the 
church stands the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, oddly enough 
under the control of the Greek Church.  From the snaps 
enclosed you will see how magnificent this place 
is.  These holy places simply defy description by my 
poor hand.  To continue, we left Gethsemane and 
posted back to Jerusalem  and set off to Bethlehem, quite 
a short drive.  Arriving there, we immediately entered 
the Church of the Nativity through an aperture in the wall 
about three feet high, there being no door.  It is said that 
the idea originated from the Crusaders who decreed that all 
who entered should bow the head.  The interior is 
all pillars and steps, the steps so worn that all are hard 
to negotiate particularly in Army boots.  This church is 
divided into several sections without any substantial

2/

partitions. You just pass from one to the other meeting on the 
way dignitaries of the Catholic, Greek, Coptic, Armenian 
and Syrian churches, all these denominations having space 
for their worship.  In this church are contained the 
manger in which Christ was born, situated down through 
cavernous underground passages.  The manger is overlaid with 
marble but the actual spot of the manger is hewn out of the 
actual rock.  A little further along is a room wherein Herod 
is supposed to have slain the children.  These two places are 
within the Catholic section.  On leaving this church, we 
entered the ancient city and did a little shopping.  I purchased 
for you a rosary of mother of pearl which I will try to send you 
by Airmail.  However on 5/- per day, one cannot do things on 
the grand style to which I am accustomed.  Also a couple of 
hankies embossed one for  Mum another for your 
Mother.  By the inscription, you will see I am a little premature 
but this thing shall come to pass.  One or two other 
souvenirs I collected will also find their way to you folk 
in due course. I'll tell you in the particular letter about 
their significance.  I took my camera along and secured 
a few snaps which should also find their way to you although 
they are not particularly good.  Completing a rather hurried 
inspection, we repaired back to Jerusalem, the piece de 
resistance being the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  This is 
situated within the old walled city of Jerusalem, a place 
of great antiquity, not to mention filth and stench.  Every 
place in the East I've been in has that common

3/

they all stink.  The range of odors are startling from our local 
camel dung hereabouts to the hum of massed humanity 
in the cities. I can tell you an Arab village gives the 
olfactory organs a stiff trot. (We digress from the tale 
under review).  This church has had to be propped inside 
and out to save it from falling down.  It is 1600 years old 
and here also the steps have been worn thin by the 
countless millions of feet that have trodden the floors 
and quite a few Diggers sat down upon their buttocks.  Near the 
entrance is the stone where Christ was anointed before 
interment thence you pass to the actual tomb of Christ.  
Photos of the outstanding places herein are available but I was 
unable to get any.  Next trip if any, I will get a set to mail 
you.  The Stations of the Cross are extraordinary and at 
the thirteenth station, there stands a huge cabinet with a 
figure of  the Virgin Mary, the portrait being framed with 
gold panelling and the whole surroundings filled with 
gold , silver and precious stones.  The value of the collection is 
reputed to be three million pounds and you can imagine 
your feelings when you behold such treasure.  At this church 
I had the great honor to arrive at the Catholic portion for 
Benediction and it was a much more impressive ceremony 
than its counterpart in Australia.  The chanting was 
full throated and fervent and the congregation betrayed 
none of the self consciousness about singing you notice in 
Australia.  To the people here, their faith is 
something magnetic and compelling.

4/

I really must get the photos of this church as you would love 
them particularly that of the altar. In Jerusalem I 
collected a pair of Lebanon cedar rosary beads and a 
mother of pearl crucifix both modestly priced and of fine 
workmanship.  The mother of pearl rosary beads and 
the crucifix I managed to get blessed by a venerable 
patriarch at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and will 
constitute a sacred keepsake to you, sweetheart, and when 
the war clouds are dissipated will always serve as a 
reminder that God has ^had me in his keeping.  Whilst onI am in foreign 
climes they will sustain you when you feel lonely and I 
pray you to recite your prayers on them.  I am glad that I have 
had this opportunity to acquire a little of the atmosphere these 
remembrances so that you can share a little of the atmosphere 
I am proud to have experienced.  In conclusion, darling, 
we wended our way back to the new city for another 
short expedition and had a look over the Aust. Soldier's Club 
where we soldiers put up for leave when and if we get 
any.  Still a few of our chaps have had leave to Tel Aviv, 
so I am hopeful.  Still we must realise that we will 
have to do some scrapping one of these days to in order to 
pave the way for our return to the homeland and so to accelerate 
that happy day I am ready and willing to forgo leave.  So as 
friend Fitzpatrick would say "it is with regret that we say good bye 
to the Holy City" and I shall betake myself to bed now. Sending you 
another instalment of love.

Mick