Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 1 - Part 10 of 14

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE
PASSED BY CENSOR 206
 

AIR MAIL
MISS. K.CLARKE,
CHINA DEPARTMENT
MUTUAL STORE LTD
FLINDERS ST.
MELBOURNE. AUSTRALIA

2
7
31/3/41

Palestine
15. 4. 41

PR00610
Australian
War Memorial

At Sea 
[Bob Sutton sends his warmest regards]

Sweetheart,
I must say I'm very pleased to be able 
to write you again with the expectation that you will 
receive it in a short time. Well, darling, I shall
briefly express my trust that you are in good shape,
for a kick-off and hasten to assure you that I am
doing quite well under the circumstances. It will be
a break to he read from your own dear pen that
you are fit and well and keeping things
going in Australia. We have been afloat quite
a while now and a good space has elapsed
since I've had a letter.  You can imagine my
eagerness to get to our next port as I feel that your
swag of letters will not be long in reaching me.
Very sorry that the censorship prevents
me from telling you all my experiences as I would
have quite a few items that would interest you. But
when we get to camp we may be permitted to
write of things and places we've encountered. This
censorship is a bother for that reason as well at
the need for weighing up every sentence you think
of. One thing that occurs to me is that I might
run across Johnnie soon. I hope so for a link or
two with the old days would be quite a tonic.
Seeing he's a Sergeant the tonic should be
actual at well as figurative at his Mess.

2/
At the moment writing to any extent is rather
difficult as the racket in our quarters after tea is
terrific and not conducive to clear thought. One
thing that will please you us will be to put our
feet on terra firma again as the restricted space
on a troopship is a damned m nuisance and the
novelty of cruising soon wears off
I suppose by the time you get this
Syd will be home and will have given you all
the dope up to the time we parted. That was a
nasty knock for both of us after all our plans
hopes and aspirations. I hope he does not feel
as badly about it now as he did when he was
handed his quietus. I thought it was bad enough
having to go to the damned war but to be separated
from your best friend before getting there is about
the limit. As I can hardly feel the same about
another chap, you, above all, can imagine my
outlook after he left. Still you have to grin and
bear these little trials it seems. The war to date
has not made me any more enthusiastic than
hitherto as I can't seem to take many tricks.
Reading back, this letter seems a very gloomy
epistle and methinks a much more cheerful
note could well be introduced

3/
By now I've become of rather philosophical
demeanor and it takes quite a deal to throw
me out of my hidebound Army stride. When I
return I shall be a model husband as this
war will be a profitable experience earned in a
hard school. Several of the lads from E11
are still with me and make excellent company.
I've had my first wee taste of authority having
jurisdiction over 15 men at our mess table and am
I a martinet? You should know. If the war
lasts 10 years, I should, by process of elimination
if for no other reason be a sergeant.
One thing I do enjoy here is a regular
cold bottle of beer once per day to say
nothing of the excellent English cigarettes and
bacca obtainable fairly cheaply. Speaking
greedily, I am also looking forward to a
parcel from you as the usual adjuncts to
Army diet have long since been exhausted at the
canteen and I still have a sweet tooth. Well
Puss, I can think of nowt to say so close wishing
you all my love and spare a little to your folks.
Pray for me Sweet XXXXX    Mick

SMKimpton

P.S. There is in Melbourne a A.A.
Association which receives the latest reports
about the doings of the regiment. If you
are interested in joining ring Mrs. S
M Kimpton who will be very pleased
to give you all the information about
it. It seems quite a sound scheme to
me. 

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE
X4/41

AIR MAIL
MISS. K. CLARKE
CHINA DEPARTMENT
MUTUAL. STORE LTD
FLINDERS. ST.
MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA

SMKimpton

at Sea
Between Bombay &
Palestine
2. 4. 41

Middle East . A Mail 1.
Darling
I as you can see from the heading, I have at
last reached my goal and am glad to say that
seven of your letters and two from home were handed out
yesterday. My word, I was like a dog with a juicy bone
when I got them and positively devoured them. The words
were the best things that I have read because
since W.A. I have not heard a word and I was
beginning to feel that you people were in another world. If I
could only tell you all my experiences I can promise you
you would sit up and take notice. Anyhow, the tale will
keep till we meet again. At least the army has not killed
me yet, in fact, I am feeling quite well  except for a cold
contracted on board ship. One thing, I am glad to be on
land again, I've had enough cruising to do me for the rest of
my life. The camp we are now occupying is new and of course
is not as good yet as I think it will be when we get properly
settled down, likewise the grub. The climate at this time
of the year is good-oh, in fact something like Victoria in
Autumn -  fine days and cold nights. If It were not for the
natives, camels, goats and donkeys you could imagine yourself
somewhere in Victoria. Regarding my doings, that's about all
there is, the censorship  precluding the writing of much more
news. So, sweetheart, lets review some of your doings as
chronicled in your screeds

2.
First, I was pleased and relieved to read that you are
well except for maladies occasioned by greed and
going strongly as I knew you would. The various activities
you detail to wit golf, flicks and so on will as you say
keep you going until I return to superintend your social
whirl.  Anyhow, sweet, don't deprecate them as I can tell you
that the absence of those things is damned hard when you
have to do without them for a long period. Your No. 2 effort
was swell, very typical and gave me quite a glow. Your references
to some of our past adventures is just like a tonic and a
resumption of our Friday rendezvous would be just as good as
you say. I'm awfully pleased Chas is ministering to your
sporting wants but as I've told you before nothing is too
much trouble to him when he feels the occasion deserves the
effort.  I hope Mum is OK again as I think I would toss
it in if anything went wrong with she or you. Don't forget
to keep me posted about the health of both of you. Still, darling,
let me tell you that compared with some of the dumps I've seen,
Aussie is the healthiest, cleanest and most modern place in
the universe. This talk of the glamorous East is pure bunk.
Regarding John, I had a tip that his mob are somewhere
near us so you can bet I am keeping my ears open regarding
exact whereabouts. So I  may be able to tell you later of our
interview - like Stanley & Livingstone it should be. I hope
it comes off anyhow but as we will not have
leave for a week or two.