Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 2 - Part 2 of 14

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Part of Quest:
Love letters - Michael Billings
Subject:
  • Love Letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2021.7.25
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

rig MISS K. CLARKE int China D. Ypar Hutual Store LAd Flinders S. Selbourne Victoria Austtalia
written 3.5.41 Palas Fine Received 27.54 8800010 Paltt PorEenat
✓x38483. Snt M Bellingt 54 Bathry 2 Aust. A a N eqt. No. 15 A. 5. 7 Abroad 16 5 41 by darting Heve goes fot another chapte in the now lengthy story of my exploits and first and formact must wan you to expect a lowed it andard of literature owing to changer circumtances. I am witing this from the depths of a bed at the A.S. H wheres I have been confine for the part week with an attack of some furd or other am gead to report I am well on the mind and snpect to go back to my unit in a couple of days. Woke tip in camp one moon feling Herrible with a ventable king of headached anony other things and the Doe promptly lringed me off to hospital in the Ambulance. a matt nightmane side with the tmperatue about 1200 to I waint for happy for the first day of twr. But after a good rest and treatment I i feeting poetty fit again and won't be corry to rain the boyt. Somehow in this county you manage to pick up things that nived troubt
A blake in Authe. Stiel I must be in good shape because as som as I get a bit of treatment I recover in a few days. so my nut litter will emanabe from my old hide out. The weather here has not been so hot as the day I was admitted though it's uncomfortable lying in bed that day was fundich, the wind coming right off the deser Now Sm an up patient its better and can mooch about having a yaon with the other inmates. I have not had you litters sent here es have not got much news and my creative facully is alls pertly dull so this perforse wil be shorted than usual but will get on to the large edition next time. I hape you are your ulual bonny self and betting the coved off the little white ball in your spane time. Two letters from Dareas wrongly addressed have reached me after being all ovet the place. Were so loyg Sweritheast all love and best of luck from Mo1ck s Another phots for your collection.
Mus. $6 laske China Dept. Hutual Store Lta Finders St. MEIBOURS Us7R 21 a
Received 14. 6. 41 $800610 Asstranan
Austintion Red. Cross Bociet WASTEEIN W&38483. Snd t. Bellings 3th. Gathery 2. Audt. A. A. Rilgt. A. T. T. Abroad 185 & Darling Heve goeth for the opening chords in my first epibble dime my enforced holidy at the hospital. Tot back to camp yesterday after Sundry wicitituded in voute, the bus left me behand at base and had to hubch hike my way thenceforth Anghaw. Puss. There we are and iyoile be gead to know bn feling o h excyd for a plabnll si its an asaettie, se in the rcument pasition and will take it quitly for a day ot two ys can reteape the eagle eye of i director of Duckect & atigues and how gous it unto you my pease pavnt had a letter for ot a weus, the mane at the moment performing a little covaticanly but I believe some mane for me was sent to the sick bay but appaiently crosled me and may not appear for a while But I hape and pray that you are going strongly Selling numer and gered and such like by day and not in dulging is the plethpots too murh by right to Gulton dated 12.3 41 from you reached me today and thankin Kindly fot same. I reas it awidly from coved it coved anong aned b a Smitho
Retion Hed Can r J ow she wrsly or out samly consim Icatygle prachially wenphing and dwerybody Austratia I tole you scently we hav a nented in the bunt and get the A.SF Beported on the ard every night and he shnows aut the foohe atults occationaly. Iit was a fity that I and not know before & jound up that footbale was ashenle senahor wad it! I can't fand you say mave Pavades as only A.F.F. Lines will be acceptd now for potting I hape you get the foud I sente, the pichund are poetly good. I am facting and furst Act ack and of you read clasily you wil glean some good dape from the paped. I was glad to get aut of pospital after I got on the mand what with other unfortunated taving, and carying on something aueful and I tould I can be spane any further wints you soon muls the more cheeful abmosphere among the lads back at camp a while back I had a very suppant letted from two of the lads at the office and got a good dlange foow ithm and new to peares to time hens from the sheake of was of couste I have ht boer on any hove to e i rute out hiat Gg
Austation Red Pross Bocicts paue. One gove ithing some ther now it he inangusation of a mitk bad at the canteen, a goodly supply of Anth heed and smokes and a few other amunties chiefty green invelaped one of which I shave sine you seen, and shau have a gooe litta tile therm at hospital, I luckily putked up 3 hind of wactowed Squart for to a that and the fout pupes i whith I san paithe are and poking fusiourly not all togethed though You remembed the dahy fomam in athen wat in tm w The few bay convin into Sherlt and with corlansd flaps and pockets they are very papulad and I got e ed up tts had the Ary had tot dammeens fund by frents and they do to ackcled at a sime and of use ils gove to get shrot and farts pathed not to mention white undeed and toweld. To when t in se sbeat of Bathe, one uort is man o make bong conenha hbs aile at to at Arny Chukine and teuhn son Auhe tnt o foal s t ofoe i a yy t a m
Rut H. C S M whal one yes at boige the yout i sheale Sunce with the locket I we sunt you hwv you con 50 come acrolt pronte. I afraied that I can't kepsead with the lockt at hhee andnow now But mayle in time, it may come to palt Down al bace Simit an de yf mant is it hrowe from Oakleigh. Tthe focks at home have met him and al whae me pappe wha he smate Harnt any ins of John Honce he went altentire tal n tally hat hen him as we do some work sometimed and maybe hoe ane llosahor fren him for htn hot a speil, Some Mokes al he dorl got Ihame to write home owing to what they cane the beginent of the Whaha ee I iupore. He bot of matimary hove cloe about to bet wut oea by his and o bet yon loss sarlly hare at slanely, Ihop bse a like tatt than for the lalt one you acker it

BY AIR MAIL 
PAR AVION 
No. 2176
  
MISS K. CLARKE  
China Department, 
Mutual Store Ltd
Flinders St.
Melbourne Victoria
Australia
14 
9.5.41

 

written
3.5.41
Palastine
Received
27.5.41
  
PR00610
Australian
War Memorial

 

No. 15                         
  
VX38483 Gnr. M. Billings
5th Battery 2 Aust. A. A. Regt.
A.I.F. Abroad 16. 5. 41 

My darling,
Here goes for another chapter in the now
lengthy story of my exploits and first and foremost, I
must warn you to expect a lower standard of
literature owing to changed circumstances. I am
writing this from the depths of a bed at the
- A.G.H wherein I have been confined for the past
week with an attack of some fever or other but am
glad to report I am well on the mend and expect
to go back to my unit in a couple of days. Woke
up in camp one morn feeling terrible with a
veritable king of headaches among other things and
the Doc. promptly bunged me off to hospital in the
ambulance- a night nightmare ride with the temperature
about 120° so I wasn't too happy for the first
day or two. But after a good rest and treatment,
I'm feeling pretty fit again and won't be sorry to
rejoin the boys. Somehow in this country,  you
manage to pick up things that never trouble

 

2/ 
a bloke in Aussie. Still I must be in good
shape because as soon as I get a bit of treatment,
I recover in a few days. So my next letter will
emanate from my old hideout. The weather here
has not been so hot as the day I was admitted
though it's uncomfortable lying in bed - that day
was fiendish, the wind coming right off the desert.
Now I'm an up patient its better and can mooch
about having a yarn with the other inmates.
I have not had your letters sent here so have not
got much news and my creative faculty is also
pretty dull. So this perforce will be shorter than
usual but will get on to the larger edition
next time. I hope you are your usual bonny
self and belting the cover off the little white
ball in your spare time. Two letters from Dorcas
wrongly addressed have reached me after being
all over the place. Well so long, Sweetheart,
all love and best of luck from
Mick
PS Another photo for your collection.

 

BY AIR MAIL 
PAR AVION 
PASSED BY CENSOR No. 3289
  
Miss K. Clarke, 
China Dept, 
Mutual Store Ltd,             15
Flinders St.
MELBOURNE. AUSTRALIA 
15
16.5.41 

 

16.5.41
A.G.H. 
Received 14. 6. 41

PR00610
Australian 
War Memorial

 

Australian Red Cross Society 
(UNOFFICIAL) 
  
VX38483. Gnr. M. Billings
5th Battery .2 . Aust. A. A. Regt.
A. I.F. Abroad. 18.5.41 
  
No. 16  

Darling Kay,
Here goeth for the opening chords in my first
epistle since my enforced holiday at the hospital. Got
back to camp yesterday after sundry vicissitudes en route,
the bus left me behind at base and had to hitch hike
my way thenceforth.  Anyhow, Puss, here we are and
you'll be glad to know I'm feeling O.K. except for a
shakiness due to an excessive spell in the recumbent
position and will take it quietly for a day or two if I 
can escape the eagle eye of the Director of Duties & 
Fatigues. And how goes it with  you, my pearl?
Haven't had a letter for over a week, the mail at the
moment performing a little erratically but I believe some
mail for me was sent to the sick bay but apparently
crossed me and may not appear for a while. But I
hope and pray that you are going strongly. Selling
numerous jerries and such like by day and not
indulging is the fleshpots too much by night. A Bulletin
dated 12.3.41 from you reached me today and thank'ee
kindly for same. I read it avidly from cover to cover
accompanied by a "Smiths" and it was good to read.

 

2/ 
Australian Red Cross Society 
(UNOFFICIAL)      
  
how those worthy organs roundly condemned & castigated
practically everything and everybody in Australia. I told
you recently we had a wireless in the tent and get the
A.I.F. Reporter on the air every night and he churns
out the footie results occasionally. It was a pity that
I did not know before I joined up that football was
a reserved occupation, wasn't it? I can't send you any
more Parades as only A.I.F. News will be accepted
now for posting. I hope you get the four I sent, the
pictures are pretty good. I am posting out first
Ack Ack and if you read closely you will glean some
good dope from the paper. I was glad to get out of
hospital after I got on the mend what with other
unfortunates raving, and carrying on something awful
and I trust I can be spared any further visits. You soon
miss the more cheerful atmosphere among the lads
back at camp.  A while back I had a very flippant
letter from two of the lads at the office and got a good
laugh from them. And now to search for some
news from the theatre of war. Of course I have
not been on any leave so we can rule out that

 

3/ 
Australian Red Cross Society 
(UNOFFICIAL)  
  
source. One good thing around here now is the
inauguration of a milk bar at the canteen, a goodly
supply of Aust. beer and smokes and a few other
amenities chiefly green envelopes one of which I
shall send you soon and shall have a good tête-a- 
tête therein. At hospital, I luckily picked up 3 tins
of Westover Squares for 1/6 a shot and the four pipes
of which I stand possessed are now smoking
furiously, (not all together though.) You remember the
hefty flannels we were issued with in Aussie, well
the Jew boys convert into shirts and with collars,
flaps and pockets they are very popular and I got
one made up. Also now, the Army has a free laundry
run by Jews and they do 10 articles at a time
and of course its good to get shirts and pants pressed
not to mention white undies and towels. So when
not in the heat of battle, some effort is made
to make living conditions tolerable as far as
Army discipline and routine can achieve such a goal. 
By the way, that photo of you is a long time arriving.

 

4/ 
Australian Red Cross Society 
(UNOFFICIAL)  
  
that one of you at Evelyn still reposes in the old 
tunic with the locket. I've sent you two, you cow 
so come across pronto. I afraid that I can't 
reciprocate with the locks as there ain't none now. 
But maybe in time, it may come to pass. Down 
at base, I met an old C.Y. man Mick Crowe 
from Oakleigh, the folks at home have met him; 
and as usual we yapped while time permitted 
Haven't any news of John since he went elsewhere 
so in case you haven't heard, don't worry about 
him and as we do some work sometimes and 
maybe time and location prevent him from writing 
for a spell. Some blokes over here don't get a chance  
to write home owing to what they call  the  
exigencies of the situation. Well I suppose the 
bonds of matrimony have closed about Mr Ellis & 
Miss O'Dea by now and I bet you looked 
pretty swell as standby. I hope you chose a better 
hat than for the last one you acted at.

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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