Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 2 - Part 13 of 14

written 
22.8.41 
Received 
13.9.41 
Syria 

No. 31  VX38483 Gnr M Billings 
C.Section, 5th Aust. Hy. A/A Battery 
2 Aust. A/A Regt. A.I.F. Abroad. 
30.8.41 
  
Kay Sweetheart 
How now, little one and all that kind  
of rot. Dashed flippant, eh? In more serious vein, 
I trust you are in the pink, with sparkling eye and  
rosy cheeks etc. etc. Your Lord and master(ahem) is  
simply bursting with the joie-de-vivre, whatever that  
may mean, anyhow that's how it is.  I think I told  
you of the attack of one of our best brands of fever  
that scuppered me a week or so back. Felt quite hot  
and bothered for a coupla days but it went away as  
fast as it came and so went back to work and  
now feel "richt bonny"once more for which the  
Lord be thanked. Having wasted some paper re  
my ailment let us now proceed in search of some  
news and let me warn you that she's plumb hard to find.  
But as you so kindly wrote in one of your missives some  
time ago, tis the regular letter that gladdens the eye  
not the tense and gripping episodes it is my wont  
to recount. so after I give you the latest, I'll  
just meander about the fountain. 

2/ 
OK. Sister ? First I've had two more letters from  
thee, my lovely pippin for which accept my cordial 
thanks. They were No:s 54 & 55 once more unscathed by 
the censors eagle eye and first must say, I'm verra 
glad you're keeping your darling wee person in good 
order & condition despite the rigors of good old  
Melbourne. Every letter of yours I scan amor 
anxiously in search of your assurances of prime 
health and buoyant spirit but there's no doubt about 
you, you're doing a great job. I bought a wallet 
yesterday with a compartment for a photo and have 
popped that snap of you perched on your verandah 
parapet, giving your swain that beguiling smile 
and so every time I dig in for a piastre or two, I 
get a free look at you. Smart kid, are'nt I ? Also 
I buyed you a small bag which I'll be posting in 
a day or two. It's not a bad little thing, and  
as its such a matter of major importantce, I hope 
t it can be worn with something you possess. Had 
I been more financial, I could have got a bigger 
& better turn, but be it ever so humble. Along it 
goes with my profound respects. I saw a beaut 
dinner cloth and half a dozen napkins made in 
Damascus which I am strongly tempted to buy 
so don't be surprised if a letter soon tells you

3/ 
its going in the mail bag.  Anyhow, I'll see how 
the purse stands up to the strain.  Since I last  
wrote I had leave in Syria and went to Beirut 
but did not go for any high jinks.  If opportunity 
occurs will send you some more snaps of Syrian 
views and one of my homely pan also I hope. 
Last mail I had a letter from Mum & Dorcas  
both residing at Martin Road so was quite a good 
mail day.  You'll be pleased to know two digests and 
the Argus & Bulletin from you came along so 
have not felt neglected by any means.  Dorcas 
in her usual open handed way shoved canteen 
orders for 'arf - a - fiddly so am set for a few 
luxuries.  The beer and smokes position is getting 
serious, Aussie beer has been off the menu for a 
week and cigarettes are a memory.  Now tobacco 
is just about exhausted so short commons appears 
imminent.  However Wog cigarettes from Iraq will 
have to do in the interim.  I must send you a  
sample packet to titivate your palate, I hope they 
dont make you perk.  I hope you've had some more 
letters from  John & me to give a fillip to your 
morale, not that its seems to need it.

4/ 
Thanks a heap for the forthcoming parcel.  I'm sure 
the contents will make the old ticker leap when 
it lands in my lap.  Fancy you remembering the 
blemishes on my carcase, one thing there's been no 
additions to add to your collection.  The weather is  
still plenty hot with flies and other fauna playfully 
disporting on our half nude bodies by day & by 
night.  The local inhabitants opine that cooler times 
are coming, maybe it will get colder than we want. 
Howbeit, we can't be worried. 
Intermission due to a rude interruption 
Later  Damn it. the break has spoiled 
the orderly trend of my thoughts. Now that Dorcas 
has got amongst you, I am not surprised that things
are brighter around the homestead  I presume the
dough I sent you for canteen orders has cut out seeing 
your letters were bereft of the orders. For the time 
being I'll do without 'em and leave the nest-egg 
alone or we'll have to send set up house without 
the wherewithal for a suite. Mum I guess has told 
you of my request for a few articles, you'll understand 
why I ask he's to get them and not you as I recall 
your lament over your meagre pittance from the M.S, 

5/ 
Anyhow, kiddo , between you & the mater, send along  
a few cakes of Lifebuoy, and a dental plate brush. 
Your deduction re sandbags I think was on the right 
plane and the bags are like radiators. She sure is 
hot in 'em Smoking Spuds eh?. gee, I'm not cadging 
but tell Mum I could use a half a dozen packets of 
those if there's any left. I'll hint at it in my letter to her. 
I wish that vivid dream you wallowed in would 
shake it up and become a reality. It sounds like 
a good wheeze. Well, darling, the time has come 
to play ' continued in our next issue' stunt so cease 
fire sending you a ton of love and a huge kiss. 
My regards to the Sugdens, your mother, Fay, George & 
Noel'. and t'others. Bob sends his best wishes. 
So - Long, Puss. 
Mick

BY AIR MAIL 
PAR AVION 
  
Miss K Clarke 
548 Barkers Road 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria 
Australia 
  
PASSED BY CENSOR No. 3100

Written 
30.8.41 
Received 
16.9.41 
Syria 

No. 31 probably
VX38483 Gnr M Billings C Section, 
5th Aust Hy A/A Battery. 2 Aust A/A 
Regt. A.I.F. abroad      5.9.41 
  
Darling Kay, 
The sound of that magic word conjured  
up the many endearments and similar offerings I  
would press upon you, had I your sweet person 
reclining in my arms  just now.  Learning of the safe receipt 
of my G.E. letter, reading with evident pleasure of your 
rapturous delight at getting it, it has been my hope this few 
days that the mood necessary to write such letters would 
mantle my broad shoulders so that another could soon 
be winging its way southward.  My unspoken prayer has  
been answered and tonight the feeling that I can 
talk in our never to be forgotten intimate fashion has  
come over me with the added satisfaction that I have a 
table and chair instead of the usual makeshift and an empt 
room empty of all but my thoughts of you.  I suspect you flatter  
me when you attribute a state approaching perfection to my 
previous epistle as the first approach to this screed eludes  
me and perchance the urge to write will not be balanced  
by the facility.  To essay the first hurdle, darling, my  
loving wishes are with you now you have cut the painter and 
have gone to work for the Government and my 

2/ 
heartfelt appreciation and endorsement of your action if such 
be a help to you at all.  Being more or less directly concerned  
with the prosecution of the war, I can tell you a hell of a lot of 
the boys over here were somewhat disgruntled about some of the  
futilities and practices apparently prevalent back in Australia & 
you can guess and share in my thrill of pleasure when I learn  
that my own precious sweetheart throws overboard her job in  
refined surroundings, a job carried out amid the beautiful & 
decorative creations of this world for one calling for the sacrifice  
of so many of the things you have become inured to, for long 
travelling, monotonous and yet exacting work and other 
things that readily come to mind. That the monetary result is 
a trifle more in your favor is beside the point as I well know  
that your conscience would have impelled you along the lines 
you have chosen as long as you could have supported yourself. 
Although I have always been more than glad to talk over 
things you feel you needed advice upon, in a way, I'm pleased 
you worked the whole thing out for your sweet self because I  
could easily sense from your letters your restlessness and urge 
to lend a hand and so travelled along the road, the only 
road you could have taken to ease the inward struggle. 
I know that a times the physical toll your new avocation 
will demand will cause you to call yourself a fool,  but 
never have I been so sure that you are on the right track  
and all I can say, God cherish and prosper you.