Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 2 - Part 14 of 14

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I note that at times you may be required to work in the
danger area but do no feel any trepidation either for your
person or morale. It has been my good fortune to observe
that you are possessed of a full mud of courage and that
[[Matter and]] coupled with the knowledge that explosives are
quite safe nowadays reassures me. With a chuckle, I wish that you could
see the cavalier way your by no means heroic swain
clambers among piles of H.E. shells and throws them about
with gay abandon. Finally a toast to your venture & may it
bring you some more friends of whom believe me you can't
have too many.
To change the subject, I'm awfully pleased
your doing such a champion job for yourself. I just scanned
my favorite snap of you for the -th time and you will
Xcuse me but I viritably drink in every outline of you and
murmur a prayer that God will restore to me soon my
true love. As I gaze upon that compact bundle of sweet
love, I my fingers stray through that profusion of curls, in
the picture so charmingly dressed and can almost bring
back the many occasions when my vagrant hands
changed it to a riot of tumbled loveliness. And then
those shining love orbs that could be disarmed as well
as felt even or the blackest of nights. the soft cheeks many
times , the arena of my playful fingers. Oh. that I could
brush them with my lips.

4/
and then that pou pert tip tilted nose so oft disparaged
by you and then the rosy memory of those twin messengers
of love, your soft lips, telling me in the mystic language
of love, that I was your all. What sweet music to my
ears to know that it was my I was to have you forever
and ever , such a lovely girl. Darling, I could go on
recounting the joy and ecstasy I have known since
first reaching your side but I have told by you by
word of mouth and by pen that perhaps I weary you
by such repetition. But no, you would not be the
complete woman you are if you did not like to be told
how attractive you are to your man by that man. We
separated children can and must be left our memories
and dreams and so I crave indulgence if I labor
the subject. It is not humanly possible for me to
banish from my mind the glorious days & nights we
have spent together and as I go about the humdrum
duties that are my lot for this show, one or another of
our modest but beautiful associations rise up from the
past and with a muttered promise that, God willing
they shall be tackled again with an added savor, we
carry on until the alloted task is performed. I have
had many opportunities to resolve me to make our

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life together something really fine, something you have
merited so well and yet have waited for a long time.
Reluctantly, my precious, the time has come for me to
terminate out little tete-a-tete as the shrill blowing of
a whistle brings me back to earth with the imperious
command that light shall be extinguished forthwith.
So, little maid, I take my bow sending you all the
love my sometimes ardent nature can muster and may
we soon win through to our destiny. Good. night
and pray for me
Mick 

                                                                            (Crown Copyright Reserved)

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NOTE:- 31

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signed by the writer:-

I certify on my honour that the con-

tents of this envelope refer to nothing

but private and family matters.

Signature

Name only

Michael Billings
 

(Up to three letters may be forwarded 

in this Cover, but these must be all from the

same writer. The cover should be addressed

in such case to the Base Censor.)

Address:-

Miss. K. Clarke,

548 Barkers Road,

East. Hawthorn.

Victoria. Australia

written
5.9.41
Received
25.9.41 

No.32    VX38483 Gnr M. Billings C Section.
5th. Aust. Hy. A/A Battery.2. Aust. A/A.
Regt. A. I. F. Abroad. 7. 9. 41

My Darling,
To start with, I can at last disabuse your
mind regarding my presents domicile as the censorship
has been relaxed to permit me to say [I'm right here in
Syria. In recent communications, Ive mentioned
visits ^to Beirut rather frequently so no doubt my official
confirmation is rather superfluous. Being adjacent to
Palestine, the place as far as I can see is rather
Similar insofar as the good old Wogs] are like the poor
still with us although the Syrian variety is an improvement
on his Palestine brethren. At last however the weather
is becoming milder and of course life is more comfortable
as a consequence. I just came off guard this morning &
when on the beat at 4 am actually felt very cold.
Also a few days ago, we luxuriated in a shower of rain,
the harbinger of the change in the season. [The route into
Syria passes through some very ancient spots, Tyre & Sidon
spoken of in the Old Testament and Ocre on the
Palestine side where the Crusaders & later Napoleon
flourished in days long ago. I hope that before we move
to fresh fields, opportunity to visit Damascus & 
Baalbek comes along.]

2/
These are some famous Roman ruins at the latter well
worth seeing I'm told and the bazaars at Damascus
are quite an attraction. I’ll be sending you some more snaps
of Syrian highlights soon to add it your collection. Well I
think that's about sufficient from the Travel Department so
lets pass on to more personal topics. Yesterday I mailed
G.E. letter No3 to you and hope you glean a modicum
of pleasure from the contents. In it I talked quite a good
deal about your munitions venture, probably too much.
So will not discuss it further here. My good fortune
concerning mail still prevails having this week received
from you Nos 56, 57 & 58 and all quite newsy too, also
one from the mater and am as usual lucked up to
know you are all so bright & well. So pleased too, you have
not been neglected as regards mail. Your laddie is very
well at time of writing all traces of the fever and the scabs
having departed. (Feel a bit weary today after having to
get out of bed twice during the night for guard but will catch
up on the shut-eye tonight) Did I tell you that I had
buyed you another fal-de-lal in the shape of a handbag?
I think so. Anyhow it has gone into the post a few days now.
Hope you like the motif (I think that's the word). You can
chop out that guff about spending a few piastres on you
as I only buy those things from surplus cash that I
would otherwise waste. Catch on?

3/
Yes. the parcel made pretty good time although I'm a bit
sorry I bought your I bracelet Palestine as I've since seen
better specimens of that Persian work in Beirut but never
mind. Thanks a million for the parcel, Mum & you
have dispatched, make no mistake it will be most
acceptable. Supplies of Aust. beer, cigarettes and now tobacco
are exhausted and we're all dwelling on the arrival of the
next shipment and perhaps your parcel will come along with
those articles. By all means, bung in a few more snaps
but be a pal and don't wear hats and overcoats when they
are taken as I'm very interested in you, sweetheart and not
much in the trend of Melbourne fashions. Nasty brute,
aren't I? Quite a turn wasn't it, you meeting Mrs.
Kimpton, sorry I was the innocent cause of you getting
ticked off but your alibi was a pretty sound one. I'm
not under Lieut. Kimpton now and only see him rarely
but when I run across him again shall tell him of
your chat with his wife. By the way, Missy, where do
you get that stuff about the appalling infantry. Things have
panned out somewhat differently from the ballyhoo we
were fed upon back home and that particular sentence
is sheer tripe. Without you knowing it, you've said some
funny thing in letter no. 57 and one of these days, we’ll
have a chortle when I elucidate

4/
Glad you popped along and had a yarn with. Syd about
your new yob. When next you see Dorothy and he, give them
my love and tell Nugget I'll be writing him soon. I daresay
you have bobbed along to the flat once or twice in recent
times, knowing your fonden fondness for those two fine folks.
I hope your new job does not prevent you from visiting. the
people whose company you enjoy. Well, Well I'm delighted
with the news of the impending engagement of Fatty Casey &
Noel not that a fellow should be surprised really. I must
drop the portly one a congratulatory note, although truth
to tell, I would much rather write to Noel but I suppose the
demands of etiquette must be obeyed.Maybe I've gone sour,
but I'm afraid I can't whip up much cordiality to the
boys we left behind us. Still, can't be worried and
anyhow its good to know that Noel is getting a good break
at last.
Having now run my tether, darling, all
that remains to do is tt to pen the inevitable finish.
So good-bye, little one and tons of love until we go
to press again a few days hence. Best wishes to all
your folks.
Mick
AL Taylor 

32
AIR MAIL
Tuesday
Noel
Miss. K. Clarke.
548 Barkers Road
East. Hawthom
Victoria
Australia

7.9.41 

Written
7.9.41
Received
25.9.41
Syria