Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 2 - Part 5 of 14

Whitten
30.5.41
Middle East

R
Received 
14.6.'41

N°18   VX38483 Gnr. M. Billings
5th Battery 2 Aust. A.A. Regt
A. I. F. Abroad 2.6.41

My Darling,
Well I hardly know what to begin with 
today as a veritable avalanche of letters has been 
deposited on my bunk in the past few days to wit:- 
your Serial No 25, 29. 30, 31 & one unnumbered (careless 
blighter) three from Mum, two from Dorcas & one 
from Syd. s Some of the above were that batch 
that came up from India but it also appears from 
your No 31 that the air mail deliveries have 
resumed their schedule so all is well.  To begin at the 
beginning your obedient ? is fit and well, and 
and not unduly oppressed by the slings & arrows of 
the Fuehrer.  The war having been hotly debated 
in all its aspects and at great length throughout 
the length & breadth of the camp, the Subject in 
my letters is Strictly taboo.  Anyway, the juicy bits 
that would interest you are censorable so you will 
have to rely on the B.B.C & the Herald for your 
dispatches.  I see by Mum's latest that the 
Malvern Council are giving recognition

2/
to their native sons.  What a sweet cap and for
Pete's Sake, tell me the intent of Such civic
munificence.  I must say that accounts of the
apathy of the gallant youth to join up are coming
in in increasing numbers and I leave it to your 
imagination to guess some of the expletives being 
hurled at their heads.  Some of the remarks in your 
letters and particularly in S. M. R's were hardly 
complimentary to the legion of In Australia 
Forever.  Another thing, don't refer to me as a soldier 
of four fortune, because I'm very broke at the 
moment and that's rubbing Salt in the wound. 
Sorry that you have Slipped on my letters recently 
but as I've now come good in that direction, 
I feel sure you've made up the arrears also.  Best 
Sentence in all yours was in No 31 to the effect that 
you were fighting fit and I pray you not to be 
Such a guts in future and thus help to Sustain 
you at top Speed at work and play.  One 
thing that I'm not afraid of is a bilious attack
because there ain't no leave about to at which 
to indulge the fleshpots and Army fare although 

3/
wholesome, mind you are is hardly conducive to 
bilious attacks.  A braw laddie, am I now, with 
hard tack, Sunshine, few clothes and a modicum 
of work physical and mental.  Only the absence of 
the pale amber fluid mars anot an otherwise 
halcyon existence.  Well, perhaps not that good, 
certain deprivations accruing to the homeland 
are felt keenly but until the trip homeward 
becomes listed, it helps little to think much about 
that Compree?  You don't have to tell me you 
looked beautious at the wedding, darling.  I 
can easily visualise you.  I'm glad for Kath's sake 
that the ceremony took place at last, but when 
eligible fighting men take on such commitments 
in the middle of a recruiting drive, you can hardly 
expect me to enthuse otherwise.  Still, over here, 
where the main considerations are life and 
death, the social whirl of Melbourne does not 
matter much. Your It's damn hot here at 
night and we have agreed only to write letters only 
every couple of nights because at sunset the doors 
and windows of the tents have to be

4
blacked out and the air gets pretty foul.  A flea or two 
hopping about the place doesn't improveme things into the 
bargain.  One thing I'm pleased about is a chance 
to do a good job on the gun crew as a layer after 
more or less being at a loose end.  So it may be my 
privilege to actively assist on knocking down a Boche 
or two one of these days.  Posted you Parade today 
but no more papers from Australia have been delivered. 
Myers are lucky to get space for their scanty and panty ads.
The daily Pa paper here is four to Six small pages and 
only 15 mils (4 1/2'} a pop.  The Jew on his native heath 
loses nothing in business acumen, believe you me, but 
if they do me down, they have a struggle before they 
succeed.  Hope the further snaps I Sent reach you O.K., 
they're better than the one you've already received. 
Let me know if anyone I know has the misfortune to 
appear in casualty lists.  I have vague news about one 
of the [[Salvey?]] lads t'other day but cannot confirm if they
are about nearby.  Don't get u hot under the collar 
about the kids wearing my duds - they have my full 
permission to make free among my vast wardrobe 
So I'm afraid you'll have to do your Screaming 
without it doing anyone much good.  At all 

5/
events, he is my brother and it's rather hard on the lad 
to charge him with Sacrilege without knowing the facts. 
Although a long way away, now, I fixed up all 
those kind of things being, as it were that difficult kind 
of person who likes to be master of his destiny.  Still, 
we digress.  Glad Chas. is looking after you so well 
and I feel very grateful to anyone who makes things 
easier for you.  That Gay Lochinvar Sutton has 
not written you yet but promised to do so forthwith 
- he is in good shape and you will agree, a fine Soldier 
to boot.  Very appreciative of your prayers, darling and 
try to reciprocate as often as possible.  Went to Mass 
& the Sacraments Sunday week and felt greatly bolstered 
up as a result.  Father O'Byrne, our local padre is 
a great chap and hands out no tripe in his talks. 
Syd's letter was delayed nevertheless very welcome as he 
detailed all his history from the time we parted 
and I was keen to hear of the vicissitudes he 
experienced.  It was a typical Nugget effort and made 
me realise how much I would have liked to have had 
him here.  Well, Kathleen Anne etc. etc.; my pleasant 
vista of the future, the time has come when all good 
Soldier boys get tucked in by the Sgt. Major so depart 
with all my love and thank your folks for their 
good wishes. Mick.

18
AIR MAIL
Miss. K. Clarke,
China Department        18
Mutual Store Ltd.
Flinders St.
Melbourne Australia 

WRITTEN

2.6.41
Middle East
Received
17.6.41

No. 19

VX38483 M. Billings. Gnr
G Section, 5th Battery,
2 Aust A. A. Regt. A.I.F.
Abroad. 13.6.41 

Darling Kay, 
After a lapse of a couple of weeks, I
am glad to have a chance of writing to you again.
Certain events have taken place since I last wrote 
you and firstly conditions for writing are now
less favourable than formerly.  Thats about all I 
can tell you now but of course you can draw 
the obvious conclusion.  Creature comforts are 
rarer than recently was the case and work 
correspondingly harder in fact.  I can Safely 
Say that its b--- hard just now.  Still, the life 
of Ack - Ack is a notoriously lonely one, so hard 
work and other accessories to Army life are just 
normal for such stalwarts.  The weather is still 
very hot and exposure for long hours to the 
rays of the sun are making my dial very weather 
beaten and my back assume the hue of a tan 
boot.  Surprisingly, the hard work and ultra 
simple life agree with me amazin very well
although I fear me that my next leave is in 
the far future, so I guess life will be a 
hotch potch of excitement, action and monotony 

2/
The censorship is an awful nuisance as I could 
tell you several interesting things but Suffice it 
to say that I have heard a ----------------
She certainly makes a hefty thud.  To change 
the subject, I received a minute ago your letter 
No 34 and was entranced with the wedding 
photo.  After so long, I was almost beginning to 
forget what you looked like and you looked 
characteristically Sweet and so kissable.
Thanks awfully for such a present.  Despitte  your 
gloomy prognostications, I am not terribly 
surprised at your decision to swap over jobs and 
let me tell you, darling, I love you more than 
ever for doing it and back you to the limit.  Over 
here, the war is the only thing and we can't have 
too much material, and equipment, hence when 
folks elect to toss in their easy ? jobs at home and go 
to tougher spots to do war work, we like em a 
whole lot.  So you can See, Sweet, that when a 
fellows own girl lines up with that crowd, it 
must give him a ruddy glow.  So into it boots & 
all and may you prosper exceedingly.  It's a pity
some of the young swine at home don't get the 
same spirit into their watery veins.