Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 2 - Part 6 of 14

3/ 
Later Have today taken into stock your No.33 so 
letters on succeeding days are positively red letter 
days. Am enjoying our siesta break so can now 
finish this letters. I only hope that I can 
continue to write regularly but if theres a pause in 
letters I know you will deduce the reason. Anyway 
I'm pleased you have got s two from me as I know 
what a kick you get after not hearing from your 
sweetheart for a few weeks when the glad tidings 
arrive. Had a letter from Arthur last week and he 
is having a hectic time with bombs, sand 
and heat but still the same old [[Nuts?]] withal 
About Jack O'Bryan, I'm a bit in the dark myself. 
- I met a fellow from Jacks unit before meeting 
Jack and the former told me [[redacted]]was knocked 
in Greece but they were not telling Jack for 
the present. So I did not mention my information to 
Jack and wisely too as many who were thought 
left behind turned up later. Next letter give me 
the dope about it so I can drop [[redacted]] a note. 
(Pause while I gaze upon the photo). Sorry the paper 
is costing you so much, to my sorrow, this stuff is 
2/- a pad so I can sympathise. Glad to know you 
have been in contact with the Ridge [[menage?]] and 
will you give Syd & Dot my very best and tell Syd. 
I'm always glad to hear from him.

4/ 
Gee, have spent a week navvying and am just
about [[burner]] black, my clothes have been
unchanged for that time and are filthy after
working and sleeping in them too. After drinking
in your beauty and daintiness from the photo
the comparison between us is somewhat wide.
(Bugar the flies) Sorry! Dinkum, after having
sand and grit poured into your boots and
navel under a hot sun, a fellow should feel
terrible but hang it all, I feel as fit as a 
fiddle, no tyres around the paunch now, 
darling. I did not meet Len Silvey, only heard 
a chap of the name was about and thus don't 
know whether it was Len or Kevin. I did send 
you a love letter a while ago and though the 
present setting is hardly conducive to such 
compositions will try and give you a mighty 
effort on those lines soon. Did you ever guess 
what an ignoramus I was about the tender 
sex before, sweet? Well living with so many 
married blokes here unfettered by convention. 
I am fast repairing my deficiency in that as well 
as other directions. Fair go - I am not capable of 
photography of the celebrated Garden except 
for that modest effort which perhaps you 
refer to. The old blue sweater has now

5/ 
departed as I have dumped my kit bag and 
said sweater reposes therein. We now carry 
our pack like the footsloggers and in mine 
is your masterpiece - it turned out a 
beauty for the chilly early morning stunts. 
Don't be worried about the papers, sweet, there 
is a constant trickle of newspapers etc. and they 
get passed around so we see some home 
news. Your query about the standard of your letters 
is a waste of paper - are you by any chance 
fishing for compliments because if so you've hooked 
a fish, your screeds are first class. Its funny 
you on the makings - just now we can't get 
tobacco but plenty of English sm cigarettes are 
available 1/3 for 20 Cravens. And now, 
my love for the cessation as the afternoon 
stand-to draws near. (No parades hardly 
now) and when the Signal goes we have to 
go at the gallop so need a margin of 
time. Keep on keeping on Puss dear and 
all my prayers and love to you until 
next week. Bless your sweet heart. I could 
eat you up and will later. Bye-Bye 
Mick

19
Censor 
No. 3100 

AIR MAIL
MISS. K. CLARKE,
548 BARKERS ROAD
EAST HAWTHORN 
VICTORIA AUSTRALIA

written 13.6.41
Received 7.7.41
? 

No.20

VX38483. Gnr M. Billings
G.Section 5th Battery
2. Aust.A.A. Regt A.I.F.
Abroad 23.6.41 

My darling Kay, 
Just where to begin this letter. I 
really don't know as on account of an actual dearth 
of news not to mention Mother. [[Centur]] little can 
be told of my exploits in the Menzies Murderers 
as the terrible Roche terms us. Very pleased to be 
able to report my continued good health and 
spirits. Surprising to me as when I change my 
whereabouts I usually cop Palestine Gut, 
Sand Fly Fever or some other choice complaint. 
Our new hideout has now ceased its growing pains 
and though hours of dooty are long and the 
work arduous, the time flies when a chap is 
occupied and the nostalgic pains are thus 
less keenly felt. Also have had a change of jobs 
which was welcome and although in our little nook 
we are but three and more or less Segregated 
from the other lads, the job is one that appeals 
to my peculiar temperament.tred so all's well. The 
advantages accruing to this spot are unlimited 
sunshine, a constant breeze and adequate water 
for drinking. Weighed against these are is the

2/ 
presence of pests insurmountable ranging from snakes 
(luckily few), scorpions, centipedes (6 inches long) 
bull ants and the dear little louse. The centipedes 
like to hop into bed with the boys and several have 
been bitten by in the most embarrassing places. Yours 
truly has escaped their ministrations so far to my 
palpable joy and when doing my night beat 
derive Satanic pleasure when overlooking the 
camp, I discern lights going on, thrashing of 
blankets and the thump of boots on the intruder. 
Another news flash, and new dunny (vulgar beast) was 
opened today with ceremony and record trade 
and after the old makeshift, has acquired quite a 
clubby atmosphere with all the faithful reclining 
in their plush seats and discussing the League 
football, the lack of beer and Russia's chances. 
After 8 weeks abstinence, leave is again on and 
I expect to click for a day this week which my 
Sweet, will be [[foine]] as I havent rubbed shoulders 
with Jew and Wog for that time. That is why 
my interests have become so limited and 
sanitary. Which reminds me that when the Arab 
kids try to sell you something, their sales lark 
runs something like this :- Orangee, very nice, very 
sweet, very hygiene, very sanitary. You ought to 
hear their repertoire of Aussie curses.

3/ 
And now to go to your side of the universe. Before 
however, I am writing this out on my sandbags 
in the cover of the evening, the sun is descending 
and my nut brown body silhouetted in its path 
-Boy, what a sight for the zoo. The sunsets over 
here are magnificent, a glorious array of colours 
and nightly the glowing orb disappears beneath a line 
of hills. Your letters up to No.35 are to hand and 
the next mail is overdue and expected any day. Very 
delighted to know you are still going well and 
hearty and probably when you receive this, you will 
be immersed in fuses or cartridges. So make plenty 
as I shall be charmed to pump a few into the foe 
and of course give him his [[quintus?]] as a matter 
of course. Nice work, Sister. A million thanks 
for your cable which beat the big day by a 
slight margin. Hope I shall be in a position to 
reciprocate one day in October. Had a packet 
of newspapers today sent by Sister Sheila and 
the novelty almost took my breath away. The 
postal people must have a prejudice against 
the Bulletin as your offerings of papers are still 
in smoke. Gloomy, am I as your parcel has 
not arrived and it seems that stew will be my 
portion on the morrow. A bundle came in 
yesterday and I had hopes, soon dashed though

4/ 
I think I shall write a poem on stoo. An expert 
Authority I claim to be having had, rain or 
shine, that dainty for lunch for 80 consecutive days. 
Still, its good stew and washed down by copious 
draughts of tea, fills and fattens. The grub 
here is all things considered top hole and the 
canteen sells plenty of tinned stuff if your appetite is 
Gargantuan. As I am just now away from my 
lean-to, and can't leave here to get your letters 
will not finish this right now. By the way, did you 
ever receive a photo of me taken in Tel Aviv - I 
sent one to you, one to Dorcas and one to Syd 
and from neither of you have I heard that they 
arrived. If not on my leave sometime I shall have 
another taken. Also hope soon to have a pound 
to with which to buy you somethink else. Glad 
the surface mail parcel got home O.K. and 
all concerned liked the contents. The Mother of Pearl 
work is very good isnt it? Will look out for 
more when off the chain. Unexpectedly had a 
chance to go to the Sacraments and as such 
opportunities will later be rare, was grateful 
for the chance. The Padre was an English R.A.F 
chaplain and such a different style of saying 
mass and preaching to our chaps. Pause now 
until I can get to your letters.

5/ 
24.6.41 Many happy returns of the day to meself 
begorra. Whacko: I got a present from you this 
morn, the Bulletin of 9.4.41 and elegantly glanced 
through the contents at my birthday banquet. Guess 
what was on the menu. Regarding John. if you have 
not had word from him lately, I heard a whisper 
that his mob have moved from where they were 
and are in a certain other place. Only bush 
telegraph news so maybe I'm wrong but if you dont 
get a letter for a while maybe thats the reason. Tel 
Aviv is something like St Kilda inasmuch as its all 
flats, its much quieter though and under the black-out 
you can't see much of the nights doings. Allenby Road 
& Ben-Yehuda St. are nice big clean streets. You 
people at home don't know how lucky you are not 
being blacked out. Imagine yourself in a strange city 
pitch black and not knowing a Yiddish word 
-Bah! There are one or two things in your 
recent letters I wanted to comment on but as the 
Editor would say, space will not permit, so next shot 
will have to do. So, as meat and vegs. time 
is hovering about and my comrades-in-arms 
have have to be awakened I bid you adieu 
and all my love to you, darling - remember me 
to your mother and folks, Noel and t'others. 
Mick