Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 3 - Part 2 of 14

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knew you properly. The vision of you and I clasped in loving
embrace often rises before me and really, when it is all
boiled down, you who represent my future, are the main
reason I have for looking hungrily forward to the day I
go aboard to sail back to Australia. With you I join my
prayers in interceding that the day is not far distant.
I do that for more than one reason. Odd though it may seem,
memories of home are becoming dimmer, albeit the letters
retard that fading and like everyone I want to get back
before they fade too much as the longer we are away living
under the conditions we do, the longer it will take us
to adjust ourselves to the civilian way of life. If the
worst comes to the worst, we could probably stick it
out for quite a long time yet in the Army but to shall we
say, celibates like myself the separations from our one
and only girl friend is to put it mildly irksome and if
the separation is too prolonged, the effect on a chaps
disposition will take a bit of time and treatment to
eradicate. Between you & I, we have had very little action
up to date and from a detached standpoint, the effect
on myself has not been noticeable, whether, of course
a really tough go would produce the same result has yet
to be seen. One [[?]] from home [[?]] to
look after yourself and other similar stuff but my
attitude to danger is fatalistic and if it's

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ordained that one shall stop a packet, he'll surely do so.
Right from the jump however I've put an inward assurance
that I shall come through safely under the Lords protection
and my prediction has been borne out so far as it
was purely mischance that I did not go to Greece and
later Crete when the chances of survival were almost
forlorn. So my treasure just keep praying for me and
God will answer your prayers and save you needless
worry. It has been my opinion, purely suppositious.
that the real [[trials]] and worries we'll have to overcome
will be in our married life and that this war
episode will perhaps very soon be receding from our
minds like a bad dream. Anyhow, my love, we
can but wait and see and keep praying so that
the time will soon come when we may start upon
the journey from which there is no returning. One
thing, this war should give me courage to go forth as,
if a chap is game enough to risk his life, he should
have no qualms about the future when he comes out O.K.
I'm not going to say such a trite things as that I hope
you like this letter but when the mood catches me
and a green envelope is available, I must have
one of our intimate  fireside yarns if not for the good
of your soul at least for mine. So a thousand kisses from
me and may God bless you and cherish you.
Mick.

A.F. W3078 
[Crown Copyright]
ACTIVE SERVICE 

AIR MAIL
The envelope must not be used for 
coin or valuables. It cannot be accepted 
for registration. 
NOTE :-
Correspondence in this envelope need 
not be censored Regimentally. The 
contents are liable to examination at the 
Base. 
  
The following Certificate must be 
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  
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 BARKER'S ROAD. 
EAST. HAWTHORN. 
VICTORIA. AUSTRALIA.

Written 
24. 9 . 41
Received 
6. 10. 41 

Buckingham 
BY AIR MAIL 
4. 10. 41
AIR MAIL
LETTER CARD
IF ANYTHING IS ENCLOSED THIS CARD 
WILL BE SENT BY ORDINARY MAIL.
MISS K CLARKE
548 BARKER'S ROAD
EAST HAWTHORN
VICTORIA AUSTRALIA 

WHEN FOLDED THE LETTER CARD MUST CONFORM IN SIZE AND SHAPE WITH
THE BLUE BORDER WITHIN WHICH THE ADDRESS ONLY MAY BE WRITTEN. 

Written 4. 10. 41 
Received 16. 10. 41 

VX38483 Gnr M. Billings
C Section, 5th Aust Hy. A/A
Battery. 2 Aust A/A Regt.
AIF Abroad 4. 10. 41
  
Darling Kay.
Awfully sorry that I'm a
bit behind with the mail but have
been a bit busy lately and could not
get a show at dropping you a line.
As a matter of fact, there's an
absolute dearth of news, so except
to report that I'm full of beans I'm
really stuck to fill up a letter. Have
not had a letter from you since your
No 64 but expect to get a few any 
day now. I hope that when I take
up the pen again I'll be able to
turn out the kind of weekly budget
you're accustomed to receive. How's 
the [[noo]] job going? By now I

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suppose you work with the typical 
government stroke. When you receive 
This you might acquaint Mum of 
the fact as I may not get a 
chance for a day or two to write 
her. I presume you have recent news 
from John written from a happier 
place than has been the case 
for a while. Hope you have got 
more letters from me since that 
of 22nd August. Maybe one will 
arrive on your birthday, Every time 
I write you now I shall wish you 
many happy returns of the day in 
case I can't get a cable away. 
So herewith the first bunch of love and 
good wishes. Well Sweetheart cheerio 
for the [[?]] and all my love. 
Mick.

VX38483 Gnr. M. Billings. C. Section.
5th Aust. A/A Hy. Battery. 2 Aust A/A. Regt.
A.I.F. Abroad. 24. 9. 41 
No. 34 perhaps 

My Darling
Having just completed Green Envelope Letter No. 33
to you. I'm hopping straight on to my usual letter as
circumstances have made me a bit late this week and
its best to strike while the iron's hat. First, your letters
right up to No. 64 are to hand for which a thousand
thanks and though repetition is boring, they have been
devoured with the usual avidity and attention. Also
had letters from Mum. Tom and Syd. So my fan mail
was the tops. After that epistolary repast. I was
summoned to the cashiers office and given my time.
As Syrian pounds are worth about 2/10 in our dough.
you get a fair wad although on exchange we get
properly rooked and not 'arf. By the time the dough
reaches our hands, an Aust pound is worth a bit over
14/- So even with the much heralded but as yet
unconfirmed rise in the Soldiers pay, we won't get much
over a dinkum 5/- per day. However, there's not much
we can do about it so will pass on. At present, yours
ardently is ok except for a wog sore on the shin
due to the careless handling of a shovel but as the
first and boys treated it quickly its clearing up