Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 3 - Part 3 of 14

2/   
quite nicely. Well what have we next? Ah yes the weather, 
Still fairly warm but much more cloud about and 
spasms of cool breeze to give impetus to our hope that 
a really pleasant shower of rain will one day descend 
upon us. As you can guess  I’m still lairing up in Syria  
and life pursues a fairly even tenor. Have not been on 
leave since my last screed but the prospect of seeing 
Damascus & the old Roman ruins at Baalbek are much 
 brighter which if it comes off will produce for your album 
some good snaps. The ruins are 3000 years old and well 
worth seeing. Having disposed of the chronicles of the week 
let’s turn up your mighty works of prose and chat over the 
newsy parts. Very pleased you and the folks have received 
some more of my letters and have derived some pleasure 
from the contents. First of all, your swan  song at the     
Mutual - partings after years of association are sad  
affairs but I’m tickled pink everybody was so decent 
to you. A bit wryly I realise I only too well that people 
never miss you until you’re gone but it was awfully 
consoling to know that everybody endorses my own  
opinion of you by the festivities and presentations. 
It’s very sweet of Ada to find some soap to keep me 
fice and 'ands clean and though some Lifebuoy turned 
Up just after I wrote,  t’will be none the less acceptable. 

3/   
Well have reduced the avoirdupois considerably and my clothes 
consequently fit better, the girth is now much more becoming. Am 
looking forward to my next leave to do a bit more X mas 
purchasing, the supper cloth deal is clinched and some more 
items for members of the family etc. remain to be acquired.  
So will make up the parcel soon consigned to you for 
the distribution to them concerned. Very hard to get Aussie 
cigarettes or tobacco now and the Wog variety aren't too 
pleasant or fragrant. I like a packet of Players on rare 
occasions. Old Chas De Gaulle may seem like Joan  
of Arc to you, sweetheart but to the locals, he's just a pain 
in the neck. Then of course, Les Syriennes don't go for 
Frenchmen of any description and His Nibs when he went 
about here had a real dictators bodyguard. Have gone  
cold on the sports shoes-wheeze but it may rekindle if I  
can't do better. Make no mistake lady if I do get them 
they will be expensive, I don't buy my sweetheart cheap  
presents, I'll have you know. Glad tidings from John 
reaches you and mother O.K from Tobruk I gather.  
I wish I'd half his luck in meeting Arthur although 
at present I'd rather they both met me than I them if 
you see what I mean. I think I told you last letter the  
cake was ushered in to my table. Thanks to your 
care in packing it opened up as fresh as a daisy 

4/   
and tasted, well you know what a champion fruit cake  
tastes like, manufactured by your girl friend.  
It like its predecessor vanished into several grateful gizzards  
like water to a thirsting man and when every crumb had  
disappeared, eyes were raised to heaven in silent thanks. 
Congratulations and thanks all round, Kay. Am now  
resting on the haunches shamelessly waiting for the  
next parcel word of whole dispatch word has reached me. I  
suppose the money for the canteen orders has become  
exhausted or very nearly so am on the bot again. I won't send  
you more as the cost would be very small and you'd probably  
feel insulted. It's razor blades. Decent blades are off  
here so my idea is for you to purchase a packet of blue  
Gillettes and pop one blade in each of your letters. The weight is  
almost nothing and made the folds quite safe. Think you  
can fix that up O.K? If the position here improves  
I'll write you pronto to knock off. I know you like to do  
these things for me yourself and if the cost is small, I'd like  
you too to myself. Bob thanks you for your kindly  
sentiments and sends you his in return. Must  
toddle now, Sweetheart but will knock out some  
more in a couple of days for your bright eyes. For the present,  
darling, cheerio and all my love. 
Mick 

By Air Mail  
Par Avion 
3 Opened by Censor 
  
Miss. K Clarke 
548 Barker's Road 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria 
Australia

Written 24.9.41 
Received 7.10.41 
Syria 
3 Opened by Censor

VX38483 Gnd No Billings 
C Section. 5th Aust Ity A/A 
Battery 2 Aust a/a Regt 
A.I.F. Abroad 9-10-41 
No. 36 
  
Darling Kay, 
First let me say that I'm not sure if the 
above is the right number but for reasons you'll understand 
a chap loses track now and then. Not having the  
opportunity to write you at any length, I sent you a  
letter card the other day just to assure you of my 
continued  survival amid the trials and tribulations 
of a soldiers life. So am verra pleased to sit me 
down and get back to the old order, particularly so 
as six letters reached me yesterday of which three were  
from your sweet hand. Was as charmed as usual to 
learn you are so well and chirpy and what's more the 
underlying note strongly suggested that your new job  
is satisfying to you now you've settled down. Good show  
sweetheart! Your letters were No's 65, 66 & 67 all unopened 
and as news from me is almost non-existent 
are a godsend from which to draw the necessary 
material to write you a decent letter. 

2/  
I have bought that table cloth I wrote about but 
have not mailed it yet, but hope to get hold of it 
again so as to get it away by the Xmas mail. Last 
night, I got to the pictures and saw quite a good show 
"The Band Wagon" starring Jack Hylton and his band. 
Very funny and I needed a laugh having just come  
off guard in the morning and believe me guard duty is 
the acme of monotony and boredom. Have struck a  
dust storm or two lately but they have subsided this few 
days. The weather is still very hot but the nights are 
getting colder. I actually wore my overcoat on the guard. 
The Middle East is a corner of Hades and why tourists 
pay money to come here is beyond me. Glad you are 
getting letters from me fairly often, there would be 4 
or 5 en route now. Should have been more but you know 
how it is. Thanks muchly, you darling for the impending 
parcels, the contents of which I need hardly say will 
be very welcome. I told you, I think, the cake arrived 
a few weeks ago and was right in the top grade. By now 
I should think your Brother John will be writing from a  
different peace from what I have heard on the bush 

3/ 
telegraph. Should be able to tell you an odd story 
about that sometime later. I will be pleased to get a  
line or two from yo him. I am feeling very fit just now 
although somewhat hot and gritty and trust I've said 
good-bye to sickness for good.  Don't need the sweet 
fruits just now but things like that are bound to be 
handy one of these days. I had the photo for you all 
tee'd up but will have to let it slide for a while. 
Shortly, I will get on to another green envelope letter for 
you so this one will be on matter-of-fact lines and 
will devote all of the formed to an intimate chat with  
you. Don't worry your pretty head about spending the 
chips on things for you, truly I'm not going short of  
anything so hush yourself and take the surplus I send 
with a smile and a curtsey. No, no chunks of wedding  
cake have arrived, sometime later perhaps. I had 
located Fr. Quinn but circumstances prevented me from 
having a chat to him, worse luck. I saw a photo of 
Swannee in a Woman's Weekly a good while ago and the 
poor chap looked as miserable as a bandicoot but if 
Fean & Jack are will him, perhaps he'll feel a 
bit brighter. 

4/  
I certainly would have liked to have been with you 
when you played with Syd & Dot, too right those were 
the days. I chuckled when I read of Nugget's goings-on 
at the office. Wish I was once more ensconced in my 
swing chair once more. Give my love to your dear  
mother and wish her the best of good fortune and news. 
I had a letter from Sheila with yours, very vulgar in parts  
too, the young scamp. I see a hint that you are 
doing a bit in our particular sphere. Be a good girl and 
see if you can get them to chop down the noise a bit. 
Glad you are going to adopt such a hobby dear to my 
heart when we are married as after living on the  
dregs. I'll be mighty critical on that score. Have  
not had any further papers from a few weeks but as the 
Wogs say, there is always Bukhara (tomorrow). Where 
work's concerned, its a very frequently used word. One good 
thing fags & beer are on again and I enjoyed a 
bottle of Cascade last night believe you me! And so 
cherry-blossom we say farewell and so on for  
short period and trudge off, wishing you a happy birthday 
and herewith all my love. Regards to Ada, Bill & Red. 
Mick. 

A.C.F.  
36  
AIR MAIL.   
Miss K Clarke, 
548 Barker’s Road. 
East Hawthorn. 
Victoria 
Australia