Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 3 - Part 7 of 14

4/
Thanks for the Gillettes, proving very useful. Oh yes. the 
photo. Quite natty and the sight of your lissome form
fills me with a hunger for the clasp of your sweet arms.
To cut out the sentiment, you looked demurely divine. Funny
thing though, I think I like your hair longer as it was in
the previous snaps you sent. Inconsistent, aren't I?
I admit I've told you innumerable times how lovely it was
cut in that boyish fashion and here it is I am have usurped
the women's privilege by changing my mind. You know,
that snap of you sitting on the parapet is always on my person
and in this lonely life I look upon you so lovingly.
In that picture, the Sweetheart o mine was is typified to the full.
My word, you're lovely and as I can't have you just yet and that
picture is etched in my mind, I just like you as you look there.
A very muddled speech but you know what I mean. Not
too many of them fancy drinks, young lady, bad for the complexion.
I'll do that brother of mine over if he leads you astray. Well, in
view of what the night might hold, methinks the bed has 
better soon be occupied so had better turn in. Funny thing,
tonight may sample the thrill of battle as it were, tomorrow
morning will be detailed to empty the dunny cans and the 
rose bowls. Sublime to the ridiculous. So Sweetheart, 
sweet dreams and all my love until I take up the 
Onoto again. Here's a kiss too.
Mick

42 
AIR MAIL 
Miss. K. Clarke. 
548 Barkers Road. 
East Hawthorn. 
Victoria Australia.

Written 
5.11.41 
Received 27.11.41 
Egypt. 

No 43  
VX38483  Gnr. M. Billings.  C Section, 
5th Aust. Hy A/A. Battery. 2. Aust. A/A Regt. 
A.I.F. Abroad. 9.11.41 
Darling Kay. 
I'm a day or two ahead of meself getting this  
letter on its tenuous way but having a leisure hour I 
can think of no better way of employing my time than by 
penning a stanza or two to you perhaps fragrant with 
memories of the past or surging with a message of hope 
for a glorious future.  The reason for the above sentence 
is accounted for by the fact that I'm parked upon a soap 
box accompanied by a makeshift table next the bed of Gnr  
F. Harrison. Biggs. who has a volume of Browning on his knees and 
is delivering himself of several meaty verses right in my ear. 
The aforesaid Biggs, a high pressure salesman in civil life 
and my constant antagonist in much wordy battle is a lad 
if ever there was one and keeps us in transports of mr mirth. 
You'd laugh if you paid us a visit in our tent.  we don't let this 
war get us down if talk and more talk can achieve that 
object.  Been pretty busy lately and I must protest against 
the tactics of the foe in disturbing the slumbers of poor 
inoffensive Ack Acks.  They're over the odds and give 
us far too much trouble.  And listen it'll take a long  
time before I shall gaze upon the lunar orb with any 
approval.  The job of wooing me back to such beningnity 
shall be delegated to you, my pretty.

2/ 
To continue, I acknowledge receipt of your favors Nos: 75 & 76 
for which the usual thanks, with snaps and blades enclosed. 
Don't know just how to put it but oh, those marvellous 
photographs.  First I must say, they damn near meant as much 
to me as though you were with me.  At last, I've seen it you 
reproduced on a photograph.  In my last letter, I recall 
making some confused observations about snaps previously 
sent but after gazing about 200 times at those most 
tasty samples of the camera, you can ignore all I've  
previously written on the subject, for believe it or not, at last 
I'm satisfied you certainly have a good eye into the bargain 
as the positions are delightful and a portrait and a profile 
are well chosen indeed.  Thanks awfully, Sweetheart. 
In a recent letter, I recall you hinting that a snap of my 
homely mug would be acceptable.  Terribly sorry, darling, 
but I haven't had a ghost of a chance since leaving Syria. 
Our own cameras are in storage and at present am in  
an out of the way spot away from photographers.  Anyhow 
I go on 7 days leave to Cairo shortly and will make a  
point of collecting a likeness and when I return and give  
you the low-down about the Egyptian Mecca, shall 
mail said photograph.  Bit of good luck in copping  
the vacation.  Bet your life I will make good use

3/ 
of the time visiting the Pyramids and maybe one or two 
of the naughty places.  Fancy staying at a pub, no air 
alerts, parades, reveilles and other Army guff. Perhaps even 
good food and clean sheets will be supplied. What a wow. 
I hope you continue to feel 100 percent, if 
you are as good as you look in the pictures, I need say  
no more.  Also the ammo. job still continues as congenial 
as can be expected, I sincerely trust.  Despite your keenness, 
I'll whip you out of there pretty damn quick when I get  
back as a blooming rose looks better in a pretty garden 
then in a hot house.  (Pause while I bestow upon you a mental 
kiss)  I wrote last week to Syd. and whilst on the subject 
I daresay you have enjoyed a chop and a yarn with that 
twain.  Glad to see my cable hit the home-town in time 
for your birthday.  You can dice that bunkum about your 
fast approaching old age, those photos would make you pass 
for 25 under any scouting.  In all truth, I bet there are a 
lot of lasses of your age who would give a lot to be able to 
look as youthful as you do, above all in searching open air 
conditions. You are a tribute to the doctrine of cleanliness 
in all things. When I get back, a battle stained old warrior, 
they will probably mistake me for your pappy. I daresay 
you are hearing from Brother John more frequently

4/ 
now he has gone to earth in Palestine.  Hope they dished out 
plenty of leave to him but I found the heads as lousy as here 
with it when I resided there.  Snooped off to the pictures 
t'other night saw Anne Shirley in 'Anne of Windy Poplars" 
quite a fair show and a good long newsreel with some Aussie 
shots included, one of Old Pucka.  This is a crazy war; 
one minute you're sitting in a picture theatre and a coupla 
hours later, you're taking pot shots at the Luftwaffe. 
Glad to see young John did a good job as my locum [[tenens]], 
he's a good lad alright and its sure good to read of your  
enjoying a night-out so much.  Have had quite a swag of 
papers, this last fortnight from you and others.  thanks honey. 
Some one must have given the post office a shake up as a 
ton of parcels and papers have descended upon us.  The Comforts 
Fund are making a fortnightly distribution now so we are 
enjoying all the amenities despite the grim joint we are 
located at.  I would like a photo of it to show you.  Sorry to hear 
about Noel's malady, poor thing, when you see her next give her
a kiss from me. Got it off Fatty Casey, eh? Haven't the 
Army caught up with him yet. Well, Kathleen Ann, I hear
a Sergeant bawling out for me (this is being written on the firms
time) so toodle-oo for a while and every atom of my love T
you champs  Mick 

 43      AIR MAIL 
  
Miss. K. Clarke  
548 Barkins Road. 
East. Hawthorn. 
Victoria. Australia 

Written  
9.11.41 
Received 
28.11.41 
Egypt

No 43  
VX38483  Gnr. M. Billings.  C Section, 
5th Aust. Hy. A/A. Battery. 2. Aust. A/A  
Regt. A.I.F. Abroad. 20.11.41 
  
My Darling Kay, 
Having lapsed from the path of rectitude 
as regards correspondence last week, I now hasten to repair 
the omission by kicking off with a G.E. interlude. The 
failure to write last week was due to my invasion of Cairo 
for 7 days, details of which orgy I shall describe in a further 
letter or letters.  This is intended to bridge the gulf that has  
opened by such a long spell.  To my joy, three of your sweet 
missives awaited my return, all being present and 
correct to No 78 and may I say, my treasure, your letters lose 
none of their warmth and loveliness with the passage of 
time, even as I venture to say, do you without doubt.  
Sweetheart, you're a wonderful Scout and how fiercely 
shall I pour out my love for you when I reach the  
haven of refuge, your firm yet tender clasp.  The missing 
link is a phrase usually associated with the apes, but 
you are the missing link in my life today.  I have  
more than enough to eat and drink, a place to sleep, 
a little pleasure too, all these I admit, inferior to that 
provided in the halcyon days of peace but if I only  
had you with me, I wouldn't care a hoot for a softer 
physical life.  That is why I know and understand