Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 4 - Part 1 of 14

No 51  VX38483 Gnr. M. Billings, E. Section
5th Aust Hy. A/A. Battery. 2 Aust. A/A
Regt. A.I.F Abroad 29.12.41

Darling Kay,
Gee a whole week since I last went to
press but if you turn up my previous, and two screeds, and
join in with this fellow, you will see this is the third
chapter of the wailings and woes of a somewhat bent but
far from beaten warrior.  You recall No 49 dealt with my
relapse of fever and No 50 with the visitation of the yellow
jaundice, the combination coming so hard on each
others heels, that I didnt know whether I was coming
or going. Anyhow, when I reported to the medico with a
perfect celestial complexion and a queasy feeling in the
gizzard, he sent me back to camp for three days no work
and a diet of Epsom Salts and instructions to report back
after the three days had elapsed. Well, the holiday was
not so bad although the salts rather spoilt my peace
and back I trotted after those days, having by that time
got pretty strong at trotting. I felt a ton better too and
thought he would tell me to take things easy for a
while and not get boozed too often.
[*PS Flash Leaving hospital 2nd Jan*]

2/
I duly presented myself and a different quack was on the
job that day which note well was Xmas Eve. Picture
my embarrassment and horror when he bluntly ordered
me back to hospital. On Xmas Eve, mind you. Was I
mad, no festivities, no poultry dinner. Well, I had to
obey so into bed go I, the treatment ordered being rest,
diet and more salts. As the next day was the 25th, the
Sister in charge was a sport and said my treatment would
not commence until the 26th so they gave me turkey and
ham, plum pudding and beer for Xmas dinner so I got some
satisfaction not to mention a beaut gutsache. I also
scored a bag of gifts from Lady Lampson, wife of the
British High Commissioner for Egypt. Anyway to cut a
long story short, I'm now up and about and should get
discharged soon. These hospital suits are ultra smart,
you should see me, royal blue suit, white shirt and
scarlet tie, pretty gruesome ensemble in the sunlight.
When I get out of here, I hope my luck changes,
wherever I go. I'm a moral to pick up the local
complaint then in vogue.  Jaundice is pretty common
here when the season changes and quite a few of our

3/
chaps have had the damn thing. I'll be glad to get out
of Egypt,  when you see the population here. (the filthiest
creatures on earth) and the conditions under which they
exist,  you don't wonder that there's so much disease and
sickness. It's certainly no place for white folk.  On It's
think its a British hospital I'm reposing in and they
look after you very well and go to no end of trouble to fix
you up. In fact, I feel quite fit again but they won't
take any risks and it will take me a week to get back
to the boys. The only thing that frightens me is that the
unit might move and it would take me months to
catch up to them but I'm hoping for the best. Heavens,
I've talked for two and a half pages about my disorders, if
thats not over the fence I'd like to know what is. I haven't
even enquired about you health but as it was understood
between us that we would have no secrets, that will have
to serve as an excuse for the lengthy rigmarole. As I
have recovered now, I shan't mention this spree in hospital
in my letters to Mum and my people as I can't see that
any good purpose will be served by doing so and you
know how she would worry. Not that I'm entirely

4/
happy about relating it all to you but a promise is a
promise and I know you will see the thing in its
right perspective and not be a party to unwarranted
worry. To change the subject, let me now express my
hope that you are fighting fit and of good cheer and
that your job is well under control. Also I trust you got
enough time off to enable you to swallow a vast quantity
of grub and grog and that a goodly quota of presents passed
into your well-deserved possession. I read with sorrow
in one of your recent letters that you werent at all keen
about Xmas this year but hope that when the day came,
the Spirit of the Season infected you and you spent a
happy day. I know that with a big-time war on and
only the prospect of hard work and not much fun before
you for a while, the spirit of festivity is hard to capture
but these diversions, few as they are, an a safety valve and
keep the trials and anxieties of these days from getting the
upper hand. Anyhow, my love, enough of moralising, you
have demonstrated that you know what you are facing
and have surmounted your difficulties wonderfully
well. 

5/
I have gathered hold of a green envelope and as I've
plenty of [[likewise?]] for a few day and an atmosphere for
composition, I a think I'd like to write you a love
letter. you tell me how much you treasure them but in
all truth, I like to sit and dream about you and I.
marvellous times we spent together, particularly those in
the solitude and calm of your little sanctum when I had
the great privilege of loving you and really knowing you.
the dynamic you, casting aside the mantle mask imposed
upon we civilised people under the name of convention.
Thats when I really lived and who can blame me for trying to
live it again and for trying to tell you my feelings and
reactions when under the spell of your love for none could
make their love more eloquent than you and the memory
of those times do not die easily. However I must not encroach
upon the other letter. I have your letters to No. 89. but expect
later ones any day now. Some papers reached me yesterday
two bundles from you and a Digest from Ada. Thanks to both
you dears. Must close now, my darling and all my love
to you and may God watch over you. Love to your mother
and the Sugdens       a big kiss.    Mick.

29.12.41

Miss. K. Clarke
548 Barkers Road
East Hawthorn.
Victoria. Australia 

written
2.1.42
Received
17.3.42
Suez Hospital 

No 52  Vx 38483 Gnl. M. Billings. C Section
5th. Aust Hy A/A. Battery.2 Aust.
A/A Regt. A.I.F. Abroad 29. 12.41

My Darling,
I've just finished No 51 but there are one 
of two other matters to chat about and also a few more
Cairo snaps to send you.  I'm off on a further letter. I
can't write too often can I? Theres little news to give
you as my life has been an inactive one of late, confined you
might say to a hospital ward. Things in our line have 
fizzled right out but I guess it's the calm before the storm.
Climbing up around the nearby mountains (very bleak and
inhospitable) they are too, tragedy overtook one of our chaps.
Tom Atkinson, a bonza bloke. He fell over a precipice
and was killed and for a few days, the chaps were very
glum as Tommy was very popular with everyone.  It's about
a month ago and I went to the last rites at the War Cemetery.
He was only married just before we left Aussie so it was
a very bad show all round, poor chap.  Rob Sutton was
O.K when I last saw him and Jim Cain and Tom
Beckton sent you kind regards. 

2/
Hope the mail service to you has been going strong and
plenty more letters have reached you ere this.  I don't
suppose the parcel I sent has reached you yet, be sure
to go easy with the perfume and have a look at the tricky
wallet before you hand it over to Dad - I think I told you
of the arrival of Syd's letter which I must reply too soon. I suppose
you've seen them since he wrote. In reply to your enquiry,
my blood group is B3, not common here and probably the
reason for my ailments. Glad to know Noel has recovered
although she's thinner than ever she must look pretty 
wan Remember me to her, old bean.  You flattered me
in a recent letter saying I must have worked hard to get 7
days Cairo leave. That's not it at all, all troops in this
xxxx zone get 7 days leave every 3 months and can go to Cairo
if they can afford it, so that's all there is to it.
Well, my love as there are some snaps
to go in. I'd I'll confine this to a brief note to make 
the necessary room. So for a few days [[cheriė]], bye-bye
and of course, tons of love to you and more power
to you. Mick 

Miss. K. Clarke                                     
548 Barkers Road,
East Hawthorn.
Victoria. Australia