Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 4 - Part 6 of 14

No 57    VX38483 Gnr M. Billings, 2  Aust. Hy. A/A . Regt. 
A.I.F. Abroad. 9.2.42. 
Darling, 
Here goes for another one of these hope letters, the best 
I can hope for is that it will reach you some day what with  
the mail being suspended and my separation from my merry 
men of Charley Section. Still one never knows and perhaps 
it may find a place on a ship sailing soon. I hope, dear, you 
are not too sad about the deprivation of your mail. I know 
its an awful shame but Im encouraged to think from your 
recent letters that you’ll surmount still another setback 
as well as you have so far. I think anyway that the 
service will be open again soon and as I’ve been lucky  
enough to catch up with the H.Q. of the unit so that  
is a weight of my mind as I had visions of  trekking around  
from base to base in pursuit of the elusive will-o-the-wisp. 
Im still in hospital but am leaving in a couple of days and 
blow me if a couple of our people didn't show up here today 
having lodged themselves nearby. So I shall join them and 
have an easy time on the strength of my operation, my 
word I shall bludge on it. Haven't the faintest idea what 
we shall do but have long since lost interest in where I 
go and why except of course one place. Can you guess 
the place to which I refer. I sent a cable to Mum the 

2/          
other day in reply to hers. Couldn't afford to send two as patients  
don't get more than cigarette money.  Anyway Ma would phone  
you when she received it.  Well how goeth the world in your  
vicinity.  Not too strenuous I trust and not too severe on  
your health and strength.  Remember your promise to me  
and the rapid increase of grey hairs leads me to believe you  
are going too hard, shame on you.  Must confess the  
absence of your regular epistles is now becoming very pronounced  
as your frank and ingenuous comments on yourself,  
other of the folks and things in general are both an  
entertainment and, an uninterrupted source of reliable  
news and lastly my chief link with the best things in my  
sweet young life.  Deari me, this war is a pest, I wish  
the finish would swiftly come to pass.  My outlook is  
becoming very cynical and tough now this life dries up  
the milk of human kindness in a chap and my  
sympathetic tendencies are have disappeared.  The softening  
and soothing influences of a good woman (that's you) are badly  
needed.  Will you feel up to the job of restoring a battered  
coot like me to sanity and a yearning for domestic bliss.  You'd  
better save your resources for the deed.  Let em bring about the  
opportunity and between us maybe we shall have a good  
stab at it.  So with such an inspiring peroration, cheerio and 
as ever, all my very impatient love. my darling.  Mick.

This 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 may be forwarded in  
this Cover, but they must be all from the 
same writer. The cover should be addressed  
in such case to the Base Censor.] 
  
57 
9  2  42 
Address: -  
Miss K. Clarke, 
548 Barkers Road, 
East Hawthorn. 
Victoria Australia

ACTIVE SERVICE 
[Crown Copyright Reserved.] 
A.F.W3078. (M.E.) 
PR00610 
Australian 
War Memorial

VX38483 Gnr M. Billings 
Reinforcements 5th Battery 
2 Aust. Hy A/A Regt 
AIF - C/0 2 Aust Base 
Post Office 
  
My Darling, 
Its jolly good being able  
to write you again after such a long  
time and the fact of once more  
being back in Aussie lends it an  
extra sweet flavor. I presume you  
have seen the telegram sent Mum  
by the authorities upon arrival and  
after having had my letter from  
the M.E a while before, I can guess  
what a pleasant surprise it must  
have been. Beyond the bare bones  
of the wire, I'm sorry I can't go as  
Papa Censor is still well and

2/ 
truly in circulation and you will  
still have to live in a modified  
atmosphere of suspense. Whether a  
miracle will happen and some  
home leave will be dished out is a  
subject greatly exercising the tongues  
of the rumor boys but I think  
it only fair to tell you that comment  
from a responsible source does  
not favor the prospects. Still they  
can't hang you for hoping and  
I'll leave it at that. You will be  
pleased to know I've almost completely  
got over the gash in my innards and  
feel quite good just now. Due to  
quick changes in temperature, I collected  
a snorter cold a while back and  
the coughing fits gave me a few nasty  
twinges around the wound but it 

3/ 
has settled down again OK, I think.  
A couple of days ago I got your  
letters Nos 10 & 11 also one from Mum  
and Sheila and did I open them  
and devour the contents smartly.  
The last one of yours I had previous  
to these was No. 98 so theres quite a  
few adrift somewhere. From an item  
in Skin's letter, it seems that  
my last parcel evaded all obstacles  
and reached you. The latest dope  
makes it look as though the  
prospects of Flan and the other boys 
is a bit grim, I would let out a  
whoop if you have had good tidings.  
My poor little sister must be  
having a rotten time waiting for news,  
only just once did her thoughts creep  
through in her note.

4/ 
I was in the next bed to Peter  
Robnson at hospital but when  
I left he was hardly strong enough 
to come with me. You can get  
Ada to tell his folks he was very  
well when I left and was leaving  
a few days later for convalescence.  
If leave should eventuate I shall  
pop in and see his people. Have  
recently seen Fr. Cantwell, Jim  
McMahon, a cobber of Norm  
Harris (Frank Something) and a  
few other acquaintances. Well,  
must run along now, Sweetheart 
 and will write again shortly.  
All my love as ever and if I should 
see you soon,          . Savvy.  
Love to your mother, Ada and the  
others. Cheerio.  
Mick 

PASSED BY CENSOR No. 91 
Miss K. CLARKE, 
548 Barkers Road 
East Hawthorn. 
Victoria Australia

Received 19.3.'42 
Adelaide 
  
PR00610 
Australian  
War Memorial