Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 4 - Part 8 of 14

N.S.W. 15.4.42 

Darling, 
Well how does this find your Brighteyes? Lots of 
thanks for the letters Nos 22, 18, 21, 12, 21 to hand 
today and was just as eager as we to hear from my 
sweetheart. Taking the most important subject first. 
I refer you to my big bumped pleasant surprise. Taking 
pity on your suspense I will come clean. Of course its 
to do the right thing by us both, become man and 
wife Any good, eh! I think that would be a [[fine?]] 
feature of my leave. I dunno how we'll go for a 
honeymoon but first things first so let's get married 
and if need be we can have a big bumped honeymoon 
"apres la guerre fini". I fear that when I get there your 
tram might be a bit late starting some mornings. It's a 
date anyhow for the altar and in the short time available 
I'll try and love you ardently enough for the time lost in 
the past and leave a bit as a return for the future. 
May I count on you for an equally sound display. Unfortunately
it might be a while before I get down on account of to 
little to be divided among to many. For the time we spent 
in Adelaide we could have got home and been back

2/ 
But that would have been too simple, only the certainty 
of going to the clink stopped me from doing a bunk. Too 
late now to think about that though. At least, darling, 
lets look forward to a marvellous intimate period when I 
do bowl in. God and I know what a marvel you've been 
since I went away and I humbly thank him for keeping 
you so. I suppose you know by measuring your own 
feelings how desperately hungry I am for you and all I can 
look for from only you. All I ask for now is that short 
respite from here so that we can make a start on our 
destined mission. It may be that after this leave I 
won't see you again for a fair while but I feel that once 
married, both of us will be a lot happier despite a 
second separation. If I was with you now, even you 
perhaps would stand amazed and I hope thrilled by 
the love I'd lavish upon you. I realise what a 
lucky guy I am to have such a steadfast mate as you. You 
know I was hellishly wrong when I vetoed the marriage 
idea before I sailed. God forgive me for the cruelty I 
caused you. No, don't whitewash me. No man ever had the 
right to expect a girl to just wait and have nothing

3/ 
but letters to comfort her. Be compassionate and
tell me I was only a fool and like you I've paid for
my blindness. When I get to you, I shall make amends
and in these times when happiness is at a premium, I
vow to excel in one thing, a duty and a pleasure combined
that is to be a good hubby to a champion wife. Funny
once a week meant nothing but this week of leave,
will try to make a lifetime. I'm sorry this letter is
not a first rate effort but we've just moved in here
and things are primitive, the mosquitoes are frightful.
As soon as better facilities are available I shall write
a proper litt letter appropriate to such a sweetheart. 
Well, my Kay, the tea bugle has gone
and as grub is a bit light, I'd better go and have
a bite. So for a little while, Puss mine. bye-bye
and pray as hard as hard for an early leave. 
All my love goes to you as it always did
and accept a big kiss by post. 
Mick 
P.S Post me a packet of envelopes 
almost out

15.4.42 

NEWCASTLE 
10 AM 
16 APR 
1942 
N.S.W. AUST 

MISS. K. CLARKE. 
548 Barkers Road. 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria

N.S.W. 17.4.42 

Darling Kay, 
Despite the trying conditions under which 
this is being written and believe me I don't exaggerate 
here's our hero do his best to catch up on the mail. Things 
collectively and personally stink and everyone is "browned 
off" properly. Never in our worst shows did over in the 
M. E. were the mob so fed up, no one smiles anymore or 
anything. Everything is punk, no home leave, a very few 
hours in Newcastle occasionally, no comfort, rain and 
bloody mosquitos as big as flies and proper cannibals. I 
feel just like you did when you wrote No. 24 (which with 
No. 25 are to hand), life seems just a big flop, am parked 
in a tent with an old tin for a desk penning this and 
to keep the "mossies" down a bit, have a big cow - poop 
fire in the center of the tent. Ugh! Pigging it is the right 
word, the place is damp after recent deluges and its been 
raining on and off all day. So adding all the grouches up 
she aint no bed of roses. Still all thats nothing, if 
they would just call my name for the Melb trip, the 
sun would shine in my empty heart in a twinkling. 
Theres another 40 from the battery going next week and

2/ 
like everyone else the suspense is killing If I should 
click, I'll wire you of course but as far as I can make 
out, my turn will not come on that batch. Unless I get 
a new suit soon. I'll arrive looking like a vagabond as 
my original one is filthy and now too small. Anyway, 
my lovely one, at least its coming and small comfort that 
it is, I guess we'll have to soldier on. I put in a Special 
Application on the ground that I urgently want to get married 
so perhaps that will give it a boost. The waiting around 
is killing though because I'm dying to make you mine and 
spend a week f loving you and if you thought I was 
pretty fair before, all previous efforts will seem like "nowt" 
when I hold you in my arms. Bet though you'll meet me 
half-way and on our wedding night. I know you'll be 
divine. I know, you'll laugh and you'll cry and maybe 
I will too. Why Shouldn't we anyway? It's a far cry to 
that day at Pucka and when you left. if my eyes looked 
sad. they merely mirrored my whole being for I hada to 
choke them back. believe it or not. How I want you now 
my darling and how marvellous is that treasure who has 
waited so long and so patiently. I say, I'm afraid I shan't 
be satisfied to just have you between your shifts on

3/ 
the trams so you had better get in the spadework for getting 
off for our week. Damm it all, its the time we've dreamed 
about and the Tramway Board will just have to let you 
off or I'll kidnap you and no fooling either. Fancy letting 
a trifle like a job stand in our way so if they get tough 
we get tougher and take it. You get precious little thanks 
for making sacrifices it seems to me so will consider just 
you and I this shot. Till the big event, do please keep 
writing as your letters. happy or sad are still my best 
comfort. That's not guff as nothing since I went away 
has ever been so welcome as your letters particularly those 
when you got down to brass tacks. Between and through 
the lines that rich and turmulbuous love you bear for me 
shone out and whether in Aust or out, you are my sheet 
anchor, that big reason to survive all this rottenness and 
bask in the flow of your love. All words, words, poor 
substitutes to what I could do and say were I with you. 
Must toddle now, gallant little lady and for a 
day or two, every ounce of my love. I kiss your soft lips 
many times a day. Bye. Bye. Always all yours. 
Mick.

17.4.42 

NEWCASTLE 
8 PM 
17 APR
1942 
N.S.W. AUST 

Miss K Clarke 
548 Barkers Road 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria