Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 8 - Part 7 of 11

FORWARD. AREA

AIRMAIL.  22-5-43
Mrs M. Billings
548 Barkers Rd
East Hawthorn
Victoria

ACF  NJUNCTION WITH YMCA
AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES   ASSESSED BY CENSOR 3006 

PR00610
Australian
War Memorial

Gr. M. Billings  VX 38483
C. Section, 2/5 Aust. Hy A/A Bbby
2/2. Aust  Hy a/a. Regt. A.I.F.
24. 5. 43.

Darling Kay,
Good morning to you, Sweetheart and with my greetings
goes all my love and thanks for your letters of No.s 21 + 22 very
gladly received. at the risk of being monotonous, it was fine to
know you are feeling so well and now the end of the long struggle
is in sight mighty comforting that you approach hospital time
feeling that you will do a tip top job. Very sorry the mail from me
has played dog on you but I should think that by now the
many I've written should be coming in regularly. It will be a
relief to see in your letters that the drought has broken as I can guess
how much you need things to go smoothly and permit you to
concentrate on a job that demands your full powers. It sure is a
sudden change from recent times when a daily screed could be
managed but one thing I'm determined about is that you will
get a letter from me frequently. If your eagerness to get them equals 
mine, as I know it does, your disappointment is very acute. Poor bundle,
life for you is far from complete and you've been simply splendid
for the way you've shouldered your burden and carried on under such
a strain. You wouldn't be human if feelings of loneliness and
depression didn't weigh you down at times. You've had a big job to
do these last years, getting no easier as time went on and I want
you to know that I think you're the best wife a chap could have
and I'm lucky to be your husband. I know, now you are at the
threshold of your career as a mother that you will be a stunner in
that role, you just couldn't be otherwise. Your letters amply prove
how much you are thrilled at the prospect and I thank God
he is blessing us so richly just now when you need something big
and absorbing to distract you from the other thing you are deprived
of. It will help fill that void until we are reunited and
can live our own lives and watch the tiny morsel soon to be
grow and develop into something worthy of the sacrifice entailed
into bringing him into the world. I pray have that the time will not
be long as it is really all I have to look forward to and a
waiting of long duration is not so easy to bear unless you can see
light ahead as we can both enjoy testify. It was not so tough
when we were single but having lived with you and really shared
our lives I came to need you all the time and having you in
every sense of the word, there's nothing now to replace you now we
are apart which is a most refined torture, perhaps it is meant to
serve as a penance. One must admit that we have been
spared a lot and have been given a lot so maybe my lament
is untimely but we know how feelings suppressed need an outlet
occasionally and I do feel that you would prefer me to write
honestly at all times and not always put on that mock cheerful
tone that I know does not deceive you and I want you to
always tell me everything you want to without reserve or concern

for my susceptibilities, its better that way. Those letters of yours
that any permeated with that precious news sincerely move me
so much and keep that torrent of love ready to gush forth when
release arrives. They keep us bound together as one person and
as long as we do not drift away that's the main thing and we
have such a lot to live for yet, was or no war. Your letter No.18
was of that sort and getting a letter couched in that strain
sends me through the whole gamut of emotions, and I don't feel
so much out of your life. It's strange that black and white can
mean so much but ease the times when a wave of silence was
between us, the best part of life stopped dead. So if we are not
ordained mates then everything is cockeyed. Like you, I can't help
feeling that the tragedy is that we are at an age when we should
be laying the foundation for a successful life and the time slips
away so fast when there's so much to be done. When all is
said and done six months together was not to much for two
people who have so much to give one another. For instance
our sex life will not last indefinitely and whilst our commiglg 
commingling was perfect and ecstatic as well as fruitful it
represented but a fraction of what we are entitled to and capable
of. I make no bones about it, possessing you was an experience
that thrills me to the core as it should when two lovers
unite and as a normal healthy man, total abstinence from
the embraces and fulfilment of natural desire particularly
when such a darling and passionate partner administers such
complete joy is a thing that is among the brightest facets of
married life. When your wife combined the virtues of wife mother
lover and born companion it would be foolish to deny that
you want and need her so much and if her husband possesses
like qualities, it is ungenerous to expect her to be happy and
satisfied. Everything considered its a horrific hardship which
we must hope and pray will soon be expelled from our lives
leaving us free to do the things we've dreamed of. The vista
opening before us when that day comes is most inviting, so much
so that it's the real reason that gives rise to the words I have
penned here. I do hope these times will not be productive of
any gloom for you, the last thing I intended is that by having a
Green Envelope, the time to sit and think clearly coupled with
the yearning mood that is upon me. I just went ahead and
had an intimate chat with the one person who understands me
and my meaning.
In the way of news. I'm feeling quite well
and fit bar a bit of heat rash, I don't think the climate and
conditions will prove my master if up to date is any pointer.
So other news. I can't be bothered talking about army doings. I'm so
sick and tired of the whole business
Yours forever
Micky            

PR00610
Australian War Memorial

FORWARD AREA
AIR. MAIL
24 5 43

ACF
CONJUNCTION WITH
YMCA

Mrs. M. Billings
548 Barkers Road
East Hawthorn
Victoria

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Australian
War Memorial

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FORWARD AREA

26. 5. 43
Mrs. M, Billings
548 Barkers Road
East Hawthorn
Victoria

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VX38483 Gr. M. Billings
C. Section
2/5 Aust. Hy a /a Battery
2/2  "         "       "  Regt.
A.I.F 26. 5. 43
 

Darling
Somewhat woefully I
confess to a dearth of mail from you
Since last I wrote and hope you
have been better served in that
respect. I anticipate, however, better
luck in a day or two which will
no doubt give me something to yarn

2/
to you about. My last was a green
envelope specimen and as the issue is
one per week, we shall be able to
discuss personal matters with more
freedom than before (Interval while
I have some grub.) Very nice too, it
should provide lucid thought. To resume
I hope this finds you in the pink
and full of zest for the weeks ahead
of you. You've certainly organised things
very well at your end so all added up
prospects are pretty bright so all
power to you. Very pleased you have
felt up to visiting your friends as
time must hang heavy on your hands.
They certainly have been very decent to
us with so many choice gifts. Did
I tell you I had letters from Sheila
& Dorcas which were very nice to get,
the former sent some snaps of the
folks who all looked very hale and
hearty. I'll be looking forward
to receiving yours as you promised,
you both won't seem so far away then.
No parcels or papers have turned up
yet, it seems that deliveries of second
class mail will be few and far
between. Except for the local rag

2/
news of the outside world is very
meagre and a few periodicals and
papers will be very welcome not to
mention the precious parcel.
I'm still feeling pretty fit,
have shed a few pounds of course,
but the grub is quite substantial so
should maintain fair condition.
Have had a fair [poultice?] of rain so
there's plenty of mud about but that's
a thing you will soon get used to.
We improved our living quarters a
lot and feel a heap healthier and
cleaner as a consequence. This joint
is alive with every creature that
crawls and flies, some of them an
incredible size and most of them
pack a bite or a sting, harmless
I hope. The skeeters aren't so bad
which is a blessing. In the way
of entertainment there's very little
offering to a bloke so a chap will
get 'browned off' after a bit I
suppose. The work I'm on at
present is very interesting and new
so that will help while mastering
its intricacies. Well pet, that's all.
cheerio and all my love
Micky

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Australian
War Memorial 

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