Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 9 - Part 5 of 12

THE SALVATION ARMY ACF AUSTRALIAN COMFORTS FUND YMCA 
  
From No VX38483 Name Gr M. Billings
Unit C. Section 2/5. Aust. Hy. A A. Battery
A. I. F.  Date 9. 7. 43

Darling Kay,
After having dispatched my letter to you  
yesterday, your letter of the 1st came along full of news  
of Richard and yourself. I did not expect any more  
mail from you for a day or two so it was a  
nice thrill to get later news of your wonderful progress,  
the tables have been turned with a vengeance. The  
boy must be a honey with all the mob so keen  
about him, what has he got that I haven't, eh?
So I guess you are feeling pretty happy what with  
his improved appearance and physique, your ability  
to personally cope with his appetite and the Docs  
satisfaction at the progress of mother and son.  
And rightly so.  As soon as you can get up, your pains  
and aches will fly away, lying in bed day in day out  
is not calculated to provide a clear head.  I shall be  
pleased to hear that you have arisen from your bed of  
pain as that will be a sure pointer that you are  
coming really good.  Still you need a good rest after that  
to restore your vitamins etc and when you go home,  
looking after his nibs will keep you from idleness.  
I'll bet you're anxious to get stuck into it.  I hope the  
little chap maintains his reputation as a non-howler  
as one of those grizzling nippers would be just too bad.   
I like to imagine him as one of those robust, gurgling  
imps that keep everyone interested in him. I'd love  
to tickle him and watch for those baby expressions  
of pleasure that are so captivating.  It is very exasperating  
to miss out on those happy times but there you are.   
Any how, the time to enjoy my first family days will no  
doubt hasten along so I shall leave it at that.

IN YOUR LETTER DO NOT REFER TO
The name of your transport, of other transports in your convoy... dates of sailing... ports of call....destination. 
descriptions of troops, or other information which, if intercepted, will be of value to the enemy.

2/
It's been a lousy day here today, torrential rain and the
whole place is a quagmire and what mud, clings like
glue. I was leaving here tomorrow but the road will
be in a hell of a mess and we may get held up.
Being up in the hills, the road is not to hot in
parts and heavy rain makes the going a bit tough.
Another day or two won't make much difference.
Pleased to report myself hale and hearty if a bit
damp, in fact, this new spot had been instrumental 
in putting quite a few pounds on the old body. I've
been kept pretty busy and the occasional sunshine,
ample exercise and regular rest and grub have been
very beneficial. There aren't to many places on the  
island where things are to pleasant, particularly the
cool nights. Wish I had my camera with me as there
are many good subjects I would like to send you, but I
left it for safe keeping with Mrs Rowling. I'm sorry after
getting together a fair collection from the M.E. not to have a
pictorial record of my sojourn up here.
No parcels or papers have been sighted 
yet but they are filtering f through slowly and yours 
will turn up soon no doubt. I'm not writing too well 
tonight, the gloomy weather is affecting the flow of 
thought. So I shan't write at such length as usual. 
Flash! Tom Harris now a WO1 called in to see me
yesterday and we had a good yarn. He sent you his
congratulations and very decently provided me with 3
new pairs of socks. Tell you more later,
precious as its time to pop off now. Good 
night, darling and lots of love from Dad.
Micky
  
[[?E]] Blackshaw 

YMCA 
AIR Mail         9.7.43 
  
Mrs. M. Billings, 
548 Barkers Road 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria 
  
AUSTRALIAN  
IMPERIAL FORCES 
PASSED BY CENSOR 
870 
[[?E]] Blackshaw

THE SALVATION ARMY ACF AUSTRALIAN COMFORTS FUND YMCA 
  
From No VX38483 Name Gr M. Billings
Unit C. Section 2/5. Aust. Hy. A A. Battery
A. I. F.  Date 14. 7. 43 

My Darling,
I'm very glad my fears that I would
not be able to write frequently until I completed
my journey have been fruitless as yet because I'm
still at the spot where I wrote you a few days ago
and my departure thence is indefinite. So we go. I'm
feeling pretty good and my first thought is to hope
that you and Richard are both topnotch.
unfortunately this dodging about mucks up the mail
and I haven't heard from you since your letter of 1st
July. Still I daresay a swag of letters will catch up in
a day or two and will I be glad to get them? Your
news in that letter was jolly good but as you were
still in hospital, I'm itching for later tidings.
Your last few letters brought me back to a more
rational frame of mind and after weighing up the
pros and cons, I concluded things for you both
would now proceed according to plan, but I'd
far rather you told me than I told you. So mail,
please do the right thing for dis chile. This
absence of letters leaves a chap little to write
about as my last few have been full of hopes
and conjectures and what I want to talk to you
about is are facts concerning you both.
Now its a couple of weeks since
your last letter was written I suppose you have been
home a few days and the thought of you up and
about again is very warming. I do hope you
have fully recovered as after that tough spin, you
have at least deserved that and I hope still more
than the lad has come any good and you 

IN YOUR LETTER DO NOT REFER TO
The name of your transport, of other transports in your convoy... dates of sailing... ports of call....destination. 
descriptions of troops, or other information which, if intercepted, will be of value to the enemy.
 

2/
are getting the thrill from him you expected. So
after your milk orgy they've put you on the water
wagon. Perhaps your next beverage will be a few
pints of beer daily so keep hoping. Water although
very good for you has its drawbacks when taken
in large doses as you probably have discovered but
Doc. knows best. So be a good girl and take your
medicine as I'll be along your way one of these
days and I expect big things of Richard and
Mummy. Every time I think of that day, I feel
excited as won't we have a swell time? And
the time is of passing pretty quickly.
No sign of the parcels yet
but I hope they don't come until I get back as one
has to be well pretty light. Still they will turn up
O.K. One thing I'm sorry for is that some of the
items I asked for are now available here and one
thing in particular will be one of Richards standbys
for some time. So don't send any more parcels.
unless I ask you for certain things and I must see how
you first cake stands up to the travel before I
shall comment about further supplies. But don't confuse
letters with parcels, I can't get too many of them. One
thing I would like in a bit of a hurry is a hat puggaree.
I lost mine yesterday and a fellow looks corny without one.
I think you can buy them for 3/. approx at places like Ford
Hesse, Bucks etc so if you can get someone to get it and
airmail it to me, I'll be very happy. Theyre very light so
it shouldn't cost much for postage. Well that's all for
today, sweetheart so off to grub now and I leave you
loving you and Sonny boy so much. Micky 

ACF. 
In conjunction with 
YMCA 
Air Mail 14. 7. 43 
  
Mrs. M. Billings 
548 Barkers Road 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria
  
AUSTRALIAN 
MILITARY FORCES 
PASSED BY CENSOR 
136 
R E Ward

THE SALVATION ARMY  ACF AUSTRALIAN COMFORTS FUND YMCA 
  
From No VX38483 Name Gr. M. Billings 
Unit C. Section 2/5 Aus. Hy. A. A. Battery 
A.I.F Date 11. 7. 43

Darling Kay,
I feel a bit like Gen. McArthur as I am
writing this from my new headquarters which I came
to yesterday. All going well, I should only be here
a day or two, then back to my own outfit. Am
quite keen to get back as its 6 weeks since I left and
am a bit tired of scooting about the country side.
Still the travels were instrumental in my seeing a
goodly side slice of the country side, most of which
was scenically beautiful and the climate cooler 
and drier than my permanent abode. As news from
here has been pretty meagre, you will be interested
to hear some of my experiences particularly as our
recent letters have been composed of vital personal
matters and maybe it will reassure you that the
tension on the old man has eased and he is once
more capable of noticing the things going on around
him. First however, I'm not completely free of worry
about Richard & Mummy but your last letters freed
me of the acute part and I do hope both of you
have forged ahead at an even faster gait than you
spoke of in that letter. I had hoped to get another
letter later than that of the 1st before I departed but
no luck and it may be days before it overtakes me
again. It was great however to know before I went
that all seemed set for a speedy return to normal
Still I think I could have postponed my departure
had the issue still been in the balance as time
is no object in the army for insignificant mortals
like me. Now it appears that things are going our 
way for a change I'm pleased to have got away
  
IN YOUR LETTER DO NOT REFER TO
The name of your transport, of other transports in your convoy... dates of sailing... ports of call....destination. 
descriptions of troops, or other information which, if intercepted, will be of value to the enemy.

2/
en route to a spot where your letters will come along
regularly and frequently. I did appreciate getting your
letters when the writing of them must been pretty
painful - stout fellal! And I do get a thrill just
now when I think you are up and about, probably, if
I know you, anxious to be home with your tiny charge
ready to start him on the road to being a fine sturdy
chap as I know you'll make him. It's fine being
able to nourish him yourself and now you've made a
start and made it O.K. I know what an extra
kick you will get out of that as I it does really make
the child such a part of you. Rather remarkable
week, first with Richard frightening the life out of
his doting parents and your disappointment at being
deprived of the joy and satisfaction of seeing him and 
feeding him to a complete reversal under his miraculous
recovery and then your unexpected success in the
catering department. Even though the early part
was very tough, at least the later part went our
way, and I suppose that's the main thing. So
more power to ye, [[a?a?la]] acushla and I shall
now wait for bigger and brighter letters to cherish
and keep the flame of my love for you burning
brighter than ever. You'll probably sizzle when I come
home, whoopee. Before I change the subject,
will you tender to Doctor McKay my heartfelt
thanks for bringing you through safely and for
his success in preserving that life that is so precious
to us. It may sound a bit odd in civilian parlance
but I feel Doc and I are quits because after all while
he fought for my kid, we chaps up here are doing the  

3/
same for his and quite apart from the scrapping, you
and I can bear witness to the joy of being able to live
with your family and the agony of separation.
I'm feeling as good as gold and for
a change look forward to a spot of work My bottom is
very sore due to an excess of riding on truck floors.
And strangely I'm more inclined to stand up than sit.
The trip down here was a thirty mile descending from
the mountains to about sea level and boy, what a
trip. How like a ride on the Big Dipper, you come
around a ledge just wide enough for a truck and
take a peek over the side and when you can't see
the bottom, you feel all a-twitter at the half way
mark, I needed the coffee the Salvation Army turned
on. We had am Army cut lunch as solid
refreshment, big vast sandwiches that we all love
when lo and behold a party of Yanks called us
over to join them in Turkey and Ham sandwiches
and fresh cooked eggs. I could hardly believe my eyes
when a big heap were shoved in front of me, I'd
forgotten what such things looked like. To get on,
the road, the scenery far surpass any thing I've
ever seen in Aussie, the star turn being a
waterfall 400 feet high in a rugged gorge about 10
miles long. At last Ive got to flat ground and
bowled in here filthy dirty and the place has a
fresh water supply, the juice being turned off
all day. One thing about my own camp is a
gurgling creek about 10 yards from the tent. Ford
Chapman from our show who came with me and I
took a look at the local town in the afternoon 

4/
and scared up a three course meal at the Canteens 
Hostel, served on china plates by the Fuzzies and 
then rode with about a hundred others to a drome  
where the pictures were showing. We saw the 
Battle for Egypt which was great but the main 
feature was a damn Western. Very annoying after 
being jammed in a truck which lost its way 4 times 
and shook us apart. No wonder my tail is sore. 
We eventually found our way back to camp and 
so to bed but unfortunately bed is a very hard floor. 
Was awakened in the wee sma' hours by a hell  
of a bang and a horrific flash of light. I thought 
the goonies had sneaked in and dropped one but 
I was told this morning a big fellow had sold out 
taking off and my supposed nightmare was it 
going up. Was watching one this morning when 
a couple of jokers baled out all of a sudden so he  
must have been in strife. Thank God I'm in the 
Army, that flying stunt in war conditions is right 
on the nose although for going from place  
to place, air transport has trains and ships 
were stoushed, too damn slow. I hope we go  
back by air, its like a tain ride compared to a  
tram. 
If I'm about here, I'll drop you 
a note tomorrow but if theres a gap of a few  
days you'll know the reason. So cheerio for yet 
another day, precious and all my love  
to you and R.B and all  fair weather 
Yours always, 
Micky