Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 9 - Part 11 of 12

5 
quite impressed with the transfer. 
Not much news to report 
from here, the job goes pretty well and 
I reckon my move will pan out a 
sound wheeze ultimately. I feel very well 
too and eager to grasp any plums that 
come my way. Being such a husky chap 
I expect my talents will soon be urt 
utilised in a capacity in the field section 
of our show but not for a while though. 
The prospects in that line are better, I'm 
told and the glittering prizes are what 
I'm chasing from now. 
We now start the request 
programme but I feel a bit crooked on 
asking you for things. Around here we 
can wear shorts by day and the one 
and only pear pair I boast of have seen 
better days. However only long uns are 
on issue now so I'm cadging a pair from 
you when you hit the city lights again.

6/ 
Don't spend too much on them, choose for 
utility and durability rather than beauty. 
I believe that in some stores you can get them 
for fewer coupons if they are for service 
personnel, the store seeing to that by 
mailing them themselves. So that I'll get 
them, will you have the parcel registered 
likewise any others you may send in the 
future. I've been issued with a further 
25 coupons so let me know if you want me 
to send them to you. The other item 
is a colour patch; I'm entitled to wear the 
old blue and red triangle in miniature 
so will you see if you can purchase one at 
a fair, you may have to take. If they only 
have the full size patches perhaps you can 
amuse yourself by reducing them to 
miniature proportions and bring in along 
with the shorts. Poor Micky, he always 
wants something. You wanted 
particulars of my income annually to

7/ 
PR00610 
Australian 
War Memorial 
here it is from 1.7.42 to 30.6.43 as far 
as I can remember: 
Active pay: 
365 days @ 7/6 per day 
(includes allotment to wife) 136. 17. 6 
Deferred pay 
365 days @ 2/- per day. 36. 10. 
Subsistence 
not paid in cash 
365 days @ 3/- 54.15 
Total ₤ 228 . 2 .6 

A while back, when Richard drew 
nigh, I allotted another 2/- a day to 
myself at the bank in Melbourne as a 
sort of special reserve for emergencies. It 
hasn't had time to build up to anything 
big yet but if you want t a bit urgently 
just let me know and there you are. There's 
very little to spend money on hear so 
thought it would be better put aside

8/ 
and let it accumulate for the rainy day. 
Bit of a Scrooge I'm becoming, eh? 
I think that disposes of matters concerning 
filthy lucre for today and by the 
number I perceive at the top of this I 
had better desist too. Still its been swell 
to be able to sit down and dash 
of a page or two once more and I 
hope it reaches you with great celerity. 
Before I conclude, no parcels or papers 
yet to hand and I intend to enquire 
from the Bau PO about the parcels. 
Wish me luck! 
So ta-ta treasure, thanks 
again for the snaps. I'm entranced 
with our boy and humbly hope my 
verdict helps to make your struggle a 
worth while. 
Loving you both till it 
hurts, I have the honor to be your 
admiring old man Micky. 

tmHill

Per Air Mail 
Par Avion 
14.8.43 

Mrs. M. Billings 
548 Barkers Road 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria 

tmHill

PR00610 
Australian 
War Memorial

VX38485 Pte. M. Billings 
District Accounts Office 
New Guinea 
17.8.43 

Darling, 
Today has brought another letter 
from you, No23 to be precise, written 
amid the strain and stress of bringing 
up baby in the approved style. In 
spite of the lad's many demands, your 
letters retain their class so don't worry 
on that score. To know you are both 
in the pink is meat and drink to 
me and I think you're wonderful to 
write as often as you do. Richard is 
certainly a revelation reaching such a 
poundage so quickly, from the snaps 
and fond words. I can visualise him as 
a mighty sturdy customer, no wonder 
such a robust youth keeps you on your 
toes. You've certainly acquired the 
practised hand now, how silly your 
earlier fears of being incompetent.

2/ 
As you have always had the maternal 
instinct well developed, the alliance of that 
with your intelligence could hardly fail 
to produce good results, bless your heart. 
Strange how you found a cure for your 
chilblains after suffering so long, that 
is certainly one up for you. I'm 
positive that when that happy day comes 
around when we meet again, my son 
will exceed my expectations, thanks to 
your carefree up and enthusiastic 
efforts to make a fine citizen out of him. 
So you give him an eyeful of the the old 
man every day eh ? Good wheeze, it 
certainly would be a poor show if he 
disowned me but I'll be over him so 
much when I stroll in he'll probably 
get too much of the old man. You 
don't exaggerate when you call it a rotten 
shame for me to be away when he's 
so beguiling and cuddlesome but what

3/ 
can't be cured must be endured, I suppose. 
I'm quite used to the intervals in your 
letters now, Master Richard gives you little 
rest but its in a good cause although 
you find it hard to see it that way at 
2.a.m on a winters night, I bet. Its 
a pity he can't confine his laments to 
daylight hours, if the game was fair, you 
would have me helping you out a bit 
there. I'm glad you are doing a spot 
of entertaining to display the prowess of 
the young hopeful to admirers, must 
not let yourself be confined to the chores 
without a bit of compensating pleasure. 
So with those sage observations, let me 
finish by telling you that you're going 
great guns and my cup will be full 
when he allows you to get a full 
quota of sleep as it's not worth the 
candle for Dickybird to prosper at the 
expense of your health.

4/ 
In my last letter I asked you about 
getting me a pair of shorts but I may be 
able to get fixed up here so hold on 
for awhile until I see what can be done. 
No sign of parcels or papers yet. I'll 
have a go at the postal people about 
them. I forgot to tell you I've had 
letters from Arthur Newton and Jack 
Campbell conveying congratulations 
with sundry other items of news. Arthur 
is around Brisbane I believe but J. McA 
is up here in the same locality as 
John, I think. He went looking for 
you when he was down about a year 
ago but couldn't locate you in the 
short time at his disposal. Not much 
else in the news line, I fear. I'm O.K 
always ready for the next meal to tell 
you the truth. When I come home youll 
have your work cut out providing for 
two greedy hogs but you won't mind that

5 
I imagine. The grub here is quite good 
considering, fresh meat being supplied 
more often than formerly was the case 
and as we dub in 2/- a week for extra 
titbits, we fare pretty well. Still, there's 
no comparison between the individual 
home cuisine and army fare for mass 
consumption as you may well guess. 
You owe me a few feeds too, after my 
heroic deeds in the kitchen during my 
last leave, remember that time when 
I dished up the roast lamb, what a 
banquet. I hope my letters continue 
to thud into your letterbox frequently, 
I find, that now, I've a permanent 
address the mail is reaching me very 
quickly so that's fine. I sent you 
the particulars of my fat income last 
letter so that is now in order and you 
can put in your claim. Sorry you had 
to wait for the dope but the letter

6/ 
from you was one of those delayed. 
I remember you promising yourself a new 
outfit and am glad you have achieved 
that ambition; wish I could admire the 
effect. Thanks too for your statement of 
account re the birth of the heir, at about 
£100 a pop it will prevent any record 
figures being put up by us. I'm sure 
though it's a gilt-edged investment and 
you don't often get that for your outlay. One 
thing I recall a few letters back is your 
gift to Ada. Very pleased you did that 
as her help and counsel was were beyond price 
and a slight recognition of her value in 
the form of a gift is very appropriate. 
That brings this epistle 
to a close to ta-ta, my precious 
and may the best of everything be your 
portion. Love to Ada, Bill and Rea. 
To my own favorites, Ray and Richard 
I cant find adequate expression. Micky 

TMHill

The Salvation Army ACF Australian Comforts Fund YMCA 

Australian 
Military Force 
Passed by C 
2543 
tmHill 
Air Mail 17.8.43 

Mrs. M. Billings 
548 Barker's Road 
East Hawthorn 
Vict

WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF 
SAILORS & SOLDIERS' CHURCH OF ENGLAND HELP SOCIETY 
THE SAILORS and SOLDIERS' CHURCH 
OF ENGLAND HELP SOCIETY 
FOUNDED 1915 

VX38483 Pte. M. Billings 
District Accounts 194.. 
Office. New Guinea 
19.8.43. 

Darling Kay, 
Hey, no letters from you 
since I last wrote and that is a 
bad show. I am just enough not to 
blame you, my sweet one but the 
more letters I get from you the more 
I want. There is always tomorrow 
though and there's soon to be one 
from you to quiet my impatience. I 
hope you are getting your share 
from me as I've got back to 
regular gait again and every 
two days is the present routine, 
which providence merits your approval 
I hope. To get down to more 
solid fare, I trust the tiny one 
is improving shin in more ways 
than one. By that I mean, I 
hope he's mending his ways by 
slumbering the night through, too 

PLEASE USE OTHER SIDE