Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 10 - Part 15 of 18

3/ 

was drawing near, lucky chap. Still 
after a year of puddling round the 
wettest hole on earth, and worse he 
surely has earned it. Do you remember 
the rather scared little boy who came to 
see us in Brisbane on his way to God 
knows what and away from home for 
the first time in his life? I have made 
it my business to keep in touch with 
him since he left and young Jock has 
increased in my estimation a lot for 
the way hes stuck it-out and beat the 
rotten hole. You know he could have got 
out of here soon after he got here and as 
was he was under age for tropical 
service. I remember getting after a letter 
shortly after he started salvaging up here 
telling me how on his first recovery trip 
they found rotten corpses under a pile of

4 

junk. Nice education for a kid of 18! 
It has been rather exciting for me to watch 
a boy grow into a man in the hardest 
school of all. Sorry to have launched 
out so much about my brother but he's 
to me like John was to you and if 
he had been done over, well now you 
know how I know how you have been 
feeling. Strange both of our kid brothers 
being named John, Seemingly a good 
stout name for good stout fellas. 
I hope and have a good chance of seeing 
him on his way through and will 
send a personal message. I bet he'll be 
thrilled by Richard. With him, his 
beloved Mum and the others, he'll 
have a good time anyhow after waiting 
so long. One of us is are is always coming 
or going but rarely does anyone catch

5 

the other on leave at the same time. 
Ou Poor Micky's getting sentimental in his 
dotage I fear. 
I daresay you will be changed 
when I get down, its hardly to be wondered 
at, but A more serene and mature person 
you look in your picture but believe me, you 
haven't changed for the worse. You're 
living a busy active life getting out of 
doors plenty and with an absorbing interest 
in life. I stoutly maintain you'll be 
something extra special to look forward 
to. . If not, why not. Keep smiling 
precious, its easier that way for you 
and others. 
By all means show mother 
my letters if you think they help. However 
you don't sound positive that they do 
or maybe I'm too persistent. Some days

6/ 

I can't express myself very well, too much 
desk work somedays I suppose. Got a 
Green Envelope in my case so soon 
you will receive the outpourings of a 
rather bewildered but ardent lover of 
yours. Sorry the photos don't meet with 
your approval, too bad after so much 
waiting. 
Very glad the subject thereof 
is behaving himself . and helping you 
along in the matter of sleep. At his 
tender age I love him a lot for being 
good to his mother. Of course he's a 
gentleman, how could the son of a 
toff like me be otherwise. I'm not 
complaining, sweet but how about telling 
me something about myself in one of 
your letters. Poor Micky (the lout) is 
lonely and wants Mummy to say

7/ 

nice things to him. am I troppo 
or am I? But you remember how I 
used to get the 'sillies'. I'd give a 
lot to pull faces and fool about over 
at Barkers Road punctually every Sunday 
now. Gee, how Red and Ada used to 
cackle at my nonsense while you, 
sourpuss, if I remember aright used 
to get snooty at some of more horrible [*chuckle*] 
effects. Next time you get in my hair, 
yes - I'll pull yours------ down and call 
you piddlekins. I trust thats not quite 
the kind of personality you speak of 
Master Richard possessing. 
After that excursion back to 
the piping times, tis meet and just 
that I take a snooze. For a day or two, 
precious, ta ta and at least I have the 
good sense to love you. Kiss the little chap 
from Dad 

tmHill

ACF YMCA AUSTRALIAN COMFORTS FUND 

9.10.43 
Air Mail 
AUSTRALIAN 
MILITARY FORCES 
PASSED CENSOR 
2543 

Mrs M Billings 
548 Barkers Road 
East Hawthorn 
Victoria

VX38483 Cpl. M. Billings 
District Accounts Office 
New Guinea, 11.10.43 

Darling Kay 
Yesterday and today were 
productive of three letters from you, No's 
5, 6 & 8, quite like old times and very 
gladly received particularly the news 
about Richard. I'm very pleased too 
that you are feeling more like your old 
self. In fact your news was much 
brighter taken all round for which I'm 
profoundly grateful. Sorry you have 
not fared so well with the mail of late. 
It seems to come in bursts and as I've 
penned quite a few letters you should 
crack it for two or three in one fell 
swoop. You have been having a busy 
time, I see dashing hither and thither 
on many errands of mercy. You have

2/ 

no idea how glad I was to learn that 
Mother's guts was reasserting itself and 
she was starting to soldier on once 
more. You cant smother character you 
know. Please forgive me but the 
mental picture of you and Mother 
sharing that little bed moved me to a 
very broad grin. I don't mean of course 
your remarks of your experiences during that 
night but it brought back memories 
of my last leave when the generous 
contours of your old man proved too 
much for the same bed to cope with. 
It's a good wheeze for her to return to the 
job as one broods too much in the long 
hours of idleness. No doubt of the wisdom 
of having a job of work when the grim 
things of life come. Strange thing, death means 
nothing to those fortunate enough to be 

3/ 

ready to face their maker but tho for those 
they leave the battle of life gets harder and 
one needs to muster all the resources to 
keep on top. Still if the scrappers go 
through what they do and as too often 
happens give their lives, we who are 
left can do no less than carry on in 
their traditions. 
Nice work banishing the 
cold so promptly and cleaning up the 
lad's bung eye. Its certainly hard to 
find fault with anything about the 
lad; sunny nature, physical robustness 
and lots of other virtues bear witness to 
your thorough and loving care. The 
other fours snaps duly arrived and 
the entire collection received many 
e examinations from the admiring 
pappy. One only I have given away

54/ 

that to my brother John who for 
reasons I told you about recently receives 
one of the precious pictures. The ones 
of him ten and twelve years weeks old were 
terrific. Isn't he the goods? They still 
declare he's like me here which increases 
my conceit a great deal. Although the 
hard grind of bearing him and caring 
for him in his early days escaped me 
I guess the agony of separation from 
you and him is a fair measure of 
recompense for missing out there. Anyhow 
youre doing a marvellous job with him 
and as he grows hardier and more 
amenable I hope the bitter fruits give 
you the go. by to enable you to 
resume your pursuit of a 100% physical 
and mental recovery that seems to be 
forever being retarded. You see I