Michael Billings Collection - Wallet 11 - Part 1 of 24

VX 38483. Cpl. M. Billings
District Accounts Office
New Guinea 26.10.43

Darling Kay
Gratefully I acknowledge
two more of your classics. those dated
18th & 20th. Oct and first must deplore
the sad state of affairs you report in
that my touchingly simple missives
have not been reaching you. Bad show
and I hope that long before this reaches
you, ample reparation has been made.
I suppose you are as hungry for it
as I am and when our postal orderly
shakes his head at me, fearful are
the maledictions heaped upon his
head. At any rate, Sweetheart mio, your
anxieties about me are quite unfounded
for I am perfectly well and fit

2/

Have been doing a fair spot of swimming
and although the briny is too warm
the exercise is very beneficial. I will
get out of here one of these days and
will do my utmost to come back to
your embraces as well and husky as
possible. The rash I spoke of is
still much in evidence and I fear will
cling to me like an ardent lover. As you
know I sweat profusely and the rough
shirt rubbing on the oily skin sets up
irritation. I can see little prospect
of the sweating ceasing so its just too
bad. Your parcels with the talcum
were a godsend as that keeps the itch
under control. Troubles never come
singly for my teeth have been
misbehaving too. The plate has
ulcerated my mouth and goes into
 

3/

dry dock tomorrow and to cap it,
I lost two fillings so a couple of visits
to the dentist is are indicated. Otherwise
things are alright with the old man.
This is a great spot for shortages
Something is always unprocurable. Apart
from powder, toilet soap is right
off now but by the black market I've
managed to keep one piece in stock.
I've never had much time for the canteens
mob, still less have I now. They seem
to concentrate on having big stocks of
tinned food, you can always get
tinned meat as though we didnt get
enough of that. This always seems to
me as a tacit admission that the troops
don't get enough to eat from their
messes. Any how, Sweet, it may be a
guide for you when you are sending

4/

parcels that powder and toilet soap
are always acceptable. Don't worry about
tinned fruit as that's available pretty
often.
Did you receive  Micky's
birthday wire in time? Hope so even
though wartime puts a damper on
the customary celebration but [[?]] it
was a day when my thoughts turned
in your direction frequently and now
let me add a few words to that terse
message. It's sure sorrowful to me
that I'm away from you once more
on your birthday and pray that
the next will see me in a place where
I can personally felicitate you.  At
least you have this year a possession
that has brought untold joy to you

5/

Had a letter from one of the boys of the
old brigade the other days and they
had a lively time one day. Made me
sigh a bit for the old days, would
have been satisfying to punch up a
cylinder of hate with the compliments
of the Clarke family. As far as I can
make out nobody got hurt so that was
alright. I must have some red blood
still in my hardening arteries, thought
heat and mosquitoes had drained it
all away. By George, its stinkin'  hot
tonight, the juice is pouring out of me
and the mossies are in force. She
sure is a hell of a town. Went to
the pictures last night at the Yank
camp, not bad either were Eleanor
Powell and Red Skelton in 'Who
Done it'.  Silly name but parts of it

6/

were uproarously funny which is a
good thing for us jaded codgers.
Sorry to hear the little
chaps teething troubles are upsetting
him. I see you had taken him to
the Doc for his operation, the poor
little chap. It's tough on such a beaut
wee boy but at least its best in the
long run. I do hope he's back to
his top and it will be a relief for
him when the ivory castles make their
appearance. Too bad the photos
were a flop, you certainly don't sound
enamored of the artist's creation.
The bill from the doctor was quite
a fair crack of the whip and our
debut into the ranks of the parents
seems to have been accomplished without
the filing of the schedule.

7/

I had a letter from Tom
yesterday written from NSW and
he doesn't know what his movements
are likely to be. Still if I were
there I wouldn't worry too much.
Well old bean, I just
can't think of another word to
write;  the conditions militate
against clear thought believe you
me. So for a little while, cheerio
precious, let not my poor writings
be any criterion of the love I feel
for you. Deliver a big kiss to
the little sufferer from his very.
sympathetic and loving Paw.
I go now sending this as a
message that your dear face is
forever before me and how I love you
Micky (The poor one)
[[tMHill]]

SAILORS & SOLDIERS CHURCH OF ENGLAND HELP SOCIETY

26.10.43

Field Post Office

Air Mail
Mrs. M. Billings
548 Barker's Road
East Hawthorn
Victoria

AUSTRALIAN 
MILITARY FORCES
PASSED BY CENSOR
2543
MHill

PR00610
Australian
War Memorial

VX38483 Cpl. M. Billings
District Accounts Office
New Guinea.
28. 10. 43.

Darling Kay.
Here's tit for tat for
yours of the 22nd blew in today
and very nice too. Very pleased my
G.E. letter enlivened your day and
allayed your fears. Oh. I'm alright
feel pretty good tonight mainly because
its fairly cool after a storm. Went
for a dip before tea and swam about
solidly for a quarter of an hour. I
find a spot of exercise removes the
cobwebs, for a while any how. Had an
inoculation this arvo but barring a
stiff arm, feel no ill effects. My.
leathery hide has become inured to
needles, that makes thirteen since I