Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
 

It's like a 'Whodunit' isn't it kriszick? If you can add anything, please do.

jjarmstrong47 might rue the day he adopted the Watt family

Yes the father died 8th June 1944. Age 84.
I was reading his will, or the announcement, in a newspaper article.(..can't find it now)
where he left the running of the company to the son James - (but in the hands of the directors till James was able to resume management)

Then James dies only 3 months later

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Stop trying to make me snivel

Now Skip....how are you getting on with the second company?

oh I'm not interested in the furniture company, confectionery was way more interesting.

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

I used his service number and I mam sure it is the same guy. All records are now accessible online, as images by clicking on teh link. I just downloaded my Grandfathers records. He was in New Guinea at the same time but was a member of the 2/3 battalion, one of those originally sent. He was fighting on the Kokoda Track at the time of these letters.

_________________
Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Peter the below is all I get and there is no digitised item. Do you see digitised items?

Select Series no. Control symbol Item title Date range Digitised item Item barcode
B883 NX124488 WATT JOHN BRIAN LERPINIERE : Service Number - NX124488 : Date of birth - 17 Nov 1921 : Place of birth - SYDNEY NSW : Place of enlistment - ANAMBAH NSW : Next of Kin - WATT JOHN
Access status: Open
Location: Canberra
1939 - 1948 5648568

I think I can see what has happened
was Peter searching the first service number ? N218116




the number changed to the NX prefix after he was transfered ; NX124488.




Peter my grandfather was also in New Guinea, I thought it may have been the same battalion, as yours sounded familiar. But mine was in the 2/4 .

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Skippy, there were only 3 battalions sent originally. They were all Territorials (Reservists) and the Government had to change the rules to allow them to be sent to New Guinea (were only supposed to serve in Australia), However, those 3 battalions were the only troops available and fought the fighting retreat across the Kokoda Track all the way to the hills outside Port Moresby. The regular divisions were either still in the Middle East, heading back or had been diverted to Malaya/Singapore (and lost there).

It was a very critical time, the US was still building up and there were no spare troops anywhere. Brian Watt was one of those that were called up and trained in a hurry! It was a couple of years before the Government would allow the veteran divisions returning from the Middle East to be deployed outside Australia, they were kept here to deal with any invasion.

_________________
Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Thanks for that info Peter. I'm getting my terms confused .
My grandfather was in the 2/4th Arm Regiment, not Battalion.
A quick look at the service records and I see he wasn't in NewGuinea during the time Brian is writing these letters. He arrived Bougainville in 1944.

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Skippy, you would read that as 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment. It was a unit of the 16th Brigade of the 6th Infantry Division. That was the
Australian division sent to Greece in April 1941 as part of the British effort to thwart the German invasion. After being evacuated from Greece and then Crete, the division was part ofg the garrison of Syria before returning to Australia.

You are quite right about when they landed in New Guinea. They had an eventful war!

_________________
Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Wikipedia has a good summary of the 6th Division movements here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_6th_Division

One of my indulgencies at Uni was to study Egyptology. The old pharaohs believed that if people spoke your name you remained immortal. That's why they had their names plastered all over their tombs and monuments and is also why when there was a political change and a previous pharaoh like Akenaten (father of Tutankhamen) becamed reviled, the new order chiselled their names off of all the records they could find. This meant that you were not only dead, your immortality was terminated.

Brian died a few years ago yet reading his letters I am amazed at how a young vibrant man jumps out of the pages. Maybe the ancients were onto something.

Anyway...

Letter numbered 18
Dated 6 December 1942 (Morning)

Dear Gordon,
Well I am all packed up and waiting to move to the first camp we went to on the island. Have no idea how long I shall remain there but hope it is not long.
Had a letter from John Brown yesterday dated 7 Nov, it had been to several units before finding me. Hope no more of my mail has had the same fate.
Opened the cake yesterday and found it in very good condition despite the fact that the tin had been knocked about a little and was not air tight.
No letters have arrived from you for about five days now but some mail may be waiting for me when I get back, I believe the Christmas rush has started and that may have delayed things.
(Afternoon)
Arrived back in time for lunch and went on shift immediately afterwards. Parcel No 7 was waiting for me when I arrived back together with 2 bundles of papers dated about 16 Nov. I notice that the parcel was dated 25.11.42 so it did not take long.
Please send up some more Sal Vital and a soap holder in the next parcel. There is no need to send any more tomato or Marmite up but the coffee and milk and fruit and cream is always welcome. Still have the old water shortage trouble here and it is hard to keep clean after the other camp.
I believe that there is a new book of D.L Murray's just out called "The Three Witches", would you please get a copy for Em as a Christmas present from me.
Associated News have reduced their dividend to 3% but their shares are still around 10/3. I'm afraid I am not interested in them at that figure though they should make a fair recovery after the war. Pleased to see McNivens at 19/- no sellers, it is an improvement on two months ago.
Have they lifted the brown-out yet, we can have as much light as we like here though of course there is a blackout when a red warning is on. Have they had you out of bed for any more "yellows" lately?
7.12.42
No mail arrived today so I cannot comment on your activity. I expect several letters will arrive together, they usually do.
Best wishes
Brian


Letter Numbered 19
8 Dec 1942

Dear Em,
We received another comforts fund issue today, consisting of cigarettes, tobacco, shaving soap, washing soap and tooth paste which wasn't too bad. I also believe that our Christmas parcels from the comforts fund have arrived so we won't starve on the 25th.
The writing materials arrived OK as did everything else in No 7 parcel. Will you please send some pencils up also some APC powders and a bottle of casc.
Thanks very much for the Penguins, I shall be able to settle down to some reading. I have only read one book since leaving home.
Went for a swim in the sea last evening after tea. It is the only good thing about this place. Fond it much easier to swim in after the fresh water.
All the sweets have arrived in good order and I have been enjoying them the last few days. Came off shift at 8AM and go on again at 6 tonight so the day is my own (I hope).
I mentioned in Gordon's letter yesterday that I had only just received a letter from John Brown dated 7 Nov. As I have not received any letters since then I am wondering whether any more of my mail has had a similar experience.
Please excuse the writing but the pad is on my knee and the pen very dry. Things are improving, we actually had an orange for lunch today, the first fresh fruit for about 6 weeks.
Well there is nothing more to tell at present so cheerio and,
All the best
Brian.

(No envelope)

Letter numbered 25
Dated 15.12.42

Dear Em,
Here I am again, you must be getting tired of reading my writing. Anyway I think it is better to write frequently instead of waiting until I can write half a dozen or so pages.
I wrote to Gordon yesterday in reply to his letter of the 6th. Your letters of the 7th and 9th also arrived yesterday and I was glad to receive them. Don't be surprised if you don't hear from me for a while, you know how things are.
It is a pity Peter was not a little better on his birthday. I wrote to him several days ago so he should have it by now.
Glad to hear that the garden is proving so profitable, with things so expensive it is well worth while, I only wonder how you find time to look after it these days.
I note your remarks re censors, yes, I think several people will be sorry when the war is over.
I had not heard anything about the fishing, was it in or outside the fence?
The food has been a little better lately and as I still have several tins left over from my parcels things are not too bad.
I have started "Pinkney's Garden" and so far it is very good. It helps fill in the time between duty and washing and believe me there is plenty of both.
Received a letter from Big Kath today wishing us all the best for the 17 ult. (?) Ted is at Mt Brecken now, he has started his training earlier than he expected. Bruce Spencer is back at Bradfield, he also has finished with his guard and is now on the real thing. I believe that Neville Levien went to Somers.
No more parcels have come to hand, I have received 3,4,5 and 7. Well I have no more news at present, shall answer Kath's letter in a few days.
Best wishes
Brian

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

Thanks again Peter.



I think I'd rather be sitting in a Matilda Tank than fighting on the Kokoda track as your GFather was.
I've only just now been reading about Slater's Knoll. I had no idea until today that he was there. Although I did know he drove tanks, My GFather never told any war stories, or elaborated further.

brave boys one and all !

Looking forward to reading about what Brain Watt is up to next. Must be time for another letter soon
Edit: great ! A new installment was posted while I was typing.thankyou

The other day I came across the NewGuinea carrier pigeon service run by the signal corps up there and wonder if Brian was involved with that.

I found this document very interesting , if anyone has time to read, I recommend.
https://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/dic ... 5_15_4.pdf

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Some of the things Brian mentions (for our foreign members )

Salvital makes a great tasting, thirst quenching, saline drink - its effervescent light lemon taste will refresh and delight.

The analgesic Bex Powders, pink Vincent's Powders or, generically, 'APC powders' are Australian cultural icons, prominent among this country's repertoire of self-prescribed over-the-counter medications popular in the mid-20th century

Penguin is a chocolate bar

Bottle of casc. could be a bottle of cascade beer?

Off to read Skippys link

17 ult. - stands for 17th ultimo, where ultimo means "month past, or last month"
It's a very old way of saying it !
some examples of it's use in the early 1800's....
* On Tuesday, the 15th ultimo, Fifteen Labouring Men fled from the Agricultural Settlement at Castle Hill, after having committed many acts of violence and atrocity. They at first ...

* On the 16th ultimo (the day following the Insurgency at Castle-Hill) as several constables were loading and preparing their muskets to go in quest of the delinquents, one of the pieces accidentally went off, and shot a labouring man...
more here -> http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/resul ... by=dateAsc

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

I think in this case Penguin is the book publisher, as he mentions he receives some books to read ?

Thanks for the others, I didn't know what APC was and I though Salvital was a soap or something

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

I wonder if he is talking about a shark inside the shark fence, maybe Rose Bay baths or somwhere ? There were also Shark proof fences on the beaches like Freshwater and Coogee


The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Saturday 12 December 1942, page 8

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Thanks Skippy I didn't connect the reading with the Penguin, my tummy took over and not my brain

I read your link and am overwhelmed with what was involved. To think how many lives those pigeons would have saved...nobody thinks about them do they.

jjarmstrong47 thanks for sharing these letters with us, it's amazing looking into the life of this soldier and thank goodness he was a prolific writer

Good thinking Skippy, I couldn't work that out...inside or outside the fence as in garden fence didn't sound right for fishing.

McNivens will be McNivens Ice Cream, I was wracking my brain to try and remember what they were, how could I forget Unilever buys McNivens Ice Cream in 1959.

With regards to the fence it is also possible it relates to the fact that the Sydney beaches were made off limits (I think they might even have been mined in certain cases). Barbed wire was put into place, all part of defence against an unlikely Japanese invasion! I seem to remember reading that many people ignored the off limits and went fishing etc anyway. That might be why his question is rather cryptic.

_________________
Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

The West Australian , Friday 28 November 1941, page 11

Gee, I think I'm gona get me some of that !

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

I didn't want to say what it helped you do Skippy, but yes it is a mild purgative

Peter I'd never heard that they barbed wired the beaches and below is a good link re this:-

http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/underattack/comenace.html

PS:The comment about the 17th was his 21st birthday.

how times have changed



The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 27 January 1941, page 5

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

I think it might be a Bottle of Cascara ? or extract of cascara, seems to be another type of laxative.
He mentions having no fresh fruit in 3 weeks

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

I also thought he meant cascara. Beer was pretty restricted according to his previous letters.
I wondered whether the "fence" was referring to the steel net that was put across the harbour to keep out submarines. As I remember a Japanese midget sub was caught in the net and put on display but I don't remember when that was.
I had heard about people fishing (for fish) past the wire. It was pretty stupid as beyond the barbed wire the beaches were mined.
Sal Vital was Australian. In England it was Andrews' Liver Salts and I'm sure the Americans had something similar.

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

What amazes me is how Brian keeps up a stream of letters to his mother as if he is away on a picnic or camp. October saw the vicious fighting along the Kokoda Trail. The battles for Gona and Buna are pretty much concurrent with his letters at the moment and they were savage battles. He would have known some of the soldiers involved. He still manages to send reassuring messages home.
As a signalman, he probably knew a lot more of what was going on than most people as he would have been passing messages along the different chains. It is no wonder he is grateful to be a "base wallah".
The stats at the time were 4.8 men killed or injured by disease for every one killed or injured in the fighting.

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

My Grandfather, even when he was terminally ill with cancer, used to rail against the 'conscies', the conscientious objectors. He used to say that he and his mates (he was a lieutenant commanding a platoon and lost quite a few of his men during the initial withdrawal and then the subsequent advance over the Track) were fighting and dying up in the mountains whilst these guys "had it easy down in Moresby". My Grandmother used to chide him and remind him he would be seeing some of those 'conscies' soon. "No I won't!" he used to say, "I'm not going wherever they bloody well are!"

He ended the war as a Captain and, eventually, used to lead the ANZAC Day march in Sydney every year till he was unable to attend. The conscientious objectors he railed against so much used to work on the wharves at Port Moresby, which were bombed pretty much on a daily basis for months.

_________________
Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

The attack was in May and June 1942 .....

After the recovery of the two midget submarines a composite was constructed using the bow section of one and the stern of the other. It was decided to use this composite midget submarine to raise money for the Royal Australian Navy Relief Fund and the King George Fund for Merchant Sailors. The composite submarine was first put on display at Bennelong Point, now the site of the Sydney Opera House, and people paid a small fee to see it. It was then transported by truck on a 4000-kilometre journey through south-eastern Australia raising further funds. Eleven months after the submarine raid, the composite submarine was installed at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.


http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/underatt ... rbour.html

Our family has a story that one torpedo (or parts of it) landed in our great aunts garden !.
One day I must find out what her address was , and see if this family myth can be busted or not

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

The bodies recovered from the Japanese midget submarines in Sydney Harbour were all cremated and given full military honours. The Naval Commander of Sydney received some criticism for that but he explained that he hoped to improve conditions of Australian POWs by his actions. He also considered the submariners to be brave men. The remains were returned to Japan through a neutral country.

_________________
Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

That makes the submarine story too early for this reference so fishing past the wire seems likely.


My reference says that there were hardened battle troops back in Australia but the decision to send three lightly trained militia troops to New Guinea (and then to Kokoda) was to keep the best trained troops on the mainland to thwart any invasion. The decision is still debated by those who disagree with the wisdom.
The militia soldiers were called "chokkos" by the AIF boys which was short for "chocolate soldiers" meaning they were soft. They went on to prove their worth in battle on the track and that nickname didn't last too long.

My mother was a Methodist preacher when I was young and I remember her telling me about a minister in the Church who was a conscientious objector in England. We had many arguments about it as then, I was about 13, I could understand how he could believe the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" took precedence over national issues. My mother could not see that. My father was fighting in Germany and she worked in a munitions facory for the war effort. Fifty years on, I still don't know who was right. Maybe they both were. In the end we all have to live with our own conscience. The minister went to jail and was beaten regularly by other prisoners, the workers on the wharves at Port Moresby and those who chose to be stretcher bearers etc. all took a hard road. Their position also took courage. It is understandable that those who fought on the track should feel bitter against them but not necessarily justified. Time to move on...

Letter Numbered 29
20 December 1942

Dear Em,
Only five days to Christmas and I doubt that you will receive this before then.
Went to the pictures the other night and saw Charles Boyer in When Tomorrow Comes, the acting was good but the plot was other than. The rest of the program was only fair.
There was a piece about Vic Mankey in yesterday's "Guinea Gold", I shall try to send you the cutting.
No mail or parcels arrived yesterday and the last letters I received were Nos 22 and 23.
The mosquitos have been very bad all yesterday and this morning, I suppose it is due to the rain of a few days ago.
Managed to get some biscuits yesterday, the first for some time. Have had no trouble in obtaining soap, boot polish etc. but cigarettes have been unobtainable for some time.
I gather from your last letters that Alan has not moved yet. Does he expect to do so in the near future? He must be sick of the present camp by now.
I wrote to Gordon on the 18th enclosing a copy of the "Guinea Gold" that he was asking for.
Have you paid anything to my bank account since my allotment came through? If so please let me know the balance in the Martin Place and Barrack St A/cs also the amount on hand.
Glad to hear that the weather is warmer down there now and I hope that Summer has arrived at last.
I am enclosing two 4d stamps which were on a book you sent me. They have not been post marked so perhaps you can use them again. Remember Austerity.
I managed to get a copy of "Guinea Gold" with the bit about Vic Mankey in it. It is under the Tasmanian Notes so I conclude it is taken from a Tasmanian paper.
No more news at present so I will close.
All the best
Brian

Vic Mankey must have been a family friend. I haven't seen the name in the family files.
The article reads:
"Mr Victor Tobias Mankey, for the past six months manager of the Hobart branch of the Commonwealth Bank, died in Melbourne recently.
During his term in Hobart Mr. Mankey worked unsparingly in war work. He was a member of the military service committee of the Y.M.C.A. and the R.A.A.F. Entertainment Committee, and was a supporter of the work of the Church Hut at Hobart. He was also a member of the camouflage netting group."

Brian included the entire Guinea Gold in this letter so hopefully it will be readable at this level. The one he sent to Gordon has not survived.








You can zoom in on these pages by holding the control key and pressing the plus key to zoom. Press the minus key to zoom out. If your mouse has a wheel control key and turn the wheel will do it.

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

Here is a link to VT Mankey's Obituary, from the Tas Mercury 2dn Dec 1942
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

to save the article, click the jpg button on the right, above the text. New window opens of just the article on it's own. Right click save.

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

GUINEA GOLD
The Services' New Guinea and New Britain newspaper, "Guinea Gold," ceased publication on Sun- day, June 30.
Despite bombings, breakdowns, and
blackouts "Guinea Gold" appeared every day for 1,320 days, a record for an Australian Services' paper. The last issue was printed in Rabaul.
The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 6 July 1946 p 4

GUINEA GOLD CEASES PUBLICATION
Guinea Gold, last of the Army daily newspapers, has ceased publication after 13,019 issues.
Established November 19, 1942, in Port Moresby, Guinea Gold never failed to appear seven days a week, and had a peak circulation of 64,000 copies: It moved from Moresby to Dobadura, Lae, and finally to Rabaul. Its memory will live on.
The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1956) Tuesday 2 July 1946 p 3

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Source:
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/argus/gid/slv ... 1/an014583
Shows Australians, Americans and Papuans reading the newspaper Guinea Gold on the street; Guinea Gold office
(the old government printing office) in Port Moresby 1945

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Great stuff here.

_________________
Don't pull my perfs, I may become unhinged.
http://brcStamps.com

source:
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/argus/gid/slv ... 1/an014585
Guinea Gold office (the old government printing office) in Port Moresby - staff claim no two lines of the building are parallel;

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

source:
http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/argus/gid/slv ... 1/an014586
Bennie Resino of Vabukori Village pouring metal pigs for linotype machine at plant of Guinea Gold.

many more photos here -> http://trove.nla.gov.au/picture/result? ... uinea+gold

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Great read, fascinating history, marvelous photos and great scans. This will make a marvelous display.
Grant

Letter numbered 32
Dated 24th December 1942

Dear Em,
Your letters Nos 26 and 28 of the 15 and 17 arrived this morning. No 27 which I suppose is from Gordon is not yet to hand. Yesterday in addition to receiving parcel No 9 and the watch, 6 bundles of papers also arrived and as we received our Comforts Fund parcels today, you can see that it is not such a bad Xmas after all.
Yes, I remember the eagle I had last year. So Joan is going to write, that will be nice. I wonder whether her Wednesday night visits are for instruction.
Thanks for securing the December "Wild Cat", are you going to get it by the year. If so take it out of the cash in hand.
As I said before, the watch came as a complete surprise because it arrived before the letter.
Hope you get your new glasses shortly so that you will be able to read The Three Watches. Has that copy of "Soldiering On" arrived yet?
Glad you are continuing to receive my letters regularly and hope that yours keep on arriving in good time. I must congratulate you on your selection of books you have sent me. I have finished "The Cherry Tree" and have now started on "The Rising Tide".
I will write to Ted in time for his birthday. Have you heard any more from Adelaide recently? So you have met Mr D. I must write to Bill again in a day or so. I shall also write to Peter seeing he was glad to get my last letter. Sorry that he is so thin.
Thanks for collecting that money and paying it in. Your suggestion re the dividends is quite good but the authority must be given on the proper form. Will you ask Roy to get one of the JS dividend instruction forms and send it up. After that is fixed up I will write to BWs. Will you kindly let me know the balance in my Wales A/c when the statement arrives. It is due any day now.
I shall be working tomorrow morning until 1PM and go on again tomorrow night at 10 until 8 the following morning. Please excuse the scribble but this letter has been written in a hurry.
All the best
Brian


Letter Numbered 33
Dated 26.12.42

Dear Gordon
I suppose you have been wondering how I spent yesterday. Well I worked until 1PM and then had dinner which consisted of turkey and pork followed by pudding and for tea, cold turkey and fruit salad. Taking everything into consideration it was a very good show and much better than last year. In between meals I picked at the contents of my parcels and I was very "full" by 10PM when I had to go on shift again. This morning I could not face the canned bacon and beans so opened a tin of asparagus. I am afraid the high living of the last few days will spoil me for later on.
Letter no 29 dated the 19th arrived yesterday and I have now received all letters except 27 which I understand is from you, however I have no doubt it will turn up.
Have only just finished reading the 6 bundles of papers which arrived the other day. Enjoyed the "Bulletins". The watch is keeping good time but the compass is not to hand yet.
It seems to me that Les patronises a certain restaurant very frequently. Have you seen Margaret yet?
I am very interested in the list of "ultimate" maximum prices which Em sent me. The policy of making the par value the maximum for all shares which are not at present listed below their par value, seems, to say the least of it, very queer. However it is quite satisfactory as far as I am concerned. I would not mind par value for anything I have.
By the way, has the final receipt for that stock arrived, if so put it in the safe deposit. I don't think I have to sign anything more in connection with that.
By the time you receive this I suppose your holiday will be nearly half over, anyway I hope it does you good.
It is still very hot and dry here and although we don't get much rain, the mosquitoes worry us a good deal. I have a blood transfusion every night.
We were unable to obtain cigarettes for about 3 weeks but I managed to get 80 the last 3 days so I am set for a while at least. One thing about it is that it does not seem to worry me if I can't get them.
Since landing here I have not seen a soul that I know outside the unit so I can't pass my news on. I will write to Bill in a day or so but we have just started some "intensive training" which consists mainly of "diggin' 'oles" and as we don't get much time to ourselves it will be difficult seeing him.
The canteen have had some Fantales and Jelly Beans the last few days but I have not seen any Nestles chocolates.
Well it is time for lunch so I will close.
Best of wishes
Brian.



Dear Em,
I am sorry for such a short note yesterday but I was working in the morning and had to go on shift in the afternoon. As I mentioned yesterday, letters 30 and 31 have arrived yesterday together with the compass.
Glad that "Soldiering On" has arrived and hope you like it though why anyone wants to produce a book about the war I am damned if I know.
Am enclosing a copy of yesterday's Guinea Gold. What do you think of the new Sunday issue? This place is becoming quite civilised, we are going to get a cordial factory, I hope it is the forerunner of a brewery.
As I told Gordon, Christmas day was very quiet although the meals were very good. Our comforts parcels came from Victoria and mine was from some Jewish Society! The parcels contained a tin of fruit, cream, cake and pudding, a bar of chocolate, tooth brush, paste, shaving cream and 2oz of tobacco, which I thought was rather good. By the way, I now have 140 cigarettes which should last me some time.
Thanks very much for sending that note from O'Brien. It looks as though he may have a commission out of the new business. Please send me his office address and I shall write.
I note that Roy has received that subscription so will be on the look out for the Digest.
No letters came in today but I received 2 bundles of papers dated Dec 4 and 7. I wrote to Bill today and will t to see him shortly. Well there is no more news at present so I will close.
Best wishes
Brian

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

Letter not numbered
Dated 29.12.42

Dear Gordon
Your letter No 27 of the 16th turned up today. I have now received all letters up to 31 also the watch and the compass.
Thanks very much for getting "The Three Witches" for Em. I hope she enjoys it. Have just finished "The Rising Tide" and I am without any reading matter at the moment, not that it matters much at present because there is not much time left after writing a few letters and doing my washing.
Wrote to Ted today for his 21st on the 4th so he may get theletter in time. Also wrote to Bill yesterday. Was very amused at your description of D Snr.
So Darlan is dead and his assassin executed. I think the former's death has solved several delicate problems for us.

There is a large section cut out here, possibly by the censor. There was so much going on at the time, Brian could have let something slip without realising.


Still on the same old office job as well as digging an occasional hole. The only things I worry about are food and mail.
I gather from the papers that the election of the Mayor of Vaucluse as Lord Mayor of Sydney is not welcome in some quarters. What do you think?
I won't worry about a dividend instruction form from BW at present as I may be able to fix it up myself before the next div is due.
Yes, this war is full of surprises, a Wirraway shot down a Zero the other day.
Well there is nothing else at present so cheerio and
All the best
Brian
PS Have just been examining the envelope position and find it not as good as it could be. Would you mind enclosing one or two in your letters

Notes: Admiral Darlan was the leader of the Vichy French forces in Africa and was negotiating with Churchill at the time. Newspapers reported his death as follows:
Army News (Darwin, NT : 1941 - 1946)
DARLAN'S ASSASSIN EXECUTED
A young Frenchman, found guilty by special court martial of the murder of Admiral Darlan, commander of all French forces in North Africa, was exe cuted by firing squad at Algiers at dawn yesterday. For security reasons the name of the assassin was not divulged. It was stated officially, however, that his mother is an Italian now living in Italy. Admiral Darlan's funeral took place yesterday. High French and Allied officers were present, and British and American troops were in a march past.

The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1954)
VICHY-GIVES NAME OF DARLAN ASSASSIN
LONDON, Friday.
The Berlin radio quotes a Vichy report that Admiral Darlan's assassin van named Bonnier de la Chapelle, aged 20. The radio declared that he was a supporter of General de Gaulle.

Why, one wonders were Allied officers at his funeral. This blogspot gives a fascinating if rambling account of the politics surrounding his murder.

http://hercollano2.blogspot.com/2010/03/who-ordered-death-of-french-admiral.html

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

Meanwhile on the home front, Em is doing her bit like countless other Australian women. Brian has already mentioned her visiting the wounded in hospital. She later took on the role of coordinating a group of other women to do that as well.
She and Gordon contributed to the "Australian Comforts Fund" that Brian describes above. On the same day as her last letter from Brian, she also received this:




Cyril Winbanks was from McKinnon in Victoria, a private in the 4th Pioneer Company. He was 32 when he enlisted in March 1942. He was discharged in June 1943.

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

Letter numbered 37
Dated 31.12.42

Dear Em
I received your letters 32 and 34 today together with Gordon's 33 and I was more than glad to get them. By the way, I don't think I numbered my last letter of the 29th, it should have been 36.
The city must have been very crowded for a few days before Christmas and I gather that the restaurants did very well. Now that you have your new glasses I suppose you will be doing a little reading in addition to keeping up your correspondence to me.
Both the Boo Yong and Turlinjah people were lucky to get away for a few days. I could do with some leave myself.
Yes, we still wear socks here though I discard my shirt when I get the chance.
The nib of my pen has just broken, could you send another one up, it is a nuisance reading pencil.
Sorry that Peter was not so bright when you saw him on the 25th. He must be very trying to Mabel. Have not heard from Bill yet but he may have moved since he last wrote.
Don't take much notice of what the papers say about the air raids here. The first thing we know about it sometimes is when we see the paper.
Have had a slight headache for a couple of days now and hope I am not sickening for something. The switchboard has been getting on my nerves lately, too many petty complaints from people who should know better.
Went to the pictures a few nights ago and saw "St Louis Blues". It is not my idea of a good show but the supporting shorts were fair and it was a change from going to bed when the sun goes down. Also had a heavy shower of rain the other day so can expect the mossies to be bad for a while.
The canteen has quite a respectable stock in now and I am able to supplement the army rations which have not been too good during the last week. The Christmas effort must have been too much for them besides they have to get that extra shilling they allowed us back.
No more news of interest at present, will probably write tomorrow
Best wishes
Brian

Note: Booyong and Turlinjah are country NSW towns. Em must have said something about people there having a holiday.

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Great article you found Skippy and it explains it all doesn't it?

jjarmstrong47 I'm starting to worry about Brian now that he is getting headaches Mozzies, headaches = You know what?

So now we know he was a switchboard operator?

Oh yes , I hope he kept taking the quinine tablets every day.






Cairns Post (Qld. ), Thursday 31 December 1942, page 6

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

Brian is like our little newspaper, we get the news before the papers though, as he reported 25/12 and the paper was from 31/12

yes, it is becoming a case where the papers echo what he's already told us

_________________

Collecting - Stamps, poster stamps and covers that feature Kangaroos.
Wanted: Illustrated Tourist cover of "Waratah Park", Sydney, NSW. Australia

AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!! I've just spilt printing ink all over my fingers and it won't wash off. I was going to work on my stamps today. Now I wouldn't dare!
Ah, well. I'll type up some more letters instead.


Letter Numbered 38
Dated 1.1.43

Dear Em
I was on night shift last night so I was able to see the New Year in. This area appeared to be lit up more then usual and resembled King's Cross before the brownout. At midnight every fool within about 5 miles who had ammunition let it go so we had plenty of noise for a few minutes.
The rain has been coming down heavily for the last hour but the tent is keeping dry so I am not uncomfortable. There were no letters for me today but as I received 3 yesterday I did not expect any.
So Mr Motteram has died at the age of 84, I thought he was older than that. Some of his biscuits find their way up here.
I note that there is a vacancy on BW board now. Apparently O'Connell St is not the only place where they have ancient company directors. Received a small parcel from the company's comfort fund yesterday so I shall have to write to them in a day or so.
It must have been funny to watch the Christmas spirit being taken home. There was no alcohol in this part of the world, not for the troops anyway.
By the way, there is a Penguin book, English Justice, which you might send up.
It is about time Gordon burnt some of those papers but I expect he will have just as many in a month or so.
How did the enlargement of that photograph come out? I am afraid it will have to suffice for the present.
I see where 2000 people participated in a brawl at Bondi Junction recently. They have had several fights in Brisbane also.
I suppose you are taking it very easy over Gordon's holiday, you have both been doing a lot of running round lately. Have just about exhausted my supply of news so will close.
Best of wishes
Brian.

Motteram and Williamson (from family website)
In 1892 Edward Williamson (Em's father) formed a partnership with Mr C A Motteram, with whom he had worked at the Aerated Bread Company, to make biscuits under the name Motteram and Williamson. As suitable machinery was not available, Edward constructed a number of the cutting machines himself. The business grew rapidly, and continued in existence until 1909, when the partnership was dissolved.

The Sydney Morning Herald - Tuesday 29 December 1942
HOME NEWS
One of the worst brawls' ever seen in Sydney occurred at Bondi Junction yesterday, when military police attempted to arrest three soldiers on charges of desertion.
More than 2,000 civilians and soldiers were involved in the disturbance, which lasted an hour and a Quarter.

The Canberra Times Thursday 31 December 1942
FINES FOR BONDI BRAWL
SYDNEY, Wednesday.
Arising out of a Brawl at Bondi Junction on Monday, six men were convicted at the Paddington Court to- day on charges of riotous behaviour,
or having behaved in an offensive
manner.
Two of the men were each fined £5, two £3/10/ and the remaining two-£3 each

THE BATTLE OF BRISBANE - 26 & 27 NOVEMBER 1942
There have been many stories about the infamous "Battle of Brisbane" where many Australian and American troops fought it out in the central business district of Brisbane during World War 2 on the evenings of the 26th and 27th November 1942. The varying stories probably pertain to how it started, how many persons were involved, and perhaps who won the fight!
Read the rest of this story here:
http://www.ozatwar.com/ozatwar/bob.htm



Letter numbered 39
Dated 3.1.43

Dear Em,
There has been no mail for a couple of days now so I have not heard from you since your letters 32,33 and 34 arrived several days ago. No 10 parcel came yesterday and two bundles of papers today so I am not doing so badly.
Wrote to Miss Tremble today acknowledging the parcel which arrived the other day. I have not heard from the office for some time now.
It rained all last night but it is fine again now and I am going down for a shower in a few minutes. Have not heard from Bill yet and I am beginning to wonder if he has been moved. Has Joan received any letters lately?
I see in today's paper that Buna has fallen and it is very good news for us. I wonder what the next move will be.
Please excuse such a short note but I must get down to the shower before all the water goes. Will write a longer letter tomorrow.
Best wishes
Brian

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

I'll try some more but the signal keeps cutting out here. The joys of living in the bush.



Letter not numbered
Dated 5.1.43

Dear Em,
Sorry I did not write yesterday but there was no news. Received 4 letters from you this morning, 35,6,7 and 8, the last was dated the 1st so it was not long in transit.
Glad you received the Guinea Golds, not a bad paper is it? I see it nearly every day so have some idea of what is going on.
I suppose you are revelling in the summer weather, you're having a warm time from all accounts. The climate is much the same here, had several heavy showers during the last few days but the mud does not take long to dry hard again.
Please don't send any more Women's Weeklys, several others get them so it is only duplication however you can send a Rydges along sometimes.
Have been digesting the contents of No 10 parcel the last few days, you did very well considering the rationing. The canteen has a better stock now so I think you can suspend the parcels for a while.
I gather that Alan is not enjoying his stay in the Newcastle district. It certainly cramps one's style where A.W.L is concerned. Did you find Peter any better when you saw him on Saturday? He seems to be up and down all the time.
Gordon did not lose much time before starting on the books, he takes after me there.
You still have Dedman with the text book economists telling you what to do, it will be interesting to see what influence he has on the Labor party's fate at the next election.
Glad that Sir Thomas is still around, he is keeping some people waiting a long time.
From your description, New Year's Eve here was kept up with more noise than down there. What has happened to all the young blood of the district?
Thanks for enclosing the stamps, they always come in handy. By the way, I wrote to Len yesterday so he should receive it about the same time as this arrives.
Well, nothing more to write about at present.
All the best
Brian

Note: The Hon. John Dedman, M H.R., was Minister for War Organisation and Industry and later became the Minister for Postwar Reconstruction.



The Hon. John Dedman, Minister for War Organisation of Industry

No Santa Claus
John J Dedman, as the Minister for War Organization of Industry in the Curtin government, was responsible for preventing the serious waste of manpower and materials. In 1942 he banned advertisers from using the words 'Christmas', 'Yuletide' or 'festive season' and there was to be no mention of Santa Claus. His contention was that Christmas was too 'commercialised' and his measures were simply returning Australians to the true spirit of Christmas. The government even suggested that adults limit their exchange of presents to giving war savings stamps and certificates.


'Give War Savings Certificates' advertisement in the Bulletin, 16 December 1942.
Courtesy National Library of Australia
Taken from http://john.curtin.edu.au/legacyex/economy.html
See also "The man who killed Santa Claus" Australian War Museum site:
http://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/under ... /santa.asp

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.

Letter numbered 41
Dated 6.1.42

Dear Em,
Three bundles of papers arrived today and I have just been reading the news from the home front. No letters arrived but after 4 yesterday I could not expect any. Had a heavy shower of rain this morning but it is fine again now and very humid.
Still no news from Bill, if I don't hear in a few days I shall write again. Hope he has not been moved or taken ill. Please excuse the pencil but my pen is useless until the new nib arrives.
The watch is keeping very good time, I have not altered it for four days now. I have been taken off the switchboard for a week or so and am now doing signal clicking. There is not very much work attached to it so it is right up my alley.
You have not mentioned Ray for some time so I conclude he is still in Melbourne. I suppose Heather will be getting married shortly, I think you said early in the new year.
Expect you have been seeing a few shows lately. Don't miss "The Man Who Came To Dinner". I saw it at Maitland and it is very good.
I am still keeping very well and have had no more headaches so I have no complaints regarding my health. The papers seem full of letters regarding Dedman, he does not seem to be a very popular man at present.
Well there is no more news so cheerio and
All the best
Brian



Letter Numbered 42
Dated 8.1.43

Dear Em
Letter no 39 arrived this morning together with one from John Brown. John is still at the school and has about 3 weeks to go.
Glad you had an enjoyable time at Killara the other day. I expected Mabel would feel better after a break from Peter, it must be a very worrying time for them.
It is amusing to read about Joan but what she says about Bill might be true for both of us.
Thanks for seeing Roy about the dividend but I will leave it until I ccan fix it up myself.
You seem to be having some mixed weather down there both very hot and wet. It is a beautiful morning here but I am afraid we will be complaining of the heat before long. Things are much the same except I am back on the switchboard.
The news has been very good the last few days and I hope it continues to be so, there is no doubt about the U.S.S.R.
Managed to purchase some canned fruit salad and some chocolate yesterday. Now that the canteen stocks are better I think you can suspend the parcels for a while. The meals have improved a little over the last few days so life is not so bad.
Have you heard of Phil lately? He has not written to me.
I have some washing to do before I go on shift so must say aesta livista.
Best of wishes
Brian

_________________
I'm John. I collect Italian, particularly the Mussolini years.