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Category Archives: Africa
Durban… Shrapnel Valley…. Beirut
TX1004 Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 31st July 1941 Dear Mother & Dad I received your very pleasant letter of the 14th yesterday and am glad to know you are both well again. the matrimonial business is certainly … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, gambling and drinking, leave, Middle East, parcels, The course of the war
Tagged Anne Fisher, Beirut, Charlie Mene, Durban, presents
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Camping amid gum trees – and a damn good feed
TX 1004 Pte M Hickman 2/33rd Battn AIF Abroad 31st May 1941 Dear Mother After being detached from the battalion for some time our platoon rejoined them in a new camp today and this evening received quite a … Continue reading
Digging for Victory…with troops from all parts of the Empire
TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 17 . 5 . 41 Dear Mother I suppose you know at home that the air mail service has been somewhat dislocated … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, organisation, The course of the war, Uncategorized
Tagged airmail, Arndell Lewis, Dig for Victory, Diggers, Gurkhas, Werndee
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Could St John predict war’s end? Or maybe Einstein or Pythagoras?
TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 5th May 1941 Dear Mother Though still in the same area as when I last wrote you, we – that is the party to which I am for … Continue reading
Vindication for some, vengeance for others
TX 1004 Private M Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 1st May 41 Dear Mother I’ve had four letters this week – all very newsy and interesting and all written around Easter – Youngsters on the 10th, yours on the … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, Britain, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Hierarchy, Posts and telegraph, Uncategorized
Tagged AWL, Bierwirth, Christmas, haircuts, Jack Chandler, mail, Mersa Matruh, swimming
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Cakes, chocolates and other delicacies…with disastrous after effects
TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF 26th April 1941 Dear Mother Since I wrote you last Sunday many amazing things have happened, not least of which has been the delivery of multitudes of parcels. Late on Sunday … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, gambling and drinking, organisation, parcels, Posts and telegraph, Uncategorized
Tagged Australian beer, cake, chocolate, Craven A, Leith Hospital, PK, Reg Hickman, socks, tobacco
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Wags and wits and desert manoeuvres
TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 19th April 1941 Dear Mother I received your very welcome letter of the 31st March yesterday. I’m glad my Palestine letters are getting home but … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, parcels, Posts and telegraph, training, Uncategorized
Tagged desert manoeuvres, field hospital, sandstorms, wags and wits
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War Diary March 21 – April 14 (Easter Monday) 1941
Friday 21st Wrote some letters during morning – afternoon ceremonial parade – marched to Brigade – welcome for Brigadier Baxter-Cox – a good show. Long march back with fixed bayonets at attention – 1 1/2 miles. When we got back … Continue reading
at sea post Durban: the crime of baldness
TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad (at sea) Dear Mother Once again we’re at sea after four days at Durban. I told you in a letter posted in that city of our arrival there and of my … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, at sea, Posts and telegraph, Uncategorized
Tagged apartheid, Arthur Midson, AWL, baldness, DIck Schultz, Durban, haircut, homesickness, Ken Jenkins, the Durban Signaller
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A good look round Durban
TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 13th Feb 1941 Dear Mother After nearly five weeks at sea we’ve arrived at a modern seaport- … Continue reading
Posted in Africa, leave, Uncategorized
Tagged AWL, beer, blackout, community singing, concerts, DIck Schultz, Durban, guard duty, Ken Jenkins, mail, presents, shore leave
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