Category Archives: Africa

Durban… Shrapnel Valley…. Beirut

Posted on July 31, 1941 by

  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 , , , , | Leave a comment

Camping amid gum trees – and a damn good feed

Posted on May 31, 1941 by

    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 →

Posted in Africa, Carrier platoon, gambling and drinking, Middle East, organisation, Posts and telegraph, Tasmanian, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Digging for Victory…with troops from all parts of the Empire

Posted on May 17, 1941 by

                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 , , , , , | Leave a comment

Could St John predict war’s end? Or maybe Einstein or Pythagoras?

Posted on May 5, 1941 by

      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 →

Posted in Africa, The course of the war, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Vindication for some, vengeance for others

Posted on May 1, 1941 by

  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 , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cakes, chocolates and other delicacies…with disastrous after effects

Posted on April 26, 1941 by

  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 , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wags and wits and desert manoeuvres

Posted on April 19, 1941 by

            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 , , , | Leave a comment

War Diary March 21 – April 14 (Easter Monday) 1941

Posted on April 14, 1941 by

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 →

Posted in Africa, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, training, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries, weapons, armaments, equipment | Tagged | Leave a comment

at sea post Durban: the crime of baldness

Posted on February 18, 1941 by

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 , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A good look round Durban

Posted on February 15, 1941 by

                            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 , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment