Category Archives: Geography and Culture

Half our money is spent supplementing army rations

  TX 1004 Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 3rd October 1941 Dear Mother & Dad Just a line or two hoping to find you happy and well as I am at present.  Our letter mail is a bit late … Continue reading

Posted in Australian, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, Middle East, organisation, pay and conditions, Posts and telegraph | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Plenty of mail, regimental hooey, dangerous drinks and instruction in the use of pick and shovel !!

TX 1004 Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 24th Sept 1941 Dear Mother & Dad Your welcome letters of the 18th August and sixth of September came in today.  The 18th August had evidently been held up.  In addition to … Continue reading

Posted in Camps and Barracks, gambling and drinking, Letters to/ from others, Middle East, organisation, training, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The comfort of a Chev sedan on race day in Beirut

    TX 1004 Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 27th August 1941 Dear Mother & Dad I received your very welcome letter today – a day earlier than the usual delivery & you certainly tricked me with the handwriting … Continue reading

Posted in escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Geography and Culture, Letters to/ from others, Middle East, organisation, training | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Every day we read the Germans are using their last reserves

TX 1004 Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 21st August 1941 Dear Mother & dad I was very pleased to get your letter yesterday along with Youngster’s and one from Jack.  Yours and Youngster’s are as regular as clockwork – … Continue reading

Posted in Australian, Censorship, Middle East, The course of the war, training, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

At last – a visit to Ken, post amputation – and news of Japanese aggression

  TX 1004 Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 15th August 1941 Dear Mother & Dad I think I’ve told you in several letters that I’ve been trying to get down to see Ken.  My numerous efforts having been unavailing, … Continue reading

Posted in Censorship, organisation, Tasmania, The course of the war | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Goodwill tour, friendly locals, promotion to Acting Corporal

  TX 1004 Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 7th August 1941 Dear Mother & Dad I had half written my letter yesterday when McDonnell came down with a bunch of mail and though most of it was for (Ramon … Continue reading

Posted in leave, Middle East, pay and conditions, Tasmania, Tasmanian, The course of the war | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 , , , , | Leave a comment

Hitler apparently doesn’t share his confidences….

TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 26th July 1941 Dear Mother & Dad Your ever welcome letter of the 7th July came up on Thursday – am glad to know that you are both recovering from your … Continue reading

Posted in Camps and Barracks, Middle East, organisation, The course of the war, Uncategorized, world | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A town surrenders to a couple of privates

                              Once again, written in pencil…  and once again, the ability to rotate the image was sacrificed in favour of ‘legibility’ – not sure if that … Continue reading

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Surprising capture of a French sniper

      Written in pencil – barely legible (scan is much clearer than the actual document) – was not able to rotate image before inserting.         TX 1004 Pte M Hickman 2/33rd battalion AIF Abroad 10th … Continue reading

Posted in Australian, gambling and drinking, Middle East, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment