Category Archives: escapades, relaxation, fun and games

Different pictures in diary and letter; and a dramatic blitz on bugs

                  (Salvation Army paper with the admonitions: Remember the loved ones far away and write them a message of cheer today – at the top and PLEASE WROTE ON BOTH SIDES at … Continue reading

Posted in Camps and Barracks, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, organisation, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

AWL from guard duty – but what they don’t know…

                            TX 1004 Private Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 1st April 1941 Dear Mother We came back to camp last night after a very interesting weekend.  … Continue reading

Posted in escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Middle East, The course of the war, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Route Marches, diplomacy and meeting with Zincie Jokers

              TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 20th March 1941 Dear Mother Once again I have struck guard duty and so have an opportunity to catch up with my mail.  We’ve … Continue reading

Posted in Camps and Barracks, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, Middle East, parcels, training, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas, censors, cards, concerts, camels, canteens

TX  1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 11th March 1941 (I believe the sharks got all our Christmas parcels – of course there are sharks and sharks) Dear May At long last we have arrived somewhere in Palestine – … Continue reading

Posted in at sea, Censorship, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, gambling and drinking, Letters to/ from others, Middle East, pay and conditions, Posts and telegraph, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Glasgow to Durban aboard the Nea Hellas

January 12 – February 10 1941 There are no letters from this period, although Dad mentions writing them many times in his diary.  Diary entries for this period are as follows: 12th January Sailed with the tide at dawn.  Land … Continue reading

Posted in at sea, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, gambling and drinking, organisation, pay and conditions, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Adventures in Glasgow January 1941

TX 1004 Pte M Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad Dear Mother Once again we are on the move whither only God and the powers that be know – but anyhow we’re moving. The last month has been one of the … Continue reading

Posted in Britain, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, leave, The course of the war, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visit to the dentist, then two days’ pay for one feed

TX 1004 Pte M Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF 24th Nov 1940 Dear Mother I have just come back from the Dentist – a cheerful subject to start a letter however such is the condition of news – decidedly light on.  … Continue reading

Posted in Britain, Censorship, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, leave, pay and conditions, Posts and telegraph, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You blokes were only soldiers….letter to ‘Bert’

11th Sept 1940 TX1004 Private M Hickman 72nd Battalion 25th Brigade AIF Dear Bert Just a line from Blighty to let you know we’re still afloat. We had a great trip over on the Old Mary – she’s a wonderful … Continue reading

Posted in at sea, Britain, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Letters to/ from others, pay and conditions, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mail, Misdemeanours and English hospitality August 1940

7th August 1940 TX1004 Private Hickman 72nd Battalion 25th Brigade AIF United Kingdom Dear Mother I received my first Australian mail yesterday and today.  Yesterday I had a letter from youngster written from Sydney on the 6th June and today … Continue reading

Posted in Britain, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, pay and conditions, Posts and telegraph, unit parades and church parades | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment