Category Archives: The Army

Christmas, censors, cards, concerts, camels, canteens

Posted on March 11, 1941 by felicityh54

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

War Diary  Feb 28 – March 10 1941

Posted on March 10, 1941 by felicityh54

  Friday 28th Feb Early shift 6 – 8.  Clean guns shave head and massage with olive oil – good days sunshine – not nearly as severe as expected in Red Sea.  Boys got stuck into the hops in the … Continue reading →

Posted in guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, pay and conditions, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

After nearly five months, a bundle of letters

Posted on March 10, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF Abroad 10th March 1941 Dear Mother At long last we have arrived some place somewhere from which you’ll gather that though much nearer home we’re still very much abroad.  It’s just a … Continue reading →

Posted in Australian, Camps and Barracks, Middle East, Posts and telegraph, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

War Diary: Durban to the Red Sea Feb 1941

Posted on February 28, 1941 by felicityh54

  16th Feb At sea again. Picked up rest of convoy from Cape Town.  Two ships – Highland Chieftain and Highland Princess – stayed at Durban.  Two others joined us (Orbita & Nieu Holland).  Had haircut and got head shave.  … Continue reading →

Posted in at sea, gambling and drinking, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, training, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A good look round Durban

Posted on February 15, 1941 by felicityh54

                            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 →

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Durban Diary: apartheid, mate-ship and a rifle as big as a daisy air gun

Posted on February 15, 1941 by felicityh54

                        Tues 11th Planes from Durban fly over convoy – sun shines hot and early – sea more blue than ever – land sighted – binoculars focus on Durban.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, leave, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A letter from an utter stranger: Flora the jeweller’s assistant

Posted on February 13, 1941 by felicityh54

Randles Bro & Hudson Ltd. Jewellery Dept Gardiner Street Durban South Africa 13th Feb 1941   Dear Mrs Hickman No doubt you will be surprised to receive this letter from an utter stranger but I happened to serve your son … Continue reading →

Posted in Letters to/ from others, organisation, The course of the war, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Glasgow to Durban aboard the Nea Hellas

Posted on February 10, 1941 by felicityh54

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

Posted on January 11, 1941 by felicityh54

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

Winter and the boredom of barrack room soldiering

Posted on December 16, 1940 by felicityh54

TX 1004 Pte Max Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF 16th Dec 1940 Dear Mother Though there is precious little to write about I’ll send a few lines trusting they find you well and happy as I am at present.  Apart from … Continue reading →

Posted in Britain, Camps and Barracks, organisation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment