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Category Archives: The Army
I’m engaged: a letter to May
11th Dec 1940 Dear May I suppose Mother has told you that I’m engaged to a … Continue reading
Posted in Britain, organisation, The course of the war, Uncategorized
Tagged engagement, English character, merchant navy, Shirley Balfour
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Guard duty on pay day, chocolates in the mail, snooker on picket duty
TX 1004 Pte M Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF 8th Dec 1940 Dear Mother Once again Sunday comes round and so again I write you a resume of the week’s events. Though I still haven’t had any mail from home – … Continue reading
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
Six days’ leave in Scotland – at last!
TX 1004 Pte M Hickman 2/33rd Battalion AIF 10th Nov 1940 Dear Mother This should be the best letter I’ve ever written because I’ve just come back from six days’ leave in Scotland. It was the best holiday I’ve ever … Continue reading
Posted in Britain, leave
Tagged Christmas presents, Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow, leave, scenery, Scotland, Scottish hospitality
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Soaked to the skin and cold as frogs : first issue of rum.
6th Oct 1940 TX1004 Priv M Hickman 72nd Battalion 25th Brigade AIF Dear Mother After what seemed almost an age without mail the weekend brought forth seven letters – six and a cable – … Continue reading
Posted in Posts and telegraph, training, Uncategorized
Tagged Christmas, Claude Geeves, mail service
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With the Rough Carpenters…in the comfort of the YMCA Marquee
29 Sept 1940 TX1004 Private M Hickman 72nd Battalion 25th Brigade AIF Dear Mother We have just been dismissed for the day. This morning for the first time in my life I attended a Roman Catholic church service. There are … Continue reading
Posted in Britain, training, Uncategorized, unit parades and church parades
Tagged crib, DIck Schultz, Dudley Raynor, Ken Jenkins, leave, Roman Catholics
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The Blog that might have been - 70 years on 