Category Archives: The Army

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

Posted on September 11, 1940 by felicityh54

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

Posted on August 7, 1940 by felicityh54

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

London leave extends to AWL

Posted on July 21, 1940 by felicityh54

TX 1004 Private ML Hickman 72nd Battalion 25th Brigade AIF United Kingdom 21st July 1940 Dear Mother I have just returned from 36 hours London leave and I think I can write you a very newsy letter of that wonderful … Continue reading →

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Birth of the 72nd Battalion Carrier Platoon 27th June 1940

Posted on June 27, 1940 by felicityh54

The first of many re-0rganisations From The Footsoldiers (p7): …”The last of the British troops were evacuated (from Dunkirk) on 18 June.  Most brought their rifles and personal equipment but transport and guns and tanks were lost.  This was the situation … Continue reading →

Posted in Carrier platoon, Letters to/ from others, organisation, training, Uncategorized, weapons, armaments, equipment | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Somewhere in England June 1940

Posted on June 25, 1940 by felicityh54

  Letterhead: YMCA – including instructions on how to address mail, and the invocation to Write Home First TX 1004 Gunner Hickman 1st Antitank Regt AIF Overseas Somewhere in England Dear Mother At long last we are on terra firma … Continue reading →

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May 1940 Sydney

Posted on May 19, 1940 by felicityh54

Letterhead: Hotel Grand Central , 151 Clarence St, Sydney Dear Mother I haven’t written before because one of our chaps who’s in the office said that mail was being held because too much information is spreading.  But as we have … Continue reading →

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