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Category Archives: Uncategorized
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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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
Sending a wire June – August 1940
Four telegrams 1. I assume this one was sent from the ship. It is sent via ‘GLT’ rather than ‘EFT’ which is the method for all others. The Hobart date stamp shows 15 June 40. The lodgement advice shows it originated … Continue reading
Birth of the 72nd Battalion Carrier Platoon 27th June 1940
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
Somewhere in England June 1940
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
The Blog that might have been - 70 years on 