The Blog that might have been – 70 years on

The weekly bulletin…such as it is

Posted on March 10, 1942 by felicityh54

From H Hickman

Pottery Rd Lenah Valley

Hobart Tasmania

Sunday March 1st 42

Dear Max

I have just come home from the hospital. Your mother is doing remarkably well. She will be coming home in about a fortnight. During the week she had Mrs Menzie from Huonville up to see her and also Mrs Phillips from Blackmans Bay. I met Algy Phillips on Thursday in the dinner hour. I took him into the Victoria Tavern and bought him a couple of beers. There’s no doubt he is a very sick man and I feel awfully sorry for him. I met Ron Butterworth on Friday and he asked if I’d heard from you. I also met old Frank Mulcahy at the club – the first time for about three months. He told me his son the Major had mentioned you in his letters home. Old Frank has had a job book-keeping at a pub in Oatlands. I think there must have been some other business connection with it but anyhow he has left and come home to stay. I had a letter from Ivy during the week. She has been very sick again: according to her letter she has just about finished up at Smyths(?). Trying to look after husband and do that job too in her state of health was to say the least, ridiculous. What I saw of things, Bill could have done a lot more to help considering her condition. There is no doubt Max this fellow likes himself – if ever a man kisses himself goodnight it’s Bill Drysdale.

I have not seen or heard anything of Ken Jenkins for a considerable time. I think the biggest curse in Tasmania is Alec and Alby Worbey. Violet* told me about a month ago she was not going to do any more work to the place but when Alec was called up by the military she went down and pleaded (that) she had no-one to work the orchard. The apples on her place are not worth five pounds – they are rotten with grub and black spot and are frizzled up with neglect. This is a sample of our organisation. There is no doubt, we have some mongrels here. Laurie Fisher is still down at Jones’. This weekend he has gone to Swansea with a click(?) for the opening of the duck shooting. They are great shooters at anything that can’t shoot back. I do not blame them so much for not going overseas but now Australia is attacked there is no excuse for anyone. Things are very quiet here. I hardly ever see any Zinc workers these days. Mrs Elliott and old Ted were in to see your mother on Friday afternoon. Mrs Elliott looks real well but I think the sands are running out with old Ted. May and Anne have gone down to Blackmans Bay today. Anne is wonderfully improved since she had her tonsils out. I am living the life of a hermit, at present very well. My only cobbers are the three dogs who are at present very well. I will now close Max as there’s not much to write about. Keep your chin up old man as we are looking forward to seeing you soon. With best love from Mum & Dad

*Violet Worbey was the stepsister of my grandfather Henry (who wrote this letter). Alec and Alby were her two sons.

Now Australia is attacked there is no excuse…

By now the direct threat of war had even reached Hobart: a Japanese reconnaissance flight on March 1st 1942 is described here : http://www.ozatwar.com/japrecce/recce05.htm The plane was carried in sections in a submarine and launched either using a catapult from the deck, or from the sea. On this deployment, the Japanese undertook reconnaissance flights over Melbourne/ Port Phillip, Wellington and Auckland as well as Hobart/ Storm Bay.

Display at Anglesea Barracks Hobart showing how the small plane was carried on board the submarine.

Drawing of a ‘Glen’ float plane of the type used in the reconnaissance mission over Hobart

From Mrs H Hickman

Pottery Rd Lenah Valley

Hobart Tasmania

Sunday March 8 1942

Darling Boy

Once again we write the weekly bulletin such as it is. There is certainly nothing much to write about these days. Your mother came home on Wednesday, a fortnight too soon considering she had a major operation. She is progressing satisfactorily. The people here have got the wind up properly. The empty shacks about the country are being tenanted by people you could not kick out of the town in ordinary times. Trevor Hickman was round here this afternoon. He said old Oakes (?) eldest son was going out to live in their place. He has a wife and kid. You remember the eldest one – he got kicked out of the force years ago. It’s marvellous the amount of cars there is about here. How they keep out I don’t know. I think if the Japs come here there will be a big crowd go bush. I think when your mother gets properly well I will apply for something to do* as things are getting very monotonous. Alec Worbey and Laurie Fisher have gone up to Dysart today in a shooting trip. It’s just as well rabbits are harmless things and can’t hit back or the likes of Alec Worbey and Co would not interfere with them. A new order came out on Friday (National Security Act) forbidding any person to be on licensed premises after ten o’clock – this included clubs. It will make a lot of difference to the AIF Club they reckon. One of the stewards will be fired. But there is plenty of work now, of all kinds They are digging air raid shelters in Franklin Square. Reggie Hickman is a sergeant pilot. He came home on Friday night and has gone back with his little bride. He is determined to have a decent honeymoon while he has the chance. Joe Lewis has obtained leave of absence from St Johns Park and has joined up with home defence. He is now on guard at the munitions factory that is being built at Ascot. His job at St Johns was getting on his nerves. Your mother says it feels wonderful to be able to breathe freely. She can’t imagine how she suffered it for so long. It might put twenty years on to her life. We had a letter from Ivy a few days ago. She seems to be having a very bad spin as far as her health is concerned. Now she has left work it might make a difference. If it does not there can only be one result. I fixed her up with a nice home but I am doubtful about the wisdom of it.

Jack Hickman was a despatch rider in Brighton Camp. He had a collision with someone and is now in Royal Hobart Hospital. Norman Mills the solicitor has gone into camp. Frank …. could not pass – his eyesight stopped him. He told me letters from you are few and far between now but I suppose we will have to put up with it. That is all for the present Max. God bless and keep you. With best love from Mum & Dad.

The AIF Club

This club was separate from the RSSAILA, as evident from this article from the Mercury in February 1941: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/25846051 I have been unable to find any details of the AIF Club’s charter, club room location or activities other than picnics such as the one reported here (the first of the annual Dennes Point picnics appears to have been held in 1935). The focus on children suggested a connection with the Remembrance Club (Legacy) but I have also been unable to find any information to confirm such a connection. Henry (Dad’s father) was also a member of the Servicemen’s Parents’ and Wives’ Association whose objects overlapped with those of both the RSSAILA and the Remembrance Club.

Maybe this Association developed out of the AIF Club and Henry just used the term AIF Club as shorthand…The objects of the Parents’ and Wives’ Association are reported on in this article from June 1941: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/25865590.

I will apply for something to do.

My grandfather Henry was granted a war service pension on his discharge in August 1916. It sounds from this letter as if he basically depended on the pension for his income, although previous letters suggest he had at least one investment property. They also had a productive garden. It seems from his previous letters that he did most of the house work and gardening, as his wife’s goitre left her in chronic poor health. Henry had turned 60 in December 1941.

National Security regulations

The specific regulations mentioned here may be Federal or State orders. There were a great many regulations, covering a wide range of activities issued under the National Security Act. One of these required registration of all civilians aged 16 years or older – see this advertisement http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/60677062 which begins – COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA IDENTITY CARD AND CIVILIAN REGISTRATION. All British subjects (whether natural-born or naturalised) aged 16 years or over as at 15th March 1942 (except those serving on the paid strength of the Navy, Army or Air Forces) are required to apply for an identity card and civil registration under the National Security (Manpower) regulations, not later than 25th March 1942. ….Aliens must…register separately under Aliens Control and Aliens Service Regulations…..

Identity card from the collection of Museum Victoria (item no 1125134)

Air raid shelters in Franklin Square

Photos from Hobart at War 1939 to 1945 – CJ Dennison

Posted in Australian, Letters to/ from others, The course of the war | Tagged AIF Club, air raid shelters | Leave a comment

The writing rhythm continues, regardless….part 1(3 letters, February)

Posted on February 23, 1942 by felicityh54

These letters and those written in March were waiting for Dad when he arrived back in Australia in April 1942. The envelopes were addressed as usual, with the final line – AIF Abroad.

From Mrs H Hickman

Pottery Rd Lenah Valley

Hobart Tasmania

9th February 42

Darling Boy. Once again we write to you hoping to find you in the best of health and spirits as it leaves us at present. there is not much to write about these days but we will try and make the best of it. As I was going to town on Friday afternoon I met Alec Worbey coming home in his car. He pulled up and told me the military had grabbed him at last. He was vey much upset. I assure you I had heaps of sympathy for him – I don’t think. He’s a great big fat bloated pig – a pampered pet, just like Tim used to be I guess. It will do him good. I inserted a line in the Mercury on Friday night. It appeared in Saturday’s paper. To Let – Modern Home. Ring 1839. Well I got up a little after seven so as to get the work done around the house so as to be able to interview tenants prospective. The phone started to ring about 8 o’clock and did we have a busy time answering it. Safe to say the phone was never so busy before. We both went out in the afternoon. Your mother went over to see Mrs Mason. Rings came as late as half past nine at night and there has been three more today (Sunday). I selected a Scotchman – name’s Buchan. He is manager of an engineering business for a Melbourne firm in Hobart. This I consider a great joke: Mrs Ralph Propsting went to the house about 10 days ago & asked Mrs Cockburn if the place was to let. She told Mrs Cockburn that her husband was a ‘professor’ at the University & a great friend of Max Hickman. He was now on loan to the government in the munitions business for the duration of the war. Mr Lowenstein told me he is (in fact) a foreman of some sort making ‘gun sights’. His wife rang me and did I have to listen to a tirade of pleading and did she stress the great friendship of her husband for you. She simply would not take no for an answer. We had it let to a man in the Mercury offer but he was called up for the military.

Your mother found Mrs Mason remarkably well considering she has had a serious operation. Mick has passed A1 for home defence as a carpenter. They had an elderly woman, quite a good type, looking after the kids while she was in hospital. Anne goes into hospital on Wednesday to have her adenoids out. We hope it will do her a lot of good. We heard from Ivy that you had got Mason’s parcel & Mae Menzie’s. We were very pleased to hear it but hope you got ours & the club & others. Tom Hickman gave me permission to cut a load of wood on Barossa Rd as he is giving up the place. Jack Scott then cut me a beautiful lot, about 30cwt in short foot blocks. I used to go over & watch them practice. I went over last Monday afternoon and found two women with a flash Dodge sedan loaded up. They must have taken two or three loads before I got there. As they had just got the last load on as I got there – saw Henry Jones’ sister in law and her sister. Did I blow them! One started to shed tears & said she was a widow. I have found out since Max Jones is well & living in a house worth 1500. I was a fool. I should have made them pay but on the spur of the moment I let them go. The last letter we had was dated 22 December. The dogs are fit and well. Will now close. God bless and keep you. From Mother & Dad.

Making ends meet

From this letter, it sounds as if my grandfather owned two rental properties – though the comments might possibly have all related to one. He was also in receipt of a war service pension of some kind. From the time it was granted in August 1916, the amount fluctuated every 6 months until the end of the World War I after which I have no details. It’s easy to understand how upset he would have been, at being conned by those two women who could clearly have afforded to buy their own fire wood. Tom Hickman’s wife Minnie had died the previous year, so he was alone on the property – I don’t know where he moved to when he ‘left the place’.

Home defence

Men who were either too old or medically unfit for active service, and were not employed in specified occupations were encouraged to join the Volunteer Defence Corps. These photos of VDC training exercises come from CJ Dennison’s book Hobart at War 1939 to 1945 – Photographs from the archives of The Mercury.

From H Hickman

Pottery Rd Lenah valley

Hobart, Tasmania

16 February 1942

Dear Max

Once again we write hoping to find you fit and well as it leaves us at present. Still the last letter we received from you was dated 22nd December when you were on leave in Palestine. We got two letters one day but they only contained a few snaps.* Things are abnormally quiet around here just now. Laurie is working at Jones’. We hardly ever see him. He works Saturday afternoons and Sundays but as you know it won’t do him any good: bookmakers and publicans will get all his money. I told you last week about the possum in that schrub tree with the geranium clustered over it. Well this morning I made a close inspection and discovered there is a pair in it. Fancy them coming to the back door where the three dogs are. Your mother’s thrilled about it. You know what she is with anything like that. She just adores them. Well Max I think I ought to tell you though your mother gave me strict orders not to do so – she seems to have made up her mind suddenly that she should have her goitre out. Mrs Mason has had hers out and is getting on splendidly for some time. I took no notice of her as she has spoken about having it out so many times (but) one day last week she went to see Dr D….. and he advised her to have it out. She then went to see Dr Muir, the new surgeon superintendent at the Royal Hobart Hospital and he advised her to have it out. She has all the faith in the world in him. Well Max I have not said one word for or against it. She said it was choking her. She ought to know herself how she feels. She has gone into the hospital this afternoon (Sunday 16th Feb) and is to have the operation on Tuesday. Mrs Phillips rang this morning and wished her everything of the best and I’ve just had a ring from the Post Office to say there was a telegram from Ivy wishing the same. Your mother has had a wonderful spell for the last two years. I have scrubbed out every morning, cleaned the yard, got the vegetables ready – in fact I’ve done all the rough work. She has been able to go out when and where she wanted to, but every time she came home she seemed to be all out. She has a marvellous appetite and I think in every other way she is healthy. She has not got up of a morning before 8.30. I have taken her in a cup of hot water and two cups of tea. Every evening we have about seven games of crib. We listen to the news at 10 o’clock and then go to bed. Anne had an operation for tonsils and adenoids during the week at Calvary hospital. Dr Cunningham did the job. She seems to be getting along alright. Ron Butterworth started work at the barracks on Friday. He is attempting (?) to teach crippled returned men new professions. Tom Cooper is having a house built by the agricultural bank in Carlton Street. He’s very pleased with himself. The dogs are fit and well. I will now close Max. Wishing you all the best. With best love from Mother & Dad.

* The letters concerned may well have been censored: there is a gap in Dad’s correspondence in December (nothing between the 8th and 22nd) and again in January (nothing between 5th and 17th)The letters concerned may well have been censored: there is a gap in Dad’s correspondence in December (nothing between the 8th and 22nd) and again in January (nothing between 5th and 17th)

18 February 42

Later:

Dear Max

Your mother had the operation on Monday morning and she is doing marvellous. I wrote the letter on Sunday and decided not to send it till I saw how things were going. The doctor reckons your mother is one of the bravest women he has ever met and I don’t think there’s any ….about him. I will write more fully in my next letter. She looks to be well on the road to recovery. Dad

The language of the letters

Although they are always signed off from Mother & Dad, the script is always the same – so they were all written by his father. It’s interesting that when his mother was in hospital, the letters began ‘Dear Max’, and finished ‘Wishing you all the best’, whereas when she was at home, they began ‘Darling Boy’ and finished ‘God bless and keep you’….very much as if she were the author.

Laurie is working at Jones’

Laurie Fisher was one of dad’s brothers in law – the husband of May, father of Anne who is often mentioned. Jones’ was H Jones & Co – makers of jams and canned preserves of all kinds (vegetables, fish etc) with the IXL brand. The factory buildings still exist in Hunter Street on Hobart’s waterfront, having morphed into an ‘Art Hotel’ with associated cafes and craft shops etc, and the University of Tasmania’s Centre for the Arts.

From H Hickman

Pottery Rd Lenah Valley

Hobart, Tasmania

Feb 23rd 1942

Dear Max

Just a few lines hoping to find you fit and well as it leaves me at present. Well, up to date your mother is making a marvellous recovery. When I saw her on Friday I could hardly believe my own eyes. I am not going in today – Sunday – because I know she is going to have quite a number of visitors. You know this operation might put another twenty years on your mother’s life. In fact I don’t think she could have gone much longer the way she was, so I think she took the right course in having it done while she and the necessary strength. Things are frightfully quiet here just now. The war has reached our shores and the people are waking out of their complacency. I noticed as I walked down Pottery Road yesterday about the fourth house up from the terminus there is a heap of sand for putting out incendiary combs. All the people around are invited to take some in readiness. I was up at the club on Friday afternoon. There was a large gathering of old timers discussing the merits of old and new AIF. Quite a lot of them wanting to have another shot but I don’t think they would stand up to another preparation. Old Jack Hickman is in Calvary hospital. He has had bronchial pneumonia and he had to be X-rayed so they took him there for a few days. He was thinking of the cost when I saw him. Fancy worrying about money these days. There is no doubt about him and old Bob – they will die clinging to it. Anne is just feeling the benefit of her operation. I expect to see a great improvement in her condition from now on. She has all the promise of being a clever kid. I hired a lorry and got three tons of wood in last Tuesday. It is predicted that wood will be very scarce this winter on account of the petrol position. The weather is very dry here. In fact it is a serious drought. Everything in the line of vegetables is very dear. We have nine turkeys and Anne’s sheep would weigh at least 60lbs dressed so if things get very bad we’ve got some stock. I have to mind Anne tomorrow while May teaches so I will take her to the hospital to see nanny. They kick visitors out at 3.15. I will then go up and see Maggie & Auntie Dunn(?). I have not been up for some time. Jim McDonald’s father came to me the other day. He was anxious to know if I had heard anything of Jim. He said he had not had any letters for a long time. Laurie Fisher is still at Jones’. He is getting quite a lot of overtime. He has also been laying the odds down. There’s born gamblers – all the Jokers crowd – that’s all they think of. There is a lot I would like to write Max but I’m afraid it might be sent back to me. The dogs are all in good nick. I hope they will be here when you come back. Has Jim McDonald been transferred and has he still got his stripes? There’s quite a lot wondering how long he would keep them. I will now close Max. Wishing you all the best. With best love from Mother & Dad.

PS I went to see your mother last night. She is progressing wonderfully well. A marvellous job.

The war has reached our shores

See report from the Melbourne Argus, Saturday 21st February, headlined : 17 KILLED IN RAIDS ON DARWIN 6 ENEMY PLANES SHOT DOWN. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8233872 In the two air raids on Darwin yesterday it is believed that total casualties were 17 killed and 24 wounded. Nine of the civilian fatalities were members of the Darwin post office staff, including the postmaster, his wife and daughter…

Photo – from Wikipedia : The explosion of an oil storage tank and clouds of smoke from other oil tanks, hit during the first Japanese air raid on Australia’s mainland, at Darwin on 19 February 1942. In the foreground is HMAS Deloraine which escaped damage.

A serious drought

….The second half of 1941 was again very dry along the eastern seaboard, with water restrictions imposed in Sydney from September. (http://www.tumuthistory.com/Jan142000Climate.htm)

Posted in Letters to/ from others, The course of the war | Tagged Darwin, fire wood, goitre, H Jones & Co, home defence, Mick Mason, tenants | Leave a comment

Last letter from the Middle East…and the start of Operation Stepsister

Posted on February 8, 1942 by felicityh54

This is a letter to Mr and Mrs Laird whose family were very welcoming to Dad and his mate Graeme Watts on New Year’s Eve and subsequent days in January 1941. I assume Dad asked them to send it to him, after the war, when he was planning to write an account of the Battalion’s experiences.

It doesn’t appear to have been checked by a censor. (There is no signature or stamp – and surely the naming of Port Said would have been forbidden)

TX1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

8th February 1942

Dear Mrs Laird & Tom

Just another short hurried epistle hoping to find you happy and well and full of the same good spirits that were so manifest when we were with you. I suppose the days are drawing out now and you’re getting a bit of sunshine – except for the fogs. The Syrian winter had a lot in common with Scotland. When I get back to the unit I will to be able to send you some good snow snaps. the wonderful effects of the snow on the terraced foothills, the olive groves and rugged mountains is beyond description so the snaps will tell the story better than I can.

Our platoon have been away from the battalion for about a fortnight and we’ve seen quite a lot of new sights. We parked a while near Port Said – copped a fair spot of leave and while the fallouse lasted had a really good time. There were some good picture shows which were quite a treat after the very old pictures that came to Syria. Among the programmes we saw were ‘That Hamilton Woman’ – a Vivien Leigh masterpiece, Gary Cooper’s ‘Sergeant York’ and ‘Down Argentina Way’.

We spent one night at a canteen that for makes of beer was the most cosmopolitan I’ve ever seen and in the course of the evening our labels took us from Youngers Brewery to Canada and the States, thence through a multitude of Pacific beers including Shanghai, Hong Kong, numerous Australian and New Zealand beers then on to India, Pakistan and Egypt. At the end of the evening we decided that all beer is good. You probably think me a terrible soak but really I’m not. It was just the unique experience of having all the beers at one time.

About the only civilised food in these parts is eggs and in various ways we are them three meals a day – scrambled, fried and boiled. The eggs are very small and at Mess Parade yesterday a fellow observed that considering it was an all day job for a hen they were mighty small eggs.

We expect to make a move towards rejoining the unit soon and I’m hoping there’ll be a big pile of mail both from home and from Glasgow.

I must say cheerio now. Best regards to the girls and Margaret, Tom & Molly.

Yours sincerely

Max

Syrian snow

Clearing snow in Syria – Mediterranean in the background . From ‘Soldiering On’ the AWM Christmas Book for 1942.

The platoon is away from the battalion…

In terms of the official Battalion record, it’s as if the Carrier Platoon simply didn’t exist. There is no mention in the Battalion Diary for January/ February 1942 (AWM52 8/3/33/6) about the fact that the Carriers moved out of Khasa camp at the end of January, or where they went, or about the fact that they were boarded onto a different ship from the rest of the Battalion. The scant details I have been able to find come from the Brigade diary (AWM52 8/2/25/10) and the diaries of the other Battalions of the 25th Brigade – i.e. the 31st and the 25th Battalion.

The Brigade Admin Instn no.11 issued on 30 January included orders for the Brigade’s carriers (ie those of the 25th, 31st and 33rd Battalions) to proceed to MAJDAL station on 31 Jan with complete equipment incl. LMG and A Tk Rifle (Drs will carry rifles)….Train M originally allotted for this move will now convey 39 carriers from TEK for allotment 10 to each Bn and 9 to 2/6 Aust Fd Regt, to destination under separate instn. (I have been unable to find this ‘separate instruction’, and the records of the 2/6 Regt appear to be awaiting digitisation) This order was Issued in conjunction with GHQ Movement Control Order no Mov 1/634. I have been unable to find a copy of this order. The Rail Movement Table appended to the above Admin Instn shows the Brigade’s Carriers to move on January 31, but only 39 men are listed as accompanying them – i.e. one per vehicle.

Indications from other units

2/31 Bn Diary : Jan 31 – Promptly at 0700hrs, the Bn Carriers moved from the camp area towards their destination. (I note that the destination is not specified, in contrast to the entry on Feb 5 regarding the rest of the Bn which specified the destination and the route they would take to Port Tewfik)

2/25 Bn Diary : Jan 31 – Carrier Pl moved out en route to Port Said.

Assuming that the procedure for large scale movements of troops of other sections would have been similar to those of the 25th Brigade, the Carrier Platoon’s experience might have paralleled that of 2/2 Bn Carriers which left the Middle East a month after the 2/33rd. The unit diary of the 2/2nd Battalion (In stark contrast to that of the 2/33rd) gives considerable detail about the preparations for that unit’s departure – including the following specifically relating to the Carrier Platoon (AWM52 8/3/2/28):

Late in the evening of 18 Feb orders were received for Capt Swinton and 42 of the Carrier Pl would proceed to TEL-EL-KABIR to collect the Bn establishment of Carriers. Before leaving, all ranks of the party had to be completely equipped with all personal issues, this was done with a few exceptions of outsize personnel. The party moved to TEL-El-KABIR by road arriving there ar 1900hrs. 19 Feb. Capt Swinton was issued with 21 Carriers for which the tools were very short, but during the next few days this shortage was considerably reduced. The original orders received…were to move from T-E-K to SUEZ with carriers on 24 Feb but on the 22 Feb this was cancelled and the date of the move left open. The period of waiting was spent in maintenance and short runs for the Carriers to loosen up tracks etc, painting of unit signs and serial numbers and bringing every man up to full WE in personal equipment. When the Pl. finally left T-E-K it had never been better equipped even down to an issue of driving goggles to every man in the Pl. On the 26th Feb 14 men were granted one day’s leave to ISMALIA and on the 27 Feb CAIRO leave was also granted. The only restriction on leave to the Pl. was that they soon ran out of money. The Pl. played quite a bit of hockey at T-E-K and beat all comers except the British Ord Team. Ten Carriers left for SUEZ on MT floats on the 10 Mar, the remaining 11Carriers moving to PORT TEWFIK on the 13 Mar. These two groups of Carriers were shipped …….

We expect to make a move towards rejoining the unit soon

Dad’s army record shows that he departed Suez (Port Tewfik) on February 8 – so I wonder if this letter to the Lairds was deliberately mis-dated? The Battalion Diary (ie 2/33 Bn) for February includes the following information about the rest of the Battalion : 7 – Arrived El Kantara approx 0800. Entrained for Tewfik 0930 8 – Sunday – Arrived Tewfik 9 – 0830 Bn march out of camp Tewfik to point of embarkation thence by lighter to USS Mount Vernon. Sailed approx 1630hrs.

Photo from The Footsoldiers – “1000 men” embarking for the Pacific at Port Tewfik, Suez, February 1942.

AWM 023648 : 7th Australian Division Engineers packed into a lighter en route to their troopship.

AWM 303655 : The Mount Vernon.

The War Diary of the 2/25 Bn indicates that on Feb 5, Bn Tpt and Carriers on MV Ettrickbank departed Port Said. I assume all the Brigade’s Carriers travelled in the same way. In this photo, the Carriers of the 19th Brigade arrive at Port Tewfik by rail (AWM 023644)

Loading a truck at Suez – from Soldiering On (AWM Christmas Book for 1942) : drawing possibly by Mr Frank Norton, pictured in the photo below (AWM 023666)

Operation Stepsister

The movement of the 25th Brigade was part of a movement of the entire 6th and 7th Divisions, known as Operation Stepsister. (ref AWM RCDIG 1070450) More than 60,000 troops and their equipment were shipped from the Middle East – some eventually landing in Sumatra and Java (then part of the Netherlands East Indies – NEI), others remaining for several months in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) but most destined to return to Australia before moving on to New Guinea.

Posted in Carrier platoon, Food and Drink, gambling and drinking, leave, Letters to/ from others, Middle East | Tagged Mrs Laird, Port Said | Leave a comment

What are we doing still here?

Posted on January 26, 1942 by felicityh54

TX1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

26th Jan 42

Dear Mother & Dad

Just a few lines hoping to find you fit and well as I am at present. I didn’t write you last week because of a sore arm and a dopey feeling like flu consequent on a couple of injections in the right arm. I suppose dad remembers the annual line up. Anyway it’s good to have it over and not to be looking forward to it.

Mail has been very light on lately, been quite a postman’s holiday. Ted told me nearly all the mail this last week or so has been English and South African so a we’re all in the same boat- I can’t complain. Tomorrow is normally air mail day and we’re all hoping it comes good.

Since we came into this camp nothing of much importance has happened here except that quite a few of the old hands who had been away sick and on stunts have come back. Ack Hallam and Nuggett Geeves are with us again, and old Claude Hill is back too – looking at least ten years older than when he went away. He’s had a pretty bad trot. I heard some months back that he’d been boarded and was going home, so got quite a surprise to see him on the parade ground this morning.

I’ve been over and seen Tiny a couple of times lately – he’s one of the most popular blokes in his unit and enjoys a greater measure of individual freedom and responsibility as well as confidence than anyone I know in the same rank. Hospitality is on the same scale as it was at 304 Liverpool St. You’re never there long before he gets one of the blokes to boil the billy and can always manage to produce some cake or biscuits. Of course knowing Tiny one doesn’t ask questions as to where these things come from – you’d hardly need two guesses. When I was over there yesterday afternoon he produced a couple of bottles of Carlton special and the Padre supplied a cake. (It’s a toss up which of those two is the biggest b…. artist) then we had a couple of hamburgers and went to the pictures.

When we didn’t get any mail last week all the fellows thought they’d been wiped and conversation centred round the subject for days. In the mess one day I remarked to a fellow that he didn’t look too pleased with himself. He said no – I think the milkman’s got in on me. Another chap said how do you know it’s not the butcher ? Well he said I wouldn’t mind if it was the butcher but I can’t wear the milkman. As we couldn’t see what difference it made, he said – well, blood’s thicker than water. It wasn’t a bad one was it?

We saw our first evidence of real American participation in the shape of a big bomber with the American markings. We’ve seen plenty of their planes but this was the first without British markings.

The war in the Far East has assumed rather ugly proportions. The Salvation Army hut is crowded every night when the news comes on and the sales of the local rag have trebled. The somewhat detached sentiment and feelings with which we’ve regarded the war have been succeeded by intense patriotism and an urge to get into it and the question on everybody’s lips is what are we doing here still? I suppose no matter where we fight it’s for the same results but it’s damned disconcerting just the same.

I must say cheerio now Mother & Dad. Keep your chins up. Best regards to all my friends, including the boys.

Your loving son

Max

am enclosing three snaps.

Air mail restrictions

Routine orders of Jan 5 – use letter cards as far as possible, or letters with a maximum of 2 pages of airmail paper.

Tiny Schultz …304 Liverpool St

Tiny was Dick (actually, Cecil) Schultz. There are many references in previous letters to Dick’s tact and diplomacy, which Dad identified as being responsible for him having privileges that other sergeants would not. Dick’s home address was 304 Liverpool St Hobart. I’m intrigued that his wife and children are never mentioned by name or referred to other than e.g. – Have you been up to 304 Liverpool St? This particular letter suggests that Dick was responsible for the hospitality visitors experienced there.

American planes

photo B-24D Liberator

From Wikipedia: The US Air Force began planning for a buildup of American air power in the Middle East in January 1942 in response to a request from the British Chief of the Air Staff. The initial unit to arrive consisted of twenty-three B-24D Liberator heavy bombers with hand-picked crews. It had initially been assigned to the China/ Burma/ India theatre to attack Japan from airfields in China but after the fall of Rangoon the Burma Road was cut so the detachment could not be logistically supported in China.

What area we doing still here? : The war in the Far East has assumed rather ugly proportions

In a Salvation Army hut in Palestine AWM 002234 – The broadcasts would have been censored, so most likely the sentiments expressed in the article below were not heard directly – the troops would have had to wait for (old) newspapers to be delivered, to learn of such views.

From The Melbourne Argus – Wednesday Jan 14 1942 – front page :

HEAVY ENEMY PRESSURE IN MALAYA : Singapore, Tuesday. British forces that retired to Seremban, 30 miles south of Kuala Lumpur, yesterday are engaged in severe fighting with the Japanese, who are exerting heavy pressure. Domei, the Japanese agency, says that Australian troops bore the brunt of the Japanese attack in the Kuala Lumpur region, but they were compelled to retreat. Tarakan Island, off the east coast of Borneo, on which Japanese landed on Sunday, has capitulated, it is officially stated in Batavia, and the garrison has been evacuated to the mainland. Dutch planes are bombing Japanese warships near the island. Reuter’s special correspondent states that as he drove through Kuala Lumpur on Sunday he heard sounds of heavy explosions behind him as bridges were blown up. Clouds of smoke arose as he left the city and he believed the railway station had been set on fire. Japanese planes are attempting heavier raids on Singapore. So far they have met with little success….Three formations of enemy planes came over, numbering 125 in all. Each time they were engaged by Allied fighter planes. Fierce artillery battles are going on along the whole front in the Philippines, Washington communique states. Ground activity is increasing as fresh enemy troops move into frontline positions. Enemy air attacks have been renewed….UAF planes from Burma made heavy attacks on Japanese concentrations in Thailand…Heavy fighting is still in process in Minahassa province, Celebes, where Japanese troops also landed at three places on Sunday…..Daily Express says in a leader that the threat to Singapore, which is the key to the whole western and southern Pacific, becomes hourly graver, and British people who had been assured that all Malaya could be defended, have been humiliated but the tremendous sacrifices that our outnumbered forces are making in their delaying action while planes are rushed out to them…It daily becomes clearer that the Far East has produced a crop of incompetent wind-bags and that those who wanted to speak out about mis-management have been gagged, censored, and obstructed….If Sir Archibald Wavell sees fit to take drastic measures against slothful officialdom he will have the thanks of the whole alliance.

Posted in The course of the war | Tagged American bomber, DIck Schultz, Far East | Leave a comment

News from home : sunburn while picking cherries, scant sympathy or understanding for returned amputee

Posted on January 19, 1942 by felicityh54

from M & H Hickman (or possibly Mrs H Hickman)

Pottery Rd Lenah Valley

Hobart Tasmania

January 12th, 1942

Darling Boy. Once again we write the weekly bulletin hoping it finds you in the pink as it leaves us at present. We have had a very good New Year so far. Worbeys were very short of cherry pickers so we went up for a few days. Your mother made the arrangements. She went for four days. The crop was very poor. I went up to help her the second day. In fact I put in three days – one of them was the hottest of the season and as I was the only man present I fell in for most of the topping. To cut a long story short, I got frightfully sunburnt – my lips are something frightful. You can imagine how I was. I gave Eric Carrick two (?) bob to shave me. We earned £ 2/7/6. I took the odd silver. It cost me more than that to quench my thirst.

At the Club on Friday I was with Doug Murrel. He is quite a decent sort now – shouts in his turn like a good sport. Jack Chandler and Max Phillips and his wife and daughter were here yesterday afternoon. Personally I fell in love with the kid. I think she’s a little beauty. She made great friends with both Peter and I. It’s a long time since I met a baby I took such a fancy to. Max Phillips is very thin, but Jack is just about the same as when you saw him last. He does not seem to go [like?] our wine too well so when Max Phillips had gone I produced a couple of bottles of Melbourne Bitter. That was more to Jack’s liking. Jack leaves for home tomorrow – Tuesday January 13th. His mother in law has been staying with his wife in his absence.

Old Beddome died a couple of days ago. They have a write up about him in today’s ‘Mercury’. Audrey & Max are just the same as when you knew them. The baby seems to take after them. Nothing seems to worry it. Audrey is a giant (?). They have been staying with Mrs Phillips through the holidays but have stayed with some people along Augusta Road for the last few days who Audrey said spoilt them and the baby. Ann has been very sick. She had tonsillitis with a very high temperature and had to have the doctor. May was frightfully worried. She is now very much improved.

We just received a short letter from you and also a group photo written while you were on leave in Tel Aviv. Pleased to know you are having such a good time. We hope you receive your parcels just the same as they should be quite numerous. Mrs Mason has had her operation last Thursday morning. Mal (?) came out on Saturday. She has had a very bad time but is improving now. It might make a new woman of her. The weather here is very dry and frightful windy. The Camerons are home again and are coming up on Wednesday. I have not heard anything of the Wilsons since they went away. Tom Cooper is coming up this weekend. We have not seen him since before I went to Melbourne. I have heard nothing of Ken Jenkins lately but Tom will know all about his doings. The dogs are all well. Will now close Max. God Bless and keep you. With best love from Mother & Dad.

PS I have not seen anything of Maggie (?) & Auntie(?) lately. I think I will go up this weekend.

She made great friends with Peter and I

Peter was one of the three family dogs.

Fruit picking

The Worbeys were related to Dad’s family – Alec’s mother was the step-sister of Dad’s father.

Photo – land army women picking berries – from Hobart at War 1939 to 1945 – C. J. Dennison 2008

Jack Chandler

A great friend of Dad’s, Jack was on the staff at the Ashley Boys Home (basically a remand centre) in Deloraine. He was not permitted to enlist.

This letter from Jack mentions the visit to Dad’s parents referred to above:

Ashley Home

Deloraine

Feb 2nd 1942

Dear Hickey

The interesting epistle of your exploits while on leave duly arrived on Friday last & it gave me much food for thought.

Incidentally son – speaking of leave reminds me of my holidays. As I no doubt told you in previous letters, the wife & I spent the Christmas – New Year week in Deloraine & cooked our own first Christmas dinner. Very appetising too & the eating of it was beyond all expectations. One word of advice son – be sure to marry a cook when your time comes – it’s very important. The wife’s mater came across for a fortnight & during the first week I took the opportunity to go to Hobart & have my eyes tested, procure new specs & buy a school suit of clothes.

Naturally I called up to Pottery Rd but on the first occasion the homestead was deserted, even by Tim, Bill & Peter who had joined the family fruit picking further up the hill. I left a parcel for your folk & retired just a little disappointed after peeping through cracks in the shed to catch a ‘unclely’ look at Jimmy Austin. Of course that evening your mater rang up & arranged a day for the Sunday, which turned out very warm. I walked up from Swanston St & met May & Anne on the way. Had a yarn to them. They both appeared well & had received your presents.

Arriving at the Hickman domicile who should be there but Max, little Audrey & the offspring – a perfect specimen if I may say so. Max of course had enlisted & been accepted – lucky dog – & has now entered camp (Jan 16th I believe). They – the Phillips – left at 5 & the pater, your mater & I settled down to tea & a discourse which you can imagine. All your trophies were brought out again, including the photo of you with your Scotch lass. You certainly haven’t lost the eye for beauty I’ll say that much. She caused my old married heart to miss a jump or two. The evening passed all too quickly & I had to leave – long after the last tram of course. My parting was terrific in fact you have heard nothing to equal it from even those famous 75s (?) Your mater as usual insisted on my leaving by the aristocratic way – the front door. A gale was blowing & when she opened the door the middle passage door crashed ….What a crash too. The result you can guess… & Arctic glass is unprocurable. Old Henry didn’t go into action right then. I think he received some shock from the concussion but I’ll bet he performed later. Your mater looked worried but by this I expect Henry has recovered from the mess.

Building still seems to be booming in Hobart lad. The mushroom effect to me, being most pronounced.

Many thanks for the cushion covers lad, but seriously you were too kind to us – a card would have been ample. However they’re here & they form a treasured possession of the Chandler household. Naturally we are living from day to day now. Lil’s time is up on the 10th. So far everything has gone like clockwork, just like little Audrey in fact. Your permission re the infants name if it’s a boy, arrived in plenty of time so everything’s fine.

Things nearer home look anything but pleasant now, but time & time alone will bring the answer. By the way I saw Ron Butterworth but not Ken Jenkins. The Club was almost deserted on my arrival there. Schools here are not reopening until Feb 3rd but I took up the cudgel – & used it – at Ashley on Jan 27th.

Give my regards to all the lads. Especially Housego whom I haven’t forgotten. Tell him to be patient & that I will write despite Hell & procrastination.

All the best from the wife & I to yourself. Keep the flag flying. Mick Mason told me about the ale, cheese & biscuits & I’m glad to hear you received them.

Cheerio son

As ever

Skinny J

From M & H Hickman (or possibly Mrs H Hickman)

Pottery Rd Hobart

Tasmania

January 19th 1942

Darling Boy. Once again we write the Pottery Road News such as it is these days, hoping to find you fit and well as it leaves us at present. I put in my usual couple of hours at the AIF Club on Friday afternoon. I think I had a little more than my usual. I met old Jim Butterworth who I had not seen for about a month. He spent the Xmas and New Year with some of his people up the Midlands. He told me that Ron – the chap that went away with you – was discharged last week. According to Jim he was not too pleased to enter civil life again. He was in the education department before he went away but is now trying to get a job as Council Clerk. Bert Boyes showed me a card from you and Schultz to the members of the Club. He seemed very pleased about it. Old Tom Cooper was here with his wife and two girls on Thursday night for a pleasant six handed game of cards. He told me all the news from the Zinc Works. You might mention to Schultz if you see him that they are back on arsenic solution. You won’t need to tell him any more. I think Ken Jenkins has been discharged as he plays cards in the Racecourse Hotel. Eric Absolom Ritchie (?) said he saw him play six games and bet a dollar each time and lost the lot. He won’t last long on that scale even if he is on a special pension. Old Tom tipped months ago that he would get into the pubs and sit and gamble. Quite a lot of people are very disappointed in him. I must confess I am not at all anxious to see him myself. To put it mildly, he has told some tall yarns. He told old Malby (?) and a few others that he was at Tobruk for a while. Those….jokers follow events too closely to be told deliberate lies – that gets a man nowhere. I met Max Hay in town on Friday. He has three stripes. He’s hygiene Sergeant in Brighton camp. He looks a perfect picture of glowing health and weighs about fifteen stone. Your mother received a parcel from you on Friday. She says it is a lovely thing but no hope of fitting her – she is much stouter now than when you went away. She is having a pretty easy time and she is a natural weight carrier. She’s not here at the moment. She has gone out for a walk but will be home soon. Laurie Fisher is working at Jones & Co but he has been in bed half the week with the flu. It seems to be going about. I met Jim McDonald’s old man and he wanted to know if Jim still has stripes. I told him I did not know. He evidently does not hear much from him. You want to keep your chin up Max. You have stuck it well so far. It will be a great thing for those who are in at the finish and I think this year should just about take it. Hilda & Rob were here on Wednesday night. Rob was wondering if you had met his brothers who are both in Palestine. Dogs are fit and well. Now close. God Bless and keep you. With best love from Mum & Dad.

Ken Jenkins

Ken was a stretcher bearer in the 2/31 Battalion RAP. He was injured during the Syria campaign (June 1941), and his left leg was amputated as a result. After leaving the Army hospital in Heidelberg Victoria he was attached to Brighton Camp in Tasmania and had several periods of leave before being discharged as ‘medically unfit’ in June 1942. Dick Schultz was also in the 2/31st RAP and prior to the war had worked at the Zinc Works.

‘bet a dollar each time’

Dad also referred to ‘dollars’ on occasion, and I still wonder why….If it were later in the war, when the Americans were everywhere (in Australia, and conflict areas), I could understand it….but it seems to have been a part of everyday language already. Maybe the influence of the movies?? Ten shillings?

Posted in Letters to/ from others | Tagged Ashley Home, fruit picking, Jack Chandler, Ken Jenkins, Max Phillips, Zinc works | Leave a comment

A good thing for the war effort, that there’s a Labor government in Canberra.

Posted on January 17, 1942 by felicityh54

TX1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

17th Jan 1942

Dear Mother & Dad

In spite of the Japs and everything else the postal authorities continue to do a hell of a good job. There was quite a packet of air mail for the platoon today – some a bit late, but most of it in good time. There were six for me including two each from you and youngster, one from May and one from a Sydney girl – a friend of Mrs Toomey who is quite a good correspondent. I had awaited your letter anxiously as I was interested to know how the election went although I quite expected a big win for Labor especially as they were on top in the Federal House. So Harry Hope made it eh? How did that other chap get on – the shipping bloke – I forget his name – Tom McKinley? He should have got in with that team.

I’m not surprised to hear that prices are soaring. Wages never go up unless costs do too. The way they’re pouring out the coin now, they’ll either have to bring in a new currency after the war or sterling will be on a dollar basis. I think good stocks or real estate are the best bets for security.

Australia’s first Christmas under war conditions was a marked change to the usual spirit. It’s a good thing for the war effort that there is a Labor government in Canberra: the workers accept conditions under them that would have to be enforced by a Nationalist Government. It’s not before its time that holidays were cut down. It’s quite interesting to contrast the present conditions and ideas with the almost comical attitude adopted in the first few months when recruiting was conducted among the unemployed and country districts and anyone else was considered mad. I remember a certain officer telling me not to be a fool, that we were only sending one division to show the flag – a matter of Imperial Politics. It’s certainly Imperial Politics now, but surely to Gawd they’ll sort things out better after this show than they did after the other.

May wrote a very interesting and amusing letter about Anne. She’s certainly been having some big times lately. May said she was quite thrilled with your Christmas presents. I don’t suppose she met David when they came out – she’d like him and Suzanne too I guess. I was quite surprised to hear May & Ben had been out – they’re certainly a great team. I think I owe them a letter – one of these days I hope to catch up with my letters but of course you know the way they have in the army.

We’re doing a winter training stunt at present so of course have left the barracks and although that aspect of things suits us well, our surroundings are nowhere near as pleasant as the snow covered mountains of Syria. We’re back on the sand so you know all about that. This place is famous for thieves so guards and picquet’s will be plentiful – as a matter of fact I’m writing from the guard room now, and although there’s a bit of a lull just now there was a small scale sandstorm all night and quite a few tents came down. I tried to write letters but the sand was settling too thick on the paper and clogging the pen and the wind was putting the lantern out so I had to give up.

Youngster told me quite a good story about the Melbourne wharfies who smelt out a cask of spirits – spiked it and got gloriously sozzled and then found there’d been a monkey preserved in it for the university. It’s a good thing there wasn’t anything but hops preserved in the officers’ beer we did up coming down from Glasgow.

That transfer of Mc’s seems to have fallen through. It was approved both ends and the ASC were going to send for him – that was about eight or ten weeks ago – but nothing’s eventuated since so it looks as though it’s been shelved. He’s been away in hospital since New Year’s Day – I don’t know what’s wrong with him but the popular version is alcohol poisoning. He was going for it pretty heavily for a while. The transfer I mentioned was to the Twelfth but mine was wiped this end.

Must say cheerio now. Remember me to Joe Lewis and the mob, and tell Joe there’ll be plenty of elections after the war’s over. All the best to Mr & Mrs Phillips too.

Your loving son

Max

Postal service

Extract from Battalion Diary (AWM52 8/3/33) – Routine Orders of December 17 – Postal Communication with Australia

The outbreak of hostilities in the Far East may ultimately effect the regularity of postal communications with Australia…Air Mail will probably not show its present regularity…some limitation of posting to light weight matter may be necessary…At this stage however it is not proposed to apply any limitation, and fps may make their air mail postings as hitherto. Surface Mail will probably take longer…Cable service – continuing to function and EFM cables may be lodged as hitherto……In General – all or any of these services may be interrupted or curtailed through…the military situation….all ranks will be kept informed ….be assured that everything possible will be done to maintain postal services with the home country.

Tasmanian state election results

Several comments here respond to the 21 December letter from home, shared in the post dated 29 December 1941. (including the one about many more elections after the war…)

Tom McKinley was indeed elected. He performed substantially better than Harry Hope who secured a seat on preferences – some of which must have flowed as Dad suggests from the Nationalists. For a full list of candidates and results see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Results_of_the_Tasmanian_state_election,_1941

First Christmas under war conditions

Prime Minister John Curtin’s message to the Australian people entitled ‘The Task Ahead’ was published int he Melbourne Herald on December 27 1941. It included the following : Australians must realise that to place the nation on a war footing every citizen must place himself, his private and business affairs, his entire mode of living, on a war footing. The civilian way of life cannot be any less rigorous, can contribute no less than that which the fighting men have to follow. I demand that Australians everywhere realise that Australia is now inside the firing lines.

Curtin’s message to those serving overseas

The Battalion CO’s Routine Orders for January 1 1942 (AWM52 8/3/33/6) included this message from the PM:

In the name of the Australian Government and the Australian people I send you warmest greetings from your homeland. As you stand guard at the outpost manning the battle station, be assured that our thoughts are ever with you and more particularly do we feel for you, as we know you do for your home folk, at Xmas time. It is very true that Xmas is amongst the vitalities for which we are fighting – not Xmas as a holiday period but Xmas as a symbol of the Christian way of life – a way that our three enemies of the axis would destroy along with our free institutions should they emerge victorious from this struggle. Today in Australia there is not the Xmas holiday period as you knew it. We are on a complete war footing, with all that it involves brought vividly to the minds of the people. To you, our fighting men of the three services and to our women of the nursing services, I send the greetings of Xmas with all the warmth of the great hearts of your kith and kin. And for 1942 let us be stouthearted, stand unitedly together and we can have complete confidence in the outcome.

Showing the Flag

The officer’s comment – Don’t be a fool: we’re only sending one Division to show the flag – reflects what was indeed a widely held view in Australia, in late 1939/ early 1940.

A winter training stunt…a move is on!

From The Footsoldiers: On the night of 12 January the Division was ordered to return to Palestine. The situation in the desert was not good. Rommel’s counter-attack was again driving the Desert Army back. On 14 January we em-bussed and with the tearful farewell of the crowds of citizens of Tripoli ringing in our ears set off down the coast road for Palestine. Debussing at Haifa, we boarded a train six hours later. We arrived at the hot, flat area of the Khassa tented camp in Palestine at 1700 hours on the 15th….At Khassa intensive six-day training exercised commenced with three nights out, becoming the routine. Range training in musketry and with grenades, unarmed combat and bayonet fighting, in the bull ring system, soon brought the battalion to the eve-of-battle tense-ness that we had had prior to Syria….All leave was now stopped, and although most had visions of action in the Western Desert, some were now talking of the events taking place in the Pacific. The Japanese had invaded Malaya and our 8th Division there was in action. The Americans in the Philippines became news as places such as Corrigidor and Bataan began appearing in the local Palestine Post and AIF News. We were reading that our whole Militia Army had been called up for full time service and the Americans had begun to land in Australian camps. Rumours now began to circulate that we in fact would be posted to the Far East and not the Desert… (p132)

Photo – from The Footsoldiers

Monkey in a barrel

The report below contains an account from the Sydney wharves which basically the same story – I guess it’s possible that a similar thing might have happened in Melbourne: http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/B4A06A4B-5976-4824-90E3-F67322B7B923/0/MillersPointOralHistoryProjectSummaryReport.pdf

Don McWorthy recalled : There was a couple of wine barrels (in the ship’s hold) made out of oak and a few of the old wharfs were alcoholics, so they got a little nail and went in between one of the boards in this oak barrel and they got a cup and tasted it and they said ‘Oh that’s all right, that’ll do us’. SO no-one went to lunch and they wouldn’t send it up onto the wharf in the crane. And then a couple of days letter this guy comes down and puts is head over the hatch and said ‘Is there a couple of oak barrels down there?’ They said – ‘Yeah, it’s beautiful – what is it?’…And he said ‘Well I’m from the Sydney University and there’s a preserved monkey inside there’…So they finally put it out on the wharf but there was a lot of sick people after that.

Nothing but hops in the officers’ beer

See post dated February 10, 1941 – War Diary, Glasgow to Durban – about an incident that took place on January 21 1941, on board Nea Hellas.

Posted in Australian, Tasmanian, training, world | Tagged inflation, Menzie family, sandstorm, transfer applicaton, working conditions | Leave a comment

A camel caravan in the snow

Posted on January 5, 1942 by felicityh54

TX1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

5th January 1942

Dear Mother & Dad

We’re into another year. I wonder what it holds. The passing of the old and the beginning of the new was a avery quiet event in these parts especially in comparison with the wonderful experiences of the last New Year as reminders of which I had two very nice letters from Scotland – one from Shirley on New Years Eve and one from Billie Laird on New Years Day. Shirley’s letter although airmailed was written on the 1st of November – she said she had just received your letter and intended writing you that night so if it makes the grade it should be home soon. She’s been transferred to a Glasgow hospital and thinks the new job better than the last. Incidentally whilst on the subject of letters, in addition to your two letters of the first & 16th December I’ve had one from Mrs Phillips and one from Mrs Jenkins this week as well as your very palatable parcel. Everything in it perfect and a surprise packet in the shape of a parcel from Jimmy Benbow – you remember him Dad at the Zinc Works. He sent me a cake and some cigarettes and chocolates – jolly decent of him, don’t you think? I suppose my Christmas parcels haven’t got through. That’s one of the things I guess will suffer this year – mail, both air and sea.

The only thing comparable to last new year has been the weather – it’s the coldest I ever remember. It’s been raining, hailing, snowing and blowing for nearly three weeks. Yesterday morning there was five inches of snow on the ground and this morning a stiff frost made the snow crackle like machine gun fire, and as we’ve been at range practice all the week you can imagine what it’s been like and as this is probably very mild compared with conditions in Russia it’s ways to understand why the Jerries have had to retreat from Moscow. The weather has been our biggest trump. I saw a sight yesterday morning that would have made a wonderful snap – a camel train crossing the snow-covered foothills. As one almost always associates camels with the desert the photo would have been a most unusual and interesting record. I am anxiously awaiting your next letter to hear the election results at home- your postscript is very interesting to me. It will be a big blow to his pride if the great HH misses out – he thought he could get any seat in Tassie anytime he wanted it but he’d probably get a lot of Nationalist seconds.

This is a terribly short letter but I’m afraid there’s nothing else I can write about except the war and as you’re probably getting little else in the news these days I want to avoid the subject. So Mother and Dad with best wishes to Mr & Mrs Phillips, Rob & Hilda and family, and of course the boys, I’ll say cheerio.

Your loving son.

Max

Training schedule

According to The Footsoldiers, preparation for desert fighting had begun in December: We began to camouflage our vehicles with the desert sand paint, the nets with sand-coloured binding, and our tin hats were painted buff. The new infantry organisation of Vickers machine guns to the Carriers instead of a Bren LMG, two two-pounder anti-tank guns, and the formation of an anti-tank platoon in HQ company, adders further fire power to the Battalion…..All were looking forward to some action, not with any sense of bravado but to break the now growing monotony….. The snows kept up throughout late December and on into early January 1942. Very little work or training was done, and most of it was now spent in trying to keep warm. (PP 130-131)

However, 25th Brigade Diary November-December 1941 (AWM52 8/2/25) – Training Instruction no. 9 (31 December) – instructs that ‘All units will devote alternate weeks to tng and defence works. The first tng week will commence on 12 Jan 42.’ Battalions were also instructed to ‘concentrate on close order and smartening drill, weapon tng, tactical tng as desired by CO and Night tng – patrols, attack, withdrawal’…with the extra note: ‘Subject to a fd firing range being avail units will include at least one fd firing exercise in their weapon tng’.

So – perhaps with the changes that had occurred in the composition of the Carrier Platoon and the weapons attached to it, there might have been some specific training for this group, ahead of the general Battalion training.

Camels crossing snow-covered foothills

This would indeed have made a wonderful photo – perhaps something like this – a postcard from another blog http://waltzingaroundtheworld.com/iran/zerky-in-persia/

Posted in Food and Drink, Middle East, The course of the war, training, Uncategorized | Tagged Billie Laird, Jimmy Benbow, Shirley Balfour | Leave a comment

letters from home : Christmas 1941

Posted on December 29, 1941 by felicityh54

From M & H Hickman

Pottery Rd

Lenah Valley

Hobart Tas

December 21 41

Darling Boy. Once again we write the weekly news such as it is hoping to find you in the pink as it leaves us at present. Xmas Day is only four days away and it does not seem much like Xmas. This afternoon we went up to Brighton Camp for a run as your mother has decided not to register the car again until she sees what the …. has in store. Things certainly don’t look too bright at present. I went to the Xmas social at the club last Thursday night. It was quite a decent turnout but the spirit of the old time shows has somewhat dwindled away. I met Joe Lewis at the club on Friday. He wanted to know all about you. He said “I wish to Christ he had been here for this election: he would have romped home.” By the way, the Labor crowd had a wonderful victory – remarkable considering the weakness of the crowd, admitted by their own stalwarts. They returned four members from every division so their victory was very meritorious (?) all over the state. I told you in my last letter that Hope was likely to lose his sinker (seat?) as he was the lowest on the Labor roll but the cut up was remarkable. He just got ahead of Plummer in the last stride. It looks as though there will be very few escape being in the show in some capacity. Anyhow the affair has got so big that I think something will collapse during 1942 when a country with vast potentiality(?) like America gets going properly I think it will make a wonderful difference. You should have plenty of pals now as all the Aussies are being kept together. I was up at Mrs Schultz one day last week. Poor old Auntie didn’t look too good. She has just come out of St Helens. Rather slow after having a breast off. Maggie didn’t look too bright. I think she wants her Dick home badly. We went to town one day last week and bought a new blackwood bed. We pulled the old one down & put it in the cellar. You wouldn’t credit the difference it made in the room. We had that bedstead for about 32 years so you can imagine how we miss it. Mr Elliott rang your mother this morning. They are coming up tomorrow night. Mrs Phillips rang up this morning to know about cherries for her shop but as we have let the place to Kile for his cows you can imagine how the cherries look. Your mother is sending you a parcel – a rather big one. In future she will send smaller ones. Anne has not been too well the last few days but I think she will soon recover. Don’t send any more parcels. Spend what money you get on yourself. You mother might go down to Mae Menzie’s one day after the holidays. She has invited me down several times . We had the lamb shorn today. She had fifteen pounds of wool on. I hope she does not get a cold as the weather is so changeable . The dogs are fit and well. That’s about all I can think of Max so will now close. God bless and keep you with best love from Mother & Dad.

PS When you come home you will find things an enormous (amount) pricier – beer 8oz for sixpence in all country pubs, 9oz in Hobart ales 1/5 [17 pence], about half the quality of when you left.

State election result

From 1906 to 1959 each of Tasmania’s five electorates returned 6 members to the House of Assembly. Prior to the 1941 election, Labor with Premier Robert Cosgrove held 18 seats and the Nationalists 12. As a result of the election, Labor’s majority increased : as mentioned in the letter, each electorate returned 4 Labor and 2 national representatives, giving a total of 20 Labor 10 Nationalist. Henry Hope was indeed lucky to be elected, when other candidates’ preferences were distributed.

Dad had stood as an ‘Independent Labor’ candidate in the 1937 Federal election, for the seat of Denison.

‘all the Aussies are being kept together’ ??

Not sure what this refers to….I can find no information about reorganisation of the BEF (British Empire Forces) to suggest that Australians would no longer be fighting alongside British, Indian, South African…etc troops.

from M & H Hickman

Pottery Rd Lenah Valley

Hobart Tasmania

December 29th 41

Darling Boy. Once again we write hoping to find you in the pink as it leaves us at present. Once again Xmas is over and our thoughts go back to the happenings of the past twelve months and wonder what the next twelve months has in store for us. The weather has been delightful – a little bit too warm if anything but I don’t remember better weather for many years. But shortages of petrol and national security regulations from Canberra curtailing all holidays except Xmas, Boxing Day & New Years Day, all shops to close at 6pm, no dog racing at night….no one allowed to go on holidays from the Zinc works – you can quite imagine how things are here. There’s a serious shortage of fruit pickers and the government is pleading for people to take on the job.

I was waiting for a tram in Macquarie Street on Xmas Eve. Dr Gibson looked at me very hard & said Are you Mr Hickman? I assured him I was. He said he thought I was dead a long time back, (but) looked like living a long time. A chap named Hughes built a five roomed brick house next to May’s. It has been finished about three months is still empty and for sale. He wants a fair (or paltry?) price but doesn’t look like getting it. I think Alby and Alec Worbey must be having a tough trot in their business but neither of them are in khaki yet. They will have to be pushed in if they are to come at it. Old Ted and Mrs Elliott were up here a few days ago. Old Ted is having radium(?) treatment for a dry scab on his face. Sounds like cancer. Mrs Elliott seems very unhappy – he never gives her any money. May Mezie & Ben and the ….(page 2 missing)

PS We received your Christmas cable today.

Shortage of Fruit Pickers

This article from the Hobart Mercury describes the Government’s efforts to support fruit growers’ efforts to find pickers. It notes that 100 employees of Charles Davis Pty Ltd had volunteered to spend the weekend picking fruit in the Derwent Valley. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/25842488

Christmas cable (and birthday greeting)

Posted in Letters to/ from others, Tasmanian | Tagged Christmas, elections, family matters, rationing | Leave a comment

Two letters: a glorious seven days’ leave in the Holy Land

Posted on December 28, 1941 by felicityh54

23rd Dec 1941

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battn

AIF Abroad

Dear Mother & Dad

Just a few quick lines hoping to find you fit and happy. I’m writing from the Australian Comfort Fund rooms in Tel-Aviv, being in the middle of a glorious seven days leave, seeing the sights and living like a prince in all the comfort and luxury of civilisation – sleeping on feather beds with sheets and pillows, bathing in porcelain baths and eating real food off glass topped tables with table linen, china and glassware and good Aussie beer.

I’ve been to Jerusalem and Haifa and hope to be back in Jerusalem on Christmas morning. Though of course there’s nothing of the hospitality of England and Scotland it’s a wonderful break from barracks. This is really the first leave I’ve had since six day leave in England so you can imagine I’m making the best of it.

Will write you a long letter as soon a I get back to barracks – all the best.

Your loving son

Max

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battn

AIF Abroad

27th Dec 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

I received your welcome letter of the 8th together with Christmas cable and quite a bundle of other mail when I got back from leave this evening. They made up a very pleasant welcome indeed.

As I mentioned in the short note I wrote from Tel-Aviv I had a great time. It was the first leave I’ve had for a long time and the first chance to have a look at Palestine so I made the most of it. Jerusalem is of course the most interesting place in Palestine, probably in the world and although the weather was crook it was an unforgettable experience especially at Christmas time. Although I was unable to attend the service at the Church of the Nativity at midnight on the 24th just to be there was great. On a trip a few days earlier I saw the church – the oldest Christian church in the world and the Grotto where Christ was born and a few paces away the spot marked with the Star of Bethlehem – the manger in which he was laid – both spots made very beautiful with richly inlaid work and gold candles. It is easy to picture the Grotto as the stable under the Inn. (The church is built on the site of the Inn) and to follow the whole story. The Roman Catholic chapel attached to the main church is a beautiful place. It is here that the Midnight Mass is celebrated. It was late in the afternoon when I got to Jerusalem and had some difficulty in getting accommodation and by the time I had done so was advised that it would be too late and as there was a real storm on, went to the YMCA and listened to the carol singing. Then at midnight we went to St Andrews Congregational Church – a very nice service too.

On Christmas Day we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – a wonderful place, part of it built on the site of Calvary. Most of the building is supported by immense scaffolding. From a little shop nearly I bought a mother-of-pearl Star of Bethlehem which I am sending, and some other little gifts. In the course of various tours I saw most of the religious battlements, including the Via Delorosa – where Christ carried the cross on his way to Calvary. At one spot there’s a convent built where Pontius Pilate’s house was and a plaque in the wall marks the pot where Pilate stood when he made the remark – “Behold the Man”. Another interesting place was St Anna’s church built over the cave where the Virgin Mary was born and nearby steep steps lead down to what is left of the Pool of Bethesda where Christ cured the incurable man saying – “Take up thy bed and walk”. We also went to the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley. On that trip the guide pointed out the Wilderness – and it certainly is a wilderness – the most barren desolate waste of rock and sand without a shrub or blade of grass, but really amazing rock phenomena – and the Mount of Temptation.

The New Jerusalem is also very interesting and boasts some fine buildings including the YMCA. The best YMCA building in the world built by a Yank on Yankee lines. The appointments and fittings are wonderful whilst the tower commands a marvellous view of the old walled city and the New Jerusalem, the Hebrew University, the King David Hotel, the Kaiser Palace built by the Kaiser in the early years of the last war as the centre from which he would rule the world but now used as a hospital. The Rockefeller Archaeological Museum commanded our attention for half a day – a fine place with very interesting exhibits not least of which is the Galilean Skull – one of the greatest arguments in support of the Darwinian theory. Though personally I think these things are freaks they certainly constitute a great argument.

One could easily spend a fortnight in this interesting city that combines so much history with so much modern architectural achievement. Even the least religious of people cannot but feel that the Hews and Arabs are making a commercial racket of the religious side of Jerusalem.

28-12-41

The rest of my leave spent in Haifa and Tel-Aviv were very enjoyable and gave some interesting sidelights on the development of Palestine and the character of the Jewish people. The cities themselves are monuments to Jewry – modern in every respect. Every language of the world is spoken. At the picture theatres most of the spoken parts are in English but the words are set up along the sides and at the top and bottom in Hebrew, French, German and Greek.

To anyone with the means to pay the service is excellent – better I think than anything in Australia and they’ve got a way of getting the cash too – outside the cafes posters tell what they have to offer. The first time I went there I decided on a steak and eggs at 210 mils. I gave the order and the waitress said will you have some bread and butter – yes, coffee – yes. The steak and eggs were good but very more-ish and the coffee was lovely so I ordered another cup. Then at the waitress’ suggestion, some apple pie & cream which was also very nice. Then she gave me the bill – 429 mils. The coffee had cost twenty five a cup, the bread & butter thirty and the apple pie & cream 139. 429 mils is 10/9 Australian – not bad on a dollar a day eh? Another example of how they get the cash was when I went to a barber’s shop for a shave. The barber themselves were men but there were quite a number of girls doing manicures, face massage and that sort of thing and each had a queue of our fellows lined up waiting . No wonder they think we’re suckers – ‘just the touch of a woman’s hand’ and everything else of course is on the same lines.

Just had a very interesting diversion. Ted Fleming (the postman) came up to tell me there were two parcels for me. Talk about bringing Christmas over well. Two bottles of ……cordial from Mick and a cake from Mae Menzie – what perfect Christmas parcels. Needless to say neither lasted long. They were gone in seconds, but the memory lingers on. Imagine the surprise Mick’s parcel was – when I gave McDonnell a drink the bludger nearly swallowed bottle and all.

On Christmas night we went to a Services Club show in Tel-Aviv. Had tea cakes, biscuits and wine followed by a sing-song and a dance. There were quite a lot of girls there and they sang and danced with us – quite a happy crowd. Jewish girls are very reserved and don’t mix much with the troops but I believe at the service club shows they’ll always be good company.

Well Mother & Dad I guess I’d better sign off as I’ve quite a lot of letters to write. Cheerio and all the very best.

Your loving son

Max

PS Old Ken seems to be breaking out in a big way. Well, good luck to him – remember me to him. (By the way did he go up to 304 Liverpool St?)

PPS Pete McCowan’s young brother took McDonnell out on the beer one night and drank him under the table, brought him home and put him to bed.

Comforts Fund Tea Rooms and Hostels

Australian Comforts Fund tea rooms in Tel Aviv. Volunteers provided free tea and cake/ biscuits.

AWM 011805

The Comforts Fund Hostel in Jerusalem wasn’t open until after Dad’s leave – but presumably all hostels were similarly equipped.

AWM 011797

Jerusalem YMCA

from Wikipedia – When the building opened on April 18, 1933, the event was attended by YMCA leaders from around the world. Every detail of the building, with its elegant arches, domes and tower, was described in the world press, which hailed it as a wellspring of cultural, athletic, social and intellectual life. The building is now a hotel. The tower Dad mentions is still prominent.

mother-of-pearl Star of David, and other gifts

Although the mother of pearl pendant is clearly not a Star of David, I think it must be the gift referred to here, as it has the word ‘Bethlehem’ inscribed on the back, and the image is clearly of the holy family. The silver brooch is described by the AWM as a ‘sweetheart brooch’ but as it was kept with Dad’s letters I assume he sent it to his mother.

A dollar a day !?

Since Australia only moved from stirling to decimal currency in 1966, he was a presumably referring to the American dollar which was worth about 5/- stirling or 6/- Australian at the time. Maybe then, as now, the US dollar was the ‘world currency’. I think as a corporal he was on more like 9/- a day, but even so, more than one day’s pay for the meal described, seems very expensive. I note that Routine Orders of 2 Dec 41 (AWM52/8/3/33) advise that: All personnel proceeding on (7 day) leave must have 10 pounds Australian in cash or in their daybooks.

Posted in Food and Drink, Geography and Culture, leave, Middle East, parcels, pay and conditions, Uncategorized | Tagged Christmas, food costs, gifts, Jerusalem, Jim McDonnell | Leave a comment

The Governor should…appoint a cabinet of responsible men

Posted on December 8, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

8th Dec 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

Very agreeably surprised to receive my mail this morning. Two days earlier than usual – unfortunately news of fighting in the far east arrived simultaneously and cast rather a heavy damper on things. The air has been electrified ever since. Although we had discussed the possibility of war in the Pacific, the real significance of it was never appreciated until it actually happened. Even now of course we can form only haphazard ideas of the world wide repercussions it will have – effects that in our abstract consideration were quite overlooked – anyway it’s an all in go now so here’s hoping the Yanks come up scratch and we can make a quick finish.

Glad you had a good trip Dad – May mentioned in her letter that you looked better for the change so the trip must have done you good – she said Anne was thrilled with the coat you bought and I guess Mother was pleased with her present too so the whole turnout seems rather satisfactory and of course the welcome from the boys was only to be expected. I don’t suppose they’d know me now. Incidentally I dreamt I was home last night . It was all so clear that when reveille sounded this morning I couldn’t believe I was still in the army but a few minutes later the roar of the CSM calling for markers for the administration parade dispelled all doubts on the matter. I can remember being in Melbourne quite clearly and was very surprised to find Frank Gaha managing a big business there – anyway it was only a dream.

We’ve had quite an eventful week here in a small way. Jim McDonnell got his transfer and will probably go any day now and two sections of carriers and personnel went away on some sort of stunt and then the sergeant who was left in charge was made CSM of another company so we’re a very small family now. I put in for a transfer to the twelfth last week but can’t get it till we get more settled.

So Ken’s going in to hospital again – not for another operation I hope – just to get fitted for a leg I guess. How’s he going these days? Has he got over his self consciousness? There’s a photo in this week’s AIF News of Ron Butterworth and some other twelfth blokes presenting a captured Nazi Flag to Col Elliott. It’s quite a good photo of Ron. There’s another photo of Cutler the New South Wales VC bloke. Although I didn’t know his name at the time I was with him or he was with us at Khibi doing some O.piping(?) for his crowd and when water was as scarce as gold dust I helped him out with a flask of tea – seemed a good sort of bloke.

I had a letter from Rob Cameron the other day and a photo of the chips. It’s a bonzer photo isn’t it? He told me that he’d tried to join up but hadn’t been successful – you can understand them keeping him back – but for the majority the war in the east means conscription. The government should have brought it in long ago. I wonder will the emergency shelve the state election – surely they won’t go on with that now. The Governor should have the power to dissolve parliament and appoint a cabinet of responsible men regardless of party – men like Snow from the Zinc Works and Frank Gaha. Get rid of all the dim wits that are running the show now.

Well Mother and Dad I must say cheerio now. All the best to you both and to the boys

Your loving son

Max

PS Thank Mrs Smith for her good wishes and return my very best regards to her and Harold

PPS You might remind Mick Mason that he owes me a letter

War in the Pacific

The Japanese bombed the US Navy base at Pearl Harbour and began landing troops in Malaya on December 7. On December 8, British Prime Minister Churchill declared his country to be at war with Japan, and many other nations followed suit. See this report in the Canberra Times http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/2595257

Lieut-Col Whitfield, Director General of Recruiting for the AIF is reported in the Melbourne Argus of December 9 as saying – “Eligible men in Australia have been waiting for the war to come closer before enlisting in the AIF…Now they have got it. The war in Libya and Syria has always seemed a long way off. Now it is at our gates. Our men of the AIF have been an early target in the Japanese offensive in the Far East and will be the spearhead of counter attacks. They want their mates at their backs. They want them badly and at once. I have sufficient confidence in the manhood of Australia to believe there will be an unprecedented rush to get in the AIF… ” http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8221486

Presenting a captured Nazi Flag

From : Hobart at War 1939 to 1945. C J Dennison.

The men are not named in the caption but the man on the right wearing an RSL badge could have been Colonel C H Elliott who had been part of the Allied campaign at Gallipoli and the Western Front during World War I. The caption reads – When wounded soldiers began returning to Tasmania, they brought war souvenirs with them. The two German flags were among the first to go on display.

Some sort of stunt

The Brigade Diary for December reports that on the 5th, organisation of 7 Div Carrier Coy commenced with HQ at Bechmezzine. Order no. AA2/6/12 was issued the following day, instructing the 6 carriers detailed from each battalion (2/31, 2/33 and 2/25) together with the carrier platoon truck carrying accommodation and other stores to report to the 7 Div Carrier Coy HQ at 1500 hours that day (December 6). See AWM52 8/2/25

I wonder if the carriers of the 2/33rd met the same conditions as these! AWM 022975

Cutler the New South Wales VC bloke

Roden Cutler would later become the Governor of New South Wales. the report on the awarding of the Victoria Cross for his bravery in the Syrian campaign was published in the Melbourne Argus on December 1: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8219813

AWM 134905 Lieutenant Arthur Roden Cutler

Frank Gaha

John Francis Gaha, known as Frank, was a doctor who became a politician. At the time of this letter he was a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council and the Health Minister in Robert Cosgrove’s Labor government.

Posted in organisation, Tasmanian, The course of the war, Uncategorized, world | Tagged Colonel Elliott, dreams, Frank Gaha, Jim McDonnell, Roden Cutler, Ron Butterworth | Leave a comment

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letters from home : Christmas 1941

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The Governor should…appoint a cabinet of responsible men

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