The Blog that might have been – 70 years on

A dearth of political leadership, farcical propaganda…and a scarcity of Nugget

Posted on December 4, 1941 by felicityh54

TX1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

4th Dec 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

I received your welcome letters yesterday and they both made good reading – glad to know that parcel got home alright Mother. When I got Youngster’s letter last week announcing the arrival of hers, it gave me cause to hope that yours had also made the grade. Parcels are rolling in here very well too now and thanks to you and Youngster I’ve had a very liberal share. The good things you send are a definite treat to the palate but whilst we’re in barracks we’ve nowhere to keep them so if you should send any more (for a while at least) just send toilet stuff such as toothpaste, shaving cream and nugget – nugget is always scarce here.

The weather at home seems to have reverted to winter again. It’s getting very cold here now but of course we must expect it because it’s winter (correct to season). The snow on the high mountain ranges is a glorious sight but the winds that blow down from it are plurry keen. The Barracks rooms being all concrete are naturally very cold too. It’s be great to see one of our big log fires that we used to have in the dining room.

Dad’s comments on General Blamey’s and Jorgan(?) Smith’s speeches are quite interesting but it looks as though the volunteer system’s dead. The Bulletin had a very apt cartoon on it in their October 8th issue. There’s no doubt death robbed Australia of the counterpart of Roosevelt and Churchill when Ogilvie died. He’d have certainly made a place in the sun (but) now – we seem terribly devoid of political leadership. Imagine the Trades Hall or the Victoria Club telling him how to run a show. The trouble with the others is that they can’t distinguish between peacetime and wartime democracy. The crude waste of public moneys on farcical propaganda glamourising the show is worn out. The old hands know there’s no glamour about it and every man who gets home wounded or disabled (except of course those whose imaginary complaints are in reality cold feet) gives the lie to their efforts so let them get down to business. To start real organisation both at home and overseas would set a new precedent in Australian history and give them a basis for the much boosted new order when the show is over.

I got quite a pleasant surprise yesterday when the platoon sergeant told me I could have leave from half past three till ten o’clock – the first I’ve had for a long time. The only times I’ve been out of barracks except for the brigade sports have been on duty and it was a break to get away for a few hours. Bill Collis – the ‘Albury Basher’ also got leave so we went together, had a few pots of Aussie beer at the canteen a good feed of steak & eggs and went to the pictures (half past six till eight o’clock) then we went back to the canteen had a few more beers and a chicken supper. It may not sound very exciting but it was a pleasant evening. There are few pubs in Tassie that I’d rather own than that little canteen – it’s an absolute goldmine – all bottled stuff but as they only sell by the glass they catch the coin. It’s one place you’re sure of meeting someone you know and I struck Saxe Coverdale and a couple of chaps from the twelfth – had quite a good yarn to them. They were from Launceston and although I didn’t know them there’s always a bond of friendship with chaps from the same state. They told me that young Pat Rafferty is their OC of Headquarters Company – he must be doing pretty well.

Dick Schultz and ‘the pom’ (McQuiltan) came in the other day on their way back to their respective units from tours. You’d hardly expect to see them together but there you are – the pom said he’d had a letter from his wife saying she’d seen Ken up the dogs with the drone (?) and Bill Munro – he wasn’t long getting around was he.

Well mother and dad there isn’t much news so I must say cheerio – All the best to May, Anne, Laurie and the boys.

Your loving son

Max

PS Jim Mc & Dick send their best regards

PPS I’m sending my watch home next week. I don’t know what’s wrong with it but it doesn’t seem safe to take it to local watchmakers. They don’t seem to know much about them and are damn dear. They charged Ray Ross the equivalent of 22/6 for a new post for the second hand. I don’t want you to send it back but if I can’t get another one I’ll get you to send me a luminous one later.

Blamey’s speech

General Sir Thomas Blamey, Commander of the Australian forces in the Middle East, was recalled to Australia in early November for consultations with the new Minister for the Army (Mr Forde) and the War Cabinet. According to a report in the Burnie Advocate of November 11 (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8217212) ‘He expressed astonishment at the complacency with which Australians were viewing the war. ‘It does not seem to be understood that we are up against one of the greatest personalities the world has seen. He has given ten years to pre sparing himself for the conquest of the world and he is well on the way to achievement’….’I have a message for the people of Australia. It comes from your menfolk – from the snows of Syria and from the hear and dust of Tobruk. We feel it is up to the eligible young men of Australia to reduce our task by helping us. You are leading a carnival life, and you are enjoying it, but if you do not take part you will find your homes overwhelmed, as were the homes of the people of France and Belgium’

These comments clearly caused a stir. The Melbourne Argus a week later reported subsequent remarks by Blamey, clarifying and certainly not retracting his comments. (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/8217212)

“I am not aiming at killing enjoyment within moderation” he said….He defined carnival spirit as ‘a general spirit of gaiety and pleasure which seems to exist so generally in Australia, coupled with a feeling of apartness from the war itself’…There had to be some relaxation but he thought race meetings several times a week a bit too much. “It is deplorable that large crowds should go to see young men play football” he said. “There is a far more stirring game in which they can get all the thrills they want. A reduction in the amount of sport in this country is advisable”….Addressing the Victoria Club, he said “We must realise we are in the middle of a life and death struggle, and that unless we win it the galloping hooves, the green turf, the flying colours and all that goes with them will of from us. We must put out whole back and our whole spirit into the winning of the war first”

In a related article, the Central Queensland Herald (Nov 27) commented on the success of the War Loan (see previous posts) and on the Government’s optimism that volunteers would continue to come forward to fulfil the needs of the armed forces –

The final success of the hundred million loan must give rise to hopes that the faith of the Government in voluntarism will likewise be vindicated in the matter of enlistment. In a national broadcast on Sunday Mr Forde said : “ The voluntary principle is a cardinal principle of the Labour Government. We believe that under Labour leadership the voluntary system will draw from Australia the last ounce of strength”. If the 100 recruits per month over normal requirements come forward voluntarily a lot of people will have to eat their words; and doubtless they will be jolly pleased to do so. But perhaps before that can happen more emphasis will need to be laid on the point raised by Thomas Blamey that too many young men are being assured they are heroes for making munitions rather than for using them.

The need for conscription had already been confirmed in Britain: The Central Queensland Herald the following week (December 4 edition) published a report from London, dated November 27 which was headlined – Conscription of Whole Nation: “Every man and woman in Britain is liable for conscription under a Bill which Parliament is likely to pass within a fortnight….” (ref http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/76231296) but Australian Prime Minister Curtin had led a strong anti conscription campaign during World War I and wanted to avoid such a policy if at all possible.

Albert Ogilvie

Albert Ogilvie was the Premier of Tasmania from June 1934 – June 1939 when he died.

Farcical Propaganda

The only ‘propaganda’ I can find (apart from carefully managed newspaper reports of the various campaigns) are the posters encouraging people to grow their own food, contribute to the War Loans, support those working in munitions factories, join the Women’s Land Army or enlist in the AIF – such as this one:

Nugget is always scarce

It’s hard to credit that shoe polish had to be sent from home or provided to the troops via ‘comfort fund’ parcels, rather than being provided by the Army.

Photo: comfort fund parcel being packed (tin of nugget in the foreground). ref – Hobart at War 1939-45 CJ Dennison

A few pots of Aussie beer at the canteen

Photo : an army canteen near Beirut AWM 022607

Posted in Australian, Food and Drink, leave, parcels | Tagged Albert Ogilvie, General Blamey, Ken Jenkins | Leave a comment

Christmas cake received, Christmas greetings sent and snow arrives

Posted on November 25, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

25th Nov 1941

Dear Mother and Dad

Once again the big day of the week comes round and the good run continues – this week I had three letters – Dad’s, Youngster’s and May’s. Between dad & Youngster they painted a very descriptive picture of the cup and the scene on the lawn after the deluge – what a pity it rained, but it was certainly Bill’s day out – fancy drawing the first and second horses.

It was good to know that Youngster’s parcel made the grade. I hope yours had the same success Mother. I’d quite given them up as lost and was saving my pennies to buy a couple more of those boxes, but now Youngster’s has got through there’s a big chance that the one I sent for you has also made the grade. I had a very pleasant surprise too this week – an absolutely marvellous Christmas cake from Youngster – when I opened it the mob gathered around and vied with one another in expressions of appreciation – expressions were even more strongly expressed when I cut the cake. I’d have liked to seal it up and keep it for Christmas but there are many factors militating against keeping parcels in the barrack room. Firstly of course there’s no place for anything other than military equipment and secondly experience has taught us the futility of hoarding in the army and thirdly and this was the deciding factor – three chaps who have been attached to us for about six months had to return to their units. They were jolly good fellows – one was my driver in action and we’d built up a strong friendship – among many other admirable qualities he was a good bridge player and his going has left a place in the four that will be hard to fill.

Dad’s advice and efforts in Youngster’s garden called for the highest praise. Youngster said she cheered him and Bill on by producing a bottle of beer or a cup of tea whenever their spirits showed signs of flagging. Anyway judging by that cutting dad sent, vegetables will be a gold mine. It’s good to know that both you and May have good gardens too. Poor May seems to be having a bad trot with neuralgia again. There’s no doubt about it she has more than her share of trouble. She was quite bucked to think that Laurie is sticking to his job. It was bad luck that the little dress I sent Anne didn’t fit. I wonder whether the blighter in the shop wrapped up the smaller one. I thought the one I told him to wrap would have been a bit too big for awhile. I hope the others fit better.

The other day when we were out in the carriers I saw Dick Schultz and had quite a long yarn with him. He’s just back from nine days’ leave – lucky cow – had a marvellous time too, he told me. He showed me a letter from Alf Mackie – quite a newsreel of events at the club. Alf reminded him of the night he and I were barmen – dad probably remembers it (Munich night). I reminded Dick that I had to take him home – but he wouldn’t have that at all. But if you happen to be up there, ask Mag if it’s not right. Young Jack seems to be doing quite a good job at High. Dick said he put my name in when the headmaster asked for the names of Old Scholars overseas. If all the parcels make the grade we look like being snowed in – incidentally the real snow is creeping closer down the hills every morning and it’s getting very cold at night. I hope we get another blanket soon.

The news these days is very stimulating. The desert show makes good reading and the Russians are still doing a good job. The desert turn out must be our biggest land offensive so far. She’s real mechanised war up there – tanks and airplanes – must be a fine sight.

Well I’m afraid there’s not much news and I’m not much good at imagining things so I guess I’d better say cheerio. We’ve been advised that this will probably be the last mail delivered in Aussie before the Christmas, so here’s wishing you a very Happy Christmas – all the very best. I hope I’ll be home with you for the next one. Chins up Mum & Dad

Your loving son

Max

PS How are the eyes, Mother? I hope Cunningham has been able to do them some good.

Vegetables

As in Britain, the Australian government was encouraging people to grow their own vegetables and keep their own fowls, to ensure as much food as possible could be available to the troops. This newspaper articles describes how best to use a suburban block to provide vegetables for a family : http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/australia-wwii/home-wii/food-shortages-rationing Also, the dry spring in key vegetable growing areas was pushing up the price of vegetables in Australia. The Central Queensland Herald of 27 November lamented the demise of fruit and vegetable hawkers from the streets of Brisbane:

It doubtless will have been noticed in the last communique of The Bulletin’s Brisbane correspondent that there has been a severe slump in the street hawking industry in the metropolis…”The high price of petrol and the rationing of fuel, combined with the high price of fruit and vegetables due to the drought, has caused an almost total disappearance of the fruit and vegetable hawker from the streets of Brisbane” says the correspondent. “At one time the raucous howls of a vendor or a cheap line of cabbage or carrots would shatter the suburban afternoon nap as effectively as a bomb, but today the hawker’s throaty yell is no longer heard. He has departed for parts un-known, like his brother the fish seller, his distant cousin the firewood vendor and his despised poor relation the bottle-o.”

Winter is here!

Although not from the 2/33rd and somewhat further north (Aleppo area rather than Tripoli), this photo conveys something of the conditions AWM 011414

Another initiative at this time was the establishment of Ski Patrols. Personnel from each Battalion were selected for a training program to be held at The Cedars in northern Lebanon. Some of their training program was recorded on film by Frank Hurley : see AWM F01154. The CC of the 2/33rd’s Ski Platoon was Lieut Balfour-Ogilvie.

Another blanket ?

I was astonished to read in the Routine Orders of November 22 that a soldier had been Court Martialled for stealing ‘one blanket, the property of the Commonwealth of Australia’ and that his punishment was 40 days’ detention. Although Dad doesn’t mention the standard issue, I assume it was 4 blankets, as there is reference to blankets in a later Routine Order (24 December) ahead of a move to Egypt: Four per man will be carried by personnel. The fifth blankets will be rolled into bundles of 10…

The course of the war – Western Desert

For a very up-beat report on the war in the Western Desert (Presumably typical of those Dad was reading), see the Cairns Post of November 19 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/42320816

‘The Club’

The Club was the RSSAILA (or RSL) – Returned Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmens’ League of Australia. Its headquarters in Hobart was the building photographed below in 1926. ref http://www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/R/RSL.htm

Posted in Camps and Barracks, Carrier platoon, Food and Drink, organisation, parcels, The course of the war, Uncategorized | Tagged DIck Schultz, RSL club, vegetables | Leave a comment

Action on several fronts – the barracks, the sports field, Yugoslavia and the USA

Posted on November 20, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

20th Nov 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

Dad’s letter and youngster’s came in this morning and afforded a very agreeable surprise. Although Youngster had mentioned that dad might go over, his quick decision caught me on the hop. Anyway I hope the rest of the trip was as pleasant as the early part chronicled in his letter. It’s a great pity you couldn’t both go over together. Melbourne is a lonely place when you’re alone. Youngster has written volumes about her garden consequently I was not surprised to read your praises of their efforts. The home garden must be good too – there’s no doubt about it with time, energy and water you can make a wonderful showing.

So Ken’s back in Tassie again eh. I’m glad dad was able to see him in Melbourne. He was looking forward to seeing ‘Old Henry’ and I’ll bet they did some talking too – all the old brigade would be under the spotlight. I showed Jim McDonnell that bit about Tom Cooper and Max Hay coming up and he and old Nuggett had a good laugh – only the day before Nuggett gave an exhibition of dad’s hand and oh – somewhere further back I scrounged a beer mug for a tea mug. The old enamel mug that I brought from home is still going strong but as I use it for shaving and teeth cleaning decided to get something else for tea. I’ve been using that beer pot for about three months now. Anyway I left it on the floor near my bed and Ramon Novarro stepped back with his number tens and wrecked the mug. Realising the futility of words I said nothing but expressed myself by throwing my pack rather hard on the bed and broke a bottle with it. I didn’t discover the second phase of the tragedy till lunchtime and by then the ink had soaked right through the pack – what a mess. The discovery and explanation brought forth the universal expression ‘that’s what comes of doing the melon’ and started old Nuggett on his turn. If you happen to see Ken you might tell him that Clarrie was down this morning and looks as fit as a fiddle. He’s just had a refund of twenty three pounds – Ken’ll know what that’s for.

I thought I had told you earlier about McDonnell getting his stripes. He and Peter McCowan got theirs just after action when malaria and sandfly fever was laying everyone up but like mine they’re not confirmed.

There hasn’t been anything very exciting here lately except for the Brigade sports last Sunday. It was a beautiful day and a real good show – quite keen competition in some events. The star item on the programme was the presentation of the VC ribbon to Gordon by the Brigadier. He was terribly nervous and apparently more subject to stage fright than physical fear, but such a show is very rare and not to be missed.

Do you remember me telling you in one of my April letters about meeting some Jewish soldiers whilst at range practice and what that Bavarian fellow told me about the Yugoslavs? Well there was a very interesting article in the Palestine Illustrated News written by George Maranz – one of the best informed and most logical writers on war topics. According to his article the Yugoslav Invisible Army are still a force to be reckoned with and occupy a third of Yugoslav territory. They have perfected a system of guerrilla warfare with which the Germans and Italians are unable to compete. The ruggedness of the country makes it useless for tanks and places and complete units of Jerries have been captured. The movement Maranz asserts is gaining impetus every day and Hitler has sent envoys offering complete amnesty for all concerned but they apparently know the value of his word. The repeal of the Merchant Shipping Clauses of the American Neutrality Act brings the States a bit nearer and though I suppose we’ll get a lot of surprises yet I think we can reasonable hope for the war to end within another year.

Must say cheerio now. I’ve just been told by a runner that I’m orderly dog again. There’s no rest for the wicked – and I must be a bad lot. Best regards to Mr & Mrs Phillips and to the boys.

Your loving son

Max

Brigade Sports, including presentation of a VC

AWM 021509

The start of the 80 yards final at the 25th Brigade’s sports held on the Iraqi Petroleum Company’s oval on the Latakai-Tripoli road. It was won by Private W K Barton of the 2/25th Infantry Battalion.

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The alarm race – one of the novelty events at the Brigade Sports.

presentation of VC

Brigadier E C P Plant, commander of the 25th Brigade, pinning the Victoria Cross ribbon on Corporal J H Gordon of the 2/31st Infantry Battalion.

James Gordon was a Western Australian who continued in the regular army after the war.

The Yugoslav Invisible Army

The journalist mentioned in this letter (Geroge Maranz) was also responsible for an article which appeared in the Cairns Post on 25 February 1942 with the headline – Invisible Army Defies Hitler from Balkan Mountains (ref – http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/42333396). An extract reads –

A recent cable reported that the Secret Serbian Army which is fighting the Axis in the mountains of Yugoslaviais now believed to be 200,000 strong – twice what it was three months ago. The invisible army fights almost a secret war; generally, the only news that comes out of Europe about it is a fragment from Axis radio stations, claiming casualties or admitting that panzer troops and dive-bombers are being used against the Serbs. But through Yugoslav sources, George Maranz and Harry Zinder, reliable Journalists, obtainedthis story, which was published in the “Daily Mail,” London.

The American position

The USA had maintained a position of neutrality during the 1930’s when a number of Neutrality Acts were passed. When Britain declared that she was at war with Germany in September 1939, president Roosevelt argued that the existing Acts gave ‘passive aid’ to an aggressor. The subsequent Act provided for American arms sales to belligerent nations on a cash-and carry basis, thus effectively ending the arms embargo. The end of neutrality policy came with the Lend-Lease Act of March 1941, which allowed the U.S. to sell, lend or give war materials to nations the administration wanted to support.

After repeated attacks by on U.S. ships by German submarines, Roosevelt announced on September 11, 1941, that he had ordered the U.S. Navy to attack German and Italian war vessels in the “waters which we deem necessary for our defense”. Following the sinking of the U.S. destroyer Reuben James on October 31, many of the provisions of the Neutrality Acts were repealed on November 17, 1941. (Ref – Wikipedia)

Posted in escapades, relaxation, fun and games, organisation, The course of the war, world | Tagged Brigade Sports, Jim McDonnell, VC presentation | Leave a comment

Roll call of bottles and a wild ride with the Albury Basher

Posted on November 14, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

14th Nov 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

We’re back in barracks again – our sojourn in the hills came to an abrupt though not entirely unexpected conclusion on Monday morning – whilst enjoying a game of bridge on Sunday night the sergeant was summoned to the orderly room of the Company we’ve been working with and acquainted with the melancholy news that we were to strike tents and report back to barracks on Monday morning. As though anticipating the return the fellows staged a party on Saturday night – last week being pay week they were all cashed up and as there was plenty of beer available made a big night of it. Our parties are rare events but always good and this one was particularly bright. It went with a swing from the start – wit and humour flowed freely and we and some community singing and two or three really good items from the platoon songsters – Smudge (?) Smith (a New South Wales chap) and Aggie Lloyd from Launceston. A couple of times during the evening we called a parade and had a roll call to make sure there were no AWL’s – not men but bottles. For supper we had biscuits – very nice too. Jack Reinke got an anonymous parcel – a twelve pound tin of creams from South Australia.

Sunday was a bleak & miserable day and we spent the morning in bed and after lunch played Bridge – a very enjoyable weekend and a fitting climax to our fortnight in the hills. Though of course everyone was sorry to have to come back they all felt the benefit of the hard work and mountain air.

The postman has been particularly kind to me this week – my return to barracks was greeted with three parcels – two very nice cakes and a parcel of good things from Myers. It’s very nice to get them but Youngster can’t afford them. Those three parcels must have cost her anything up to thirty shillings and as she hopes to leave work this Christmas will need her money much more than we need parcels. I’ve also had quite a volume of letters – seven in fact. It’s wonderful getting letters but in barracks there isn’t much time to answer them. We’re being kept very busy these days and nights too for that matter – manoeuvres and stunts and things as well as orderly and guard duties.

You always manage a very cheerful epistle. I only hope you are as happy as your letters indicate – but I’m afraid you must be camouflaging things, because Youngster said in her letter that dad seems very tired and not at all contented. That’s no good dad. Look on the bright side – it’ll be over soon and when I get home we can have some good times – this business can’t go on for ever. I’m a bit surprised at Laurie sticking to that job – as you say it must be easy or else May must have woken up to herself – it’s time she did anyway.

Ron Butterworth seems to be on the crest of a wave in Hobart now – he’s a jolly fine fellow and it’s easy to understand him being popular. I guess Ken will get a good reception too when he lobs back – incidentally when he does come home I owe him a quid so will you give it to him. I’m glad Dick’s broadcast was a success – that fellow makes a good job of everything – he’ll get places someday.

Youngster is still very wrapped up in her garden and home and very keen for dad to go over and see the improvement they’ve made and to have a holiday there too. So why not have a trip dad it’ll do you good.

One of the first things we noticed when we got back to barracks was the nucleus of the battalion band. I believe all the instruments are here and they have the men picked for the job so it shouldn’t be long.

I was out testing carriers today and one of them was being driven by a young New South chap whom the boys have named the Albury Basher – the wildest man who ever sat behind a wheel. He’s got some notable achievements to his credit, not least of which was running into an ornamental grill on the verandah of one of the barrack blocks and busting about ten feet of it – quite a commendable job. Anyway, getting back to the story – he was driving a bit close to the side of the road and caused a donkey to take fright and career off into the olive grove, leaving the wog who was riding it suspended in the olive branches – a very comic sight but I’m afraid he didn’t see the humour of it. These wogs haven’t got much sense of humour.

Among my other letters was another one from Jack. He’s still full of beans, sparking on all six, been very busy helping with a comfort funds drive – a lot of wasted effort but I suppose it keeps him out of mischief. Mrs Toomey was quite concerned that I hadn’t written for some time – she’s in a bit of strife with the drought. Both Mr Laird and Billie wrote very nice letters – so you see I’m being well treated.

Will say cheerio now Mum & dad – keep the sunny side up. All the best to the boys Jim McDonnell wishes to be remembered.

Your loving son

Max

PS Don’t send any socks or clothing of any sort – I’ve got tons.

PS Remember me to Mr & Mrs Phillips. I’ll try to write them for Christmas if not before.

Note from Billie (airmail Postcard)

Billie Laird and her parents had extended wonderful hospitality to Dad and his friend Graham when they were in Glasgow pre-embarkation for the Middle East, in January 1941. Billie and her parents wrote regularly, but few of the cards and letters survive.

28.10.41

My Dear Max

Well how is the life these days? Here it is just much the same, it will nearly be a year since you left, my it doesn’t seem that, but you are constantly in our thoughts. How is your novel coming on? Have you finished the first chapter or are you not that length. Now doing fine int he Land Army so will be away from home this New Year. Hope Graham is keeping better & is back with you. How do you like my snap, best way I think to send. Hope you so don’t mind. Cheerio. Love, Billie.

Manoeuvres and stunts and things

The Footsoldiers offers some detail on the routine for those who had returned to the barracks:…the week being organised into four days digging, two days infantry training, section, platoon and company exercises, and one day rest…..and included one night each week of cross-country movement and patrolling. The diggings for down to six feet, with parados and parapets. We filled thousands of sandbags and erected mile upon mile of concertina barbed wire fences…

Tripoli defences

AWM 021348

Tripoli, Syria. 11/1941 With automatic weapons and rifles C Coy of the 2/33rd Infantry Battalion stand ready in their trenches to meet any attacks.

AWM 021347

Anti-Aircraft Defence was one of the main features of the fortification of El Mina in the port of Tripoli. Here, members of the 2/33rd Infantry Battalion are seen with a Bren gun on Thaoulin Island. They are NX68874 Private B J Hollis and RX71460 Private G Hillier.

There was great concern among the Army leadership that the enemy would target the SPC (Syrian Petroleum Company) refinery and oil storage facility at Tripoli. This concern had resulted in the doomed ‘Operation Boatswain’ in May 1941 – a joint British-Palmach (underground Jewish fighters) attempt to sabotage the facility, in order to prevent that fuel being made available to the Axis forces. (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Boatswain) The photographs above reflect this ongoing concern. As well as the refinery, there was a ‘tank farm’ of 27 storage tanks, a pumping station, wireless station and workshop at the site.

The Albury Basher

The driver did have a real name – Bill Collis VX46227

Posted in Camps and Barracks, Carrier platoon, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Letters to/ from others, organisation, parcels, Posts and telegraph, training | Tagged Aggie Lloyd, Albury Basher, battalion band, Billie Laird, bridge, donkey | 3 Comments

Fancy thinking we’d commandeered her sheep!

Posted on November 4, 1941 by felicityh54

TX1004 AIF Abroad

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion 4th Nov 41

Dear Mother & Dad

I guess Tassie along with the rest of Australia and probably New Zealand too are still agog with the Melbourne Cup. The subject was not much discussed here until yesterday when someone brought in a copy of the AIF news with the final acceptances featured. Interest in the great race immediately submerged all other interests – a platoon sweep was started and Pete McCowan – who has been doing very well at two up lately- ran a book. I drew Yodvara- never heard of it before. Unconfirmed reports tonight placed Skipton, Son of Aurous and Beau Vite – my gunner, a young reinforcement chap from New South Wales (evidently he had his first shave this morning) drew Son of Aurous and is feeling very pleased with himself, and Pete got a skinner on Skipton – the only horse he hadn’t laid – so of course he’s a bit pleased too. If Lucrative or Beau Vite had won he’d been up for 100 livres.

Things are going along smoothly here still – plenty of work but that’s all for the better – there’s been very amusing incidents too. One day when we were going through a farm we tried to drive a flock of turkeys ahead of us and were doing pretty well when the owner woke up to us and sent a team of barefooted kids to rescue the flock. Still unless they’re evacuated I’m thinking some of those turkeys may yet find their way to Happy’s kitchen. These fellows don’t let the grease grow under their feet and fowls, sheep, goats and even steers have been known to stray from home. Another day a sheep attached itself to us when we were working on the road – a very friendly blighter but we didn’t have his company long. A very withered, bandy-legged old lady came toddling up the hill in a great state of excitement, thinking we’d commandeered her sheep. She came up to the sergeant, wringing her hands and muttering at the rate of a thousand words a minute. Though no one understood a word she said, her gestures were most expressive. It was no use trying to tell her the circumstances and the sergeant finally resorted to gestures too, walked over to the sheep and brought it by the string around its neck and placed the string in her hand and away she went, still muttering but this time with pleasure.

There was a battalion sports meeting last Sunday and transport was provided for those who wanted to go. It was our first trip in rubber tyred vehicles over our roads and besides many severe shocks to our system it was a bit of a jolt to our pride. We had thought or at least claimed when speaking of our efforts that we had built a wonderful drive but for a considerable portion of the trip we bounced from end to end of the truck – more often performing gymnastic gyrations than sitting or standing. The sports meeting was the first we’ve had and though quite a success the events were not very well supported. I had a go in a tug of war team (that also ran). A feature of the turn out was the presence of the 25th Battalion pipe band – a hell of a good show. Our Colonel took a fancy to them and is now trying to form a band for this battalion.

This time last year I was having the time of my life in Edinburgh on my six days’ leave. Leave has started here for very limited numbers – about half a dozen at a time – so it’s like drawing Tatts to strike it. A break would be very welcome but I haven’t any desire to go to Tel Aviv or Haifa although I should like to see Jerusalem and its surroundings. It would be tough to have to admit in later days that you’d spent so long in the Middle East and hadn’t seen Jerusalem. I think I told you that I’d struck the lucky spot when we were at Gaza and was dressed ready to go when we got word to pack – that was when we moved to Ikingi Matruh and there’s no doubt that we were intended for Greece but the evacuation and contemporary push in the desert sent us to Mersa Matruh instead.

Reading between the lines of the money columns in the Bulletin it looks as if the currency will be steadily deflated and the note lose its value proportionately. It seems that will be the only way to meet National commitments so if dad should see any blocks of land going at a reasonable figure I think it would be a good idea to buy them. Their value later on will more than justify the loss of interest and taxes in the meantime. While on the subject of money, did May do anything about that sunroom-bedroom she had in mind for Anne? If she hasn’t and still intends to, Mick might be able to do something with the east wing of the back verandah. If she’s short of money I’ll give her ten pounds towards it. A brighter, warmer bedroom might stop Anne from getting such bad colds.

Wednesday 5th

I didn’t finish my letter off last night as I hoped the mail might be in today and was not disappointed. In addition to two cheering epistles from you and Youngster there were two others from Jack and Mick. Very sorry to hear that your eyes are not too good Mother and sincerely hope the doctor will be able to do something for them. I suppose Pat is still with Cunningham.

The equinoxial season seems to be up to the standard but your vegetable and Youngster’s flower garden both seem to be holding their own. Youngster told me in her letter that she’s able to pick bunches of flowers anytime she wants them. They must have done some work in their garden alright.

After I had written last week I remembered that nephew of Jim Butterworth. Ron I think his name was – a very decent fellow. I fancy he was a school teacher – we were in the same hut at Brighton. I must say cheerio now Mother and dad and drop a few lines to Youngster. Regards to the boys.

Your loving son

Max

PS You never mention Jimmy these days. I suppose you don’t get enough petrol to use him much.

Different writing paper:

Notice the different letterhead, compared with previous and following posts: ANY REFERENCE TO SHIPPING OR TROOP MOVEMENTS WILL RESULT IN THE DELAY OR MUTILATION OF THIS LETTER (etc)

Routine orders regularly included invocations to be economical with paper – even suggesting writing on both sides. Most of dad’s letters are written on ‘air mail’ paper – i.e. tissue paper – where double sided use would have made the entire script illegible. This particular batch is of a heavier quality – but it seems to be a ‘one off’. I’m still amazed that paper and envelopes came in the ‘Comfort Fund’ parcels – rather than being basic army issue items.

Melbourne Cup 1941: The complete radio broadcast, called by Ken Howard (Curator’s notes by Martin Ford)

http://aso.gov.au/titles/radio/ken-howard-calls-melbourne-cup/clip1/

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most famous horse race and Ken Howard possesses one of the most recognised voices in race calling in Australia’s history. The 1941 Melbourne Cup was won by Skipton, carrying 47.6 kg at 8/1. He was ridden by W Cook, trained by J Fryer and the prize money was £7,700.

Howard starts his race call evenly and clearly: ‘They’re racing now in the Melbourne Cup of 1941.’ He then goes through the field of horses as they head through the first furlong, then he repeats the placings in trademark fashion until close to the line when he focuses on the leading horses. Such detail allows listeners to hear where their fancied horse is placed as the race progresses. Keeping pace with the horses, Howard gradually builds up the drama and speed as the horses approach the finish line, taking the listener right with him.

(I wonder if the troops actually heard the broadcast, at some point – if so, the gunner would have been even more excited because for most of the race his horse was well back in the field).

Syrian sheep

It’s easy to see from this photo how simple it would be for a sheep to wander from the flock. Source: soundslikewish.wordpress.com

Brigade sports

Photo – AWM 021514

According to Battalion and Brigade diaries, there was a cricket match between the 25th and 21st Brigades on Sunday November 2. The Brigade Sports Day mentioned in various official documents appears to have been scheduled for November 9 but to have actually taken place on November 16 (delayed due to bad weather). As Dad doesn’t mention the cricket, I wonder if what was happening on November 2 was some sort of lead-up to the ‘main event’, with the cricket happening in another location.

Leave…for very limited numbers

It may be, that in terms of the Company he was with, including the Carrier platoon, only six men were on leave at any one time, but according to The Footsoldiers – In November the two days a month accumulated recreational leave system started and was made retrospective for those overseas since 1940. Providing each of us had sufficient pay coming to us, ten days leave was approved for fifteen percent of the unit at a time. Soon men were enjoying leaves in Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Alexandria or Cairo, wherever they elected to go….

No doubt we were intended for Greece

The Battalion’s movements in March-June 41 (from The Footsoldiers) certainly suggest that plans were made and re-made as the war in the Balkans progressed:

9 March – arrival at Kilo 89 Palestine

(10 March – 9th Division relieves 6th Division in Lybia; 19th March – 6th Division arrives in Greece)

13 April – the battalion arrives at Ikingi Maryut, Egypt

(22 April – 6th Division evacuates Greece)

23 April – The battalion arrives Mersa Matruh, Egypt, occupies defensive positions

(20 May – German paratroops descend on Crete)

29 May – The battalion arrives Er Rama, Palestine

(1 June – Allies evacuate Crete)

8 June – Allied invasion of Syria

You don’t mention Jimmy these days…

Jimmy Austin was the family car. I don’t know what particular model of Austin it was.

Posted in Australian, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Food and Drink, leave, Middle East, organisation | Tagged Melbourne Cup, Ron Butterworth, sports, writing paper | Leave a comment

Joining a rifle company engaged in road building

Posted on November 1, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

1st Nov 1941

Dear Mother & dad

I’m a day ahead of schedule with my letter this week – with the dawn this morning came the roll of thunder and out to sea the white horses heralded the storm. We finished breakfast and decided to wait awhile before starting the struggle buggies and moving out to the section of road we’ve been working. We hadn’t long to wait and as I write nature is giving us the works in a big way.

We’ve been in the hills a week now. The day after I wrote you last week we got the good news that we would be joining a rifle company engaged in road building. The company we’re with are a great crowd and their cooks are the best in the battalion. The things they can do with bully beef and rice are amazing. The rules of the camp are that beer is barred during the week but if available there’s an open slather on Saturday night and Sunday is a day of rest. It’s a great spot up here about sixteen hundred feet above sea level with a wonderful view of snow covered mountains, some good sized towns and villages and the wide stretch of the Mediterranean.

The parcels I sent for your birthday Mother and for Youngster’s must have been unlucky because the parcels you got were posted about three weeks after the others. Your birthday present was a shell inlaid box with scarves and odds and ends that I thought you would like, and a similar thing for Youngster. They were rather nice boxes so I must try and get you another one later. I sent May and Anne a parcel at the same time and have sent Anne several little dresses since, so some of them must make the grade.

I’m sorry to hear that Bill has been having a bad trot and hope he’s better now . It must have been a cold winter for the three of them to get rheumatism so badly. Peter and Tim got over theirs alright I hope.

That horse that Edeline got a win with – was that the one Young gave her when it was a foal? Talking of horses I suppose the war and politics are completely overshadowed by the Melbourne Cup now. I don’t suppose half a dozen of the blokes here know what’s running.

Curtin’s certainly going in big for a start – a hundred million loan – that’ll take some getting – if he can do some good within it , it won’t be so bad but they waste such a hell of a lot that you see very little for the money. Everyone at home is more concerned with getting the sugar than with winning the war. Every newspaper we pick up from home is full of empty speeches and social news. It’s quite amusing to think of the so called society strutting their stuff whilst a country like England with real society submerges everything in the war effort.

Youngster says Ken is getting along well now and is able to get about on crutches so I suppose he’ll be home soon. I don’t remember that Butterworth chap but of course I wasn’t with the anti tanks long. Jim McDonnell had a bit of bad luck the other day. He was cranking one of the struggle buggies and the starting handle kicked back and gave him a nasty smack on the thumb and sprained his wrist so I don’t suppose he’ll be up here for a while.

The papers you and Youngster are sending are arriving regularly. I got a Bulletin 10th September the other day so that’s pretty good for surface mail – I notice in one of the Mercury’s that came in that young Les Lowenstein has started his military career well by marrying a Major’s daughter – that’s good strategy.

To see the places we’re building roads would be an education for some of the local engineers. It was tough for a few days but now that our hands have hardened up it’s not bad, in fact I never saw the fellows work with such enthusiasm. Everyone was so pleased to get away from barracks.

Time is certainly marching on. It’ll be eighteen months next Thursday since we sailed and on present indications it’s likely to be another eighteen before it’s finished. But it takes a long time to muddle through.

I’m afraid there isn’t anything else to write about. My letters must make poor reading these days – when we’re on the move or things are happening it’s easy to write but when things are at a standstill it’s different so cheerio for the present – regards to the boys.

Love

Max

We’ve been in the hills for a week now

AWM 021186: Jebel Tourbel topography : the nature of the terrain meant that donkeys were often the best means of transporting goods. No wonder they brought in the carriers to help with road building!

From The Footsoldiers : Storm clouds and snow in the mountains above B company picketing the Tourbel diggings. There is no indication of whether the troops in the mountains were sleeping in ‘dugouts’, tents or huts…AWM photos indicate that other groups were constructing ‘winter quarters’ such as these:

AWM 021945 :

Members of the 2/14th Battalion erecting tin huts for winter quarters at Madjlaya, a tiny village on the mountain road above Tripoli

Engaged in road building

According to The Footsoldiers (and as far as I can tell from the Battalion Diary – AWM item 8/3/33/5), B company remained in the hills ‘to piquet the diggings and equipment’ when the rest of the battalion returned to the barracks. The diary does not specifically mention the carrier platoon. However Dad is very clear that they were building roads, with a rifle company from the battalion – so this must have been B company.

AWM 008813 This shows troops working on the reconstruction of the coast road- the extra challenges in the mountains must surely have been enormous!

Curtin’s going in big for a start – a hundred million loan

See previous post (18 October) – war loans poster and Curtin addressing a public meeting.

Posted in Australian, Carrier platoon, Food and Drink, Middle East, organisation, parcels | Tagged bully beef, Jim McDonnell, John Curtin, Ken Jenkins, road building | Leave a comment

Esprit de corps strained: the new CO has a hell of a job

Posted on October 27, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

27th Oct 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

Sorry that confounded broadcast caused so much bother. I might have known it would. It would have been alright had the chap I asked to put it over done the job but at the last minute he got radio shy and got another fellow – not a particular friend – to do it. However if they come our way again unless I can put one over myself, I won’t depend on anyone else.

My mood at the moment is not very conducive to letter writing but as I don’t anticipate any improvement for some considerable time will have to adapt myself to conditions. The Administration are in the throes of rebuilding the battalion and things are tough. It’s an unenviable job. Although quite a lot of the old crowd are still in the show, the bigger percentage are reinforcements who have joined us at various times before and since action. The esprit de corps of the old Seventy Second has suffered from various ailments. At one time – in Tidworth Park and Colchester days – there was no unit more wrapped up in itself or better known among the AIF. The rot set in the day we left the Clyde. The conditions of life on the Nea Hellas although primarily the responsibility of the English O.C. troops caused a rift in the relations of officers and men and although in some cases conduct in action closed the gap, in others relations became even more strained. Then just before we came into Syria we lost our CO. The Colonel who took over his place was an artillery man – game as hell but his keenness was lost in underestimating the job and expecting too much from the men. And so in the middle of action he returned to his artillery regiment (and I believe did quite a good job). The new CO – to all intents and purposes a business man – finished the action with us and is still in command. The psychological effect of two changes in command in such short time had a bad reaction and today Corby has a tougher job than even Hamburger had in the memorable days when the 72nd had its beginnings. If he can awaken in the old crowd the spirit that animated – “we’re the seventy second and it’s fighting men are we” – and bring the re’oes into line he’ll be doing a great job. But in doing so he’ll have a hard row to hoe.

Quite a number of the old hands are trying to transfer into other units and to be quite honest I’ve given it a lot of thought myself but having weathered various storms with them it savours of leaving a sinking ship. In any case I rather think I’ll be back in the ranks before long because I’m quite definitely not going to be a party to the stand over tactics being employed at present. Ack Hallam and Jim McDonnell are trying to transfer to the ASC.

We’ve had a couple of really good concerts here lately. Dick Schultz’s crowd put on a show and an English concert party put on an extra good turn – good singing, good music and skits. One particularly good one on ‘The green eye of the little yellow god – and mad Kuroo’.

I’ve been both lucky and unlucky with parcels this week. Lucky to get them but unlucky with their contents. Last Monday I received four parcels. As I took them into th barrack room I was greeted with a chorus of ‘lucky cow’s I put the socks (from Youngster) in my pack, the tin of scallops from Mae Menzie in a box under the bed and proceeded to open my cakes -the heavy one first. Imagine my disappointment at finding it thick with mould. It had gone right through too, so I had to consign it to the dump. The second one was not iced and hadn’t been affected much – a hell of a good cake, we made short work of it I can tell you. the sea air plays up with cakes rather badly if they’re not sealed up – nearly all the chaps have and similar experiences with them.

There’s talk of starting a corporals’ canteen but it’s not getting much support from those concerned. Most of the chaps interpret it as a move to estrange them from the other men with the idea that friendship hampers discipline. The English units have a corporals canteen but when we went to Sabroan it became a farce. In some ways it would be alright but unless it’s forced it won’t last long.

Must close now. Best wishes to Mr & Mrs Phillips and the boys

Your loving son

Max.

That confounded broadcast

Dad had been visiting his friend Ken Jenkins whose leg had been amputated, at the time of the recording of greetings by the ABC. He had written out a greeting and asked another man to read it for him, but clearly this didn’t work out as planned….and the letter from Ivy (Youngster) shared below would have reinforced his frustration.

Photo : AWM 010441 Gaza, Palestine. 1941-10-20. Technician checking the aerials on the roof of the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s radio broadcasting station.

We’re the fighting seventy second

‘Hamburger’ Bill was Lieut-Col R W Bierworth, the Battalion’s first CO. When the battalion was formed in June 1940, it was designated the 2/ 72nd, but in October of the same year, this was changed to the 2/ 33rd. ‘We’re the fighting seventy second’ was the first of the battalion’s songs, sung to the tune – Men of Harlech. ( from The Footsoldiers) :

We’re the fighting seventy second/ Who sprang to arms when duty beckoned/ Men on whom old England reckoned – / We’re Hamburger’s Own.

Men from way Down Under/ Who’ll brave the battle’s thunder/ We’ll be there/ With bayonets bright and bare/ To show his Nazi Nibs he’s made a blunder./ Slashing, hacking/ Still attacking/ We’ll be on hand when the whips are cracking/ Seventy second asks no backing / We’re Hamburger’s Own!

Concerts

How did they do it? AWM 024100 : Tripoli, Syria Members of the 9th division concert party unloading the piano for a concert. They moved from one place to another each day and the whole of the personnel assisted with the packing of stage effects after the show.

This is one of the groups Dad would actually have seen (‘Dick’s crowd’ was the 2/31st)

AWM 021187 : Jebel Tourbel, Syria 25/10/41 Members of the 2/31st Bn’s concert party. From left – VX11625 Private R G Buckley, VX16601 B G Coombe, QX20749 Private J Byford, NX11337 Private P Brown, SX5215 Corporal J Kirke and DX1246 Lieutenant L G Gardner

‘The green eye of the little yellow god’…was (according to Wikipedia) a 1911 poem by J Milton Hayes that was a music hall staple in the early twentieth century. It begins – There’s a one-eyed yellow idol to the north of Kathmandu/ There’s a little marble cross below the town/ There’s a broken-hearted woman tends the grave of Mad Carew/ And the Yellow God forever gazes down.

A letter from Youngster: Work and family matters, the price of vegetables and queer dreams

Ivy also refers to ‘drama’ around the broadcast, and her intention to invite Ken Jenkins’ wife to visit. Her comment about ‘drawing on the people’s bank’ probably refers to the War Loans mentioned in the post of 18 October. My grandfather’s name was Henry – I have no idea why she uses his Christian name here – Dad certainly never did!

c/- F L Smythe & Co

140 Queen Street

Melbourne C 1

5th October 1941

Brother dear

For many weeks I think I have mentioned the fact that we had prepared some ground for potatoes and with the same regularity have expressed out opinion of the weather. Well, as regards the latter the opinion is still the same, but am very happy to announce that at long last the spuds are in. It was a combined effort, carried out in the rain. bill wore his leather coat and I my raincoat (and how we sweated). I thought we were never going to stop digging holes. Unfortunately a large portion of skin is now missing from the thumb and first finger of my right hand. Honourable scars, but damn uncomfortable when plying the pen, so if the writing gets worse than usual, you will know what the reason is.

Fadden’s reign as PM was very short and not very sweet, and now it will be most interesting to see what sort of a job Mr Curtin and his Labor colleagues (with the hoped-for support of the Independent members) will make of running things. If they can put an end to all these wretched strikes they will be doing something. Their plans for raising the necessary finance for war purposes seem to consist of inflation mainly – not that they use that exact word. I think they term it ‘Drawing on the People’s Bank’. I would like to hear Henry’s comments on this change of Government, they would I think be rather forceful. You will probably receive a concise version of them Max.

After all Bill’s effort in taking the wireless to bits last Monday night, and then spending hours trying to get Hobart, all we could manage was Burnie, so I went to bed feeling horribly disappointed. Then on Thursday I had a note from Mother which explained that you were not broadcasting after all as she had just remembered that you went to see Ken instead. I won’t repeat Bill’s comments brother, as the Censor may not like to read them.

I managed to acquire a decent dose of the flu last week, and had to stay at home in bed last Tuesday. Bill dosed me with his cure-all tonic – whisky and lemon, until in self defence I had to admit to being better and on Wednesday presented myself at the office as usual. At any other time of the year I might have been sick in comfort, not so with Income Taxes however. Work in general at the office and my part of it in particular is not making much progress, and we are likely to be in a spot of bother unless we get a move on. Really Max, you would have a real good laugh if you could have a look at our staff these days – that is if one had a good sense of humour. The chief hasn’t had a holiday for 5 years. Laurie has the same altruism trouble as I had, and it is wearing him down. Jack Kerr is going through a form of nervous breakdown – at one time the mainstay of the office, he is now quite unable to concentrate on his work, and spends hours sitting at his table with a blank sheet of paper in front of him. The other two lads are in Camp and probably for the duration, which leaves me on the Accountancy side, and I am definitely not the man I used to be. In fact it has been suggested by some kind friends that I was born on a public holiday – but I don’t remember much about that as it happened a long time ago. As things are, I don’t think I will be at all popular when I announce my intention of leaving at the end of the year, and although I hate to let anyone down – particularly Mr Smythe – I just can’t carry on with the two jobs much longer.

I haven’t been able to go out and see Ken since Thursday week, but will endeavour to do so next weekend. Bill is on the 4pm to midnight this week and he may be able to go out one afternoon before work. I really must ask Mrs Jenkins out here one day, will have to see how I feel next week.

Vegetables continue to rise in price and this week old potatoes were 6lbs for 1/-, onions 5d per lb, and carrots 3d per carrot, apples 8d a lb so one way and another things are tough. I think I mentioned in a previous letter that there is now a Potato Board in addition to the Apple and Pear Board, and the Egg Board. Now, from what we are told, there is going to be a tomato board, and probably bean and pea board. So far as I can make out, the only people who benefit are the Board, the growers get next to nothing. The public have to pay high prices and the taxpayers foot the bill for the loss. It is all rather amazing. When we can grow our own vegetables I will be very pleased.

Bill’s young brother wrote to thank me for the cake I made for his birthday, apparently it was alright. So, after my own experience I was much relieved to hear that his was a success. He quite likes the Air Force, although will be better pleased when he gets work on engines instead of drill and bush camps. He may be sent to Melbourne which he refers to as the ‘land of perpetual sunshine’ – he’s telling us!

After three weeks of the day watch, Bill is back on the 4pm to midnight so I’m feeling a bit lonely tonight. Cobber has had a hard day, one way and another and is now snoring loudly in the armchair. He says it’s a dog’s life! – and how we envy him at times.

I have been having queer dreams all last week, and last night’s was the queerest of them all. For some reason I was trying to hand you six bottles of beer, and all the strife I went through carrying that beer from place to place, and never quite managing to get it to you. When I awoke this morning my arm felt very heavy and when I explained to my better half, he merely remarked that I must have been lying on my arm, and anyhow I was a boozy little blighter even breaming about beer.

I would like to send you Canteen Orders again Max. I suppose you could use them now – will you let me know in your next letter.

Bill and Cobber and the soaks and their kindest regards Max. All the best, brother dear and lots of love.

Ivy

Canteen Orders

These could be sent to servicemen, to be redeemed as they chose at the nearest Army canteen.

example from http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot/?id=81142

Posted in Australian, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Food and Drink, Letters to/ from others, organisation, parcels | Tagged broadcast, Col Corby, concerts, Ivy Drysdale, reinforcements, vegetables | Leave a comment

Better tucker, Aussie beer and tinned Tassie apples

Posted on October 18, 1941 by felicityh54

TX1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

18 Oct 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

I’m certainly on the crest of a wave with mail – letters, parcels and papers. Eight Aussie letters and five from Scotland in a week, together with a bundle of papers and though I can’t get it yet I believe there’s a parcel for me – will tell you all about it before I close this letter. The letters should answer your query as to whether I’m getting any letters from Shirley. Two of the letters from Scotland were from her and a letter card. She’s been on holidays in the south of England – and says she feels a million. Among my Aussie letters was one from Max Phillips – the best I’ve had from him – he goes into camp at the end of the year. I guess he’s a cinch to get a captaincy (judging from the way they’re throwing pips about at home now). He should make a good officer too – I may meet up with him sometime because there’s a long way to go yet. Another surprise was a letter from Ellen Walker – a breezy little note – she said Perc said if I ever pinch any boots to get Canadian – they’re softer. She said she supposed when I get home dad will let me have the floor – he has it every Friday night at present. It must have been funny, the Doctor putting Mrs Jones on a diet.

That interview Ken gave the Herald was in Youngster’s letter last week. I fancy I mentioned it in my last letter. I can hear a lot of people commenting on how my voice has changed when that broadcast goes over, however they won’t know.

Laurie’s certainly taken on a tough job – unless it’s easy going I can’t see him lasting long – besides being hard it’s the most uninteresting job in the world. That’s the munitions works he’s at, is it? Is it a Government job or has it been let by contract?

I’ve not seen any Syrian stamps in Tripoli but if I can strike anyone going to Beyrouth I’ll get them to buy a card. Cards of used stamps are sold in the streets so you can expect them in the next letter. Between your letter and youngster’s I’ve got a pretty fair text of the Budget (Fadden’s). It’s certainly severe and youngster raises a rather moot point when she says where’s the money coming from to repay the loans. Still the first job is to win the war.

You sound as though you’re going in for turkeys in a big way but I don’t suppose the whole setting will come good – anyway they should be pretty right by Christmas twelve months. They go in for poultry a lot over here – in fact if you have a meal away from barracks it’s not safe to order anything but poultry. Their mutton usually consists of old goat and their steak is I’m afraid broken down camel. Whilest on the gastronomical outlook our tucker’s improved a lot lately. In fact for the last week we’ve had Aussie beer – a rare treat.

19-10-41

I had got so far yesterday afternoon when one of the sergeants came in and told me I had the town guard so of course letters must wait. Before coming down I collected my parcel. It was from Mae Menzie – a tin of cooked apples. We bought a tin of cream at the canteen and had them for dinner today – by Jove they were nice – the first real cooked apples we’ve had since we left home. Just cooked to a turn, they made a fine dessert after our stew.

This morning (through the medium of one of the chaps who speaks French pretty well) I got some stamps from the fellows working at the fire station – quite a good collection too. They should please your correspondent well.

We’ve been getting a foretaste of winter this week – rain and cold. The snow is fairly thick on the mountains so we’ve got a fair idea how things are in Russia.

The other chaps were getting photos taken this morning so I thought I’d get mine taken too. We’re getting them at five o’clock but I’m not very sanguine as to the job. There were two fellows in the studio. One was out in the direction in which I’m looking and lining me up sort of business and the other fellow pulled the trigger so I’m expecting something rather vacant or starry – unless they’re too bad I’ll put one in this letter.

Must say cheerio now. Best regards to Tom & Dorrie and Tom & Mrs Cooper and the boys. I hope they’ve recovered from their rheumatism.’Love

Max

…if I ever pinch boots to get Canadian….

It seems there was quite a lot of ‘pilfering’ and ‘trading’ going on.

From AWM item no. 8/3/33/5 (Battalion diary August – December 1941):

The CO’s Routine Orders of 8 October lists a remarkable array of ‘Stolen Arms, Equipt etc’ – including a revolver, a pistol, aLMG and magazine with 20 rounds of ammunition, a case containing electrician’s tools, binoculars, clothing including boots, kit bags, haversacks, a table radio and a spare wheel!!

On 13 October, Routine Orders included the following – Loot and Traffic in Arms : It has been definitely established that members of HM forces have been selling captured arms and ammunition. From this, it is clear that the existing orders on this subject are not being obeyed….Anyone who disposes of captured arms…is directly assisting the enemy…Such action is an offence punishable by a sentence of two years imprisonment.

Another perspective comes from interviews of veterans undertaken as part of Frances Miley’s research as the National Archives Frederick Watson Fellow in 2005, and quoted in a paper she presented the following year: http://www.naa.gov.au/Images/Miley_tcm16-35762.pdf

Clothing … we flogged all our old stuff to the Arabs. (Private, Middle East)

In the Middle East, the locals were starving. We traded with them. A tin of bully beef was worth a dozen eggs. They had free-range chickens and there were always eggs. We traded a lot. The local railway station was the place to trade. A tin of bacon got a really large quantity of eggs … I forget how many. We got oranges, tomatoes and other things that way too….(Lieutenant)…

Photo AWM 008752 Caption: The Arabs, although of a friendly character and generally without vice, are inherently kleptomaniac so that when an Australian unit found much of its equipment was missing the local headman was rounded up and persuaded to help in the search which proved quite successful.

Further to this caption, an extract from an article entitled Loot on the Instalment Plan, published in the ‘Christmas Book’ Active Service: with Australia in the Middle East –

‘Mafeesh abaden’ the village headman says with determination and an air of finality. ‘There is nothing at all’. As the interpreter harangues him, prompted by the salvage office, he interpolates again and again ‘Mafee, mafee, mafee’. He denies savagely. He denies with pathos. The battle of wits goes on perhaps for hours. Certainly it is never brief. Then the headman concedes that he has a few small things – an aluminium dixie, a roll of blankets, an empty oil drum. He produces them with a grand gesture while his sons, all chips off the old block and all apparently the same age, look sulkily on. They see their work as the family scavengers wasted. But this is nothing – only the first instalment of a long repayment, with the looter fighting every inch.

‘What about the rifles?’ ……….. Pontifically the salvage man frowns and the headman waits as a runner waits for the gun, ready with as many denials as he has items of loot.

We have blankets, ammunition boxes, batteries and so on; but what about the greatcoats, clothing, limber wheels, pins, boots and…rifles. ‘Mafeesh abaden’ the mouktar wails. ‘Nothing, nothing at all’…..Then he produces two pairs of badly worn issue boots and promises to check up on the villagers. Honour is saved and he probably knows just where to lay his hands on all the stuff.

The boots do not seem worth salvaging but they must be taken on principle. It’s the old story of the inch and the ell. Winner takes all in the salvage game. If he does not, her is brewing trouble for himself and the contempt that the shyster has for the sucker. He must take everything, see everything, believe nothing, and never, never take nothing for an answer. (VX17681)

The job is to win the war

Photo : AWM 042769

The Adelaide Advertiser reported on October 8 1941 that new Prime Minister John Curtin had launched a ‘War and works loan’ at a public meeting in Sydney. (http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/44960764) He said that 100 million pounds was needed, and encouraged every Australian to support his appeal. ‘He appealed for voluntary contributions to the loan and expressed his opposition to the people being called upon to make compulsory loans to the Government. Mr Curtin was received with great enthusiasm and 2,000 people who were unable to enter the hall cheered the new Prime Minister enthusiastically.’ The former PM Arthur Fadden can be seen in the bottom right of the photo. He also spoke at the meeting, emphasising his solidarity with the new PM: ‘The Government of the Commonwealth, no matter what Government it is, has a great responsibility today. I care not what Government is in power in Australia. Politics do not count. We must and we will win this war. Nothing else matters’. The Minister for the Army, Mr Spender, used the opportunity to express his regret that recruiting was falling off.

Poster – from john.curtin.edu.au

Apples from Mae Menzie

The Menzie family were close friends, and were apple growers in the Huon valley. The tin in question would have been filled at the Henry Jones factory on the Hobart waterfront, and might have carried this label.

Posted in Australian, Food and Drink, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, parcels, Posts and telegraph | Tagged Ellen Walker, Ken Jenkins, Laurie Fisher, Mae Menzie, Max Phillips, pilfering, Shirley Balfour, trading | Leave a comment

A mail bonanza, but snowed in with barrack duties

Posted on October 9, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

9th Oct 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

Your welcome letters of the 15th and 22nd of Sept arrived yesterday along with two of similar dates from Youngster and one from Mrs Toomey. The Tasmanian and Victorian mail had missed the plane the previous week. Early in the week I received quite a big bundle of papers (accumulated over a fair period) in fact almost the entire paper mail for the platoon was for Ack Hallam and myself – I got several copies of Pix, two of Man and several Women’s Weekly’s and Mercury’s. I put them under my blankets whilst on duty but when I got back everyone was reading – papers are always considered platoon property, but some scrounger from another platoon pinched my latest Pix. Still it’ll come back or someone else will get one. Incidentally the lass in the bookshop is in a bit of a fog with her addressing – the Pix are addressed TFX004 Max Hickman 2/3 33rd Battalion.

That cutting out of the Women’s Weekly was certainly a surprise. Pete got three cuttings from different people. His mother said she got an uncanny sensation reading his name in the paper. In one of Youngsters letters there was a cutting from the Herald of an interview with Ken at Heidelberg. He looks well – a lot better than when I saw him – there’s no doubt about newspaper reporters they’ve got the art of glamourising down to a fineness. His account of the show was very well stated and expressed rather more plainly than I’d have expected from the Herald – apparently they realise now that sentiment played no part after the first two hours. With proper treatment Ken should soon get right. He had everything against him here but has everything in his favour now. Good medical attention and plenty of good food. It was rather fortunate, Youngster knowing that officer – he may be able to do more for Ken than would otherwise have been done.

Laurie’s turn out doesn’t sound too good – he’ll never do the trucking at the Zinc Works. It’s a wonder he doesn’t join up – he’d get a good job. There’s a shortage of leather workers and he’d be a cinch to get specialist pay. May would get two pounds ten a week and he’d have about thirty shillings to himself and probably a base job. I think the parcel mail is pretty right now you see it takes about nine weeks so I expect some of my parcels should be getting home now. The Christmas parcels from here should be posted before the end of the month so I must get busy.

We had hoped to get a turn at the manoeuvres this week but so far nothing has eventuated and there is no indication of when we’ll go out – meantime we’re being literally snowed in with Barrack duties – Town guard, quarter guard, various piquets and orderly dog duties. Maybe some day in retrospect Barrack room life will acquire glamour – most things do with the mellowing influence of time but for the present they constitute the tortures of the damned. Every guard that mounts is under the critical eye of the whole battalion. Every drill movement, every word of command – from every man in the guard, from the officer and the RSM down. The RSM like all of his kind have a peculiar ability in the use of Australian expletives and of course like the ‘Ode to the Orange Peel’ the kicks must be passed on.

I’m glad the increased allotment is being paid. I tried to have it increased to six shillings but unconfirmed ranks can only make a maximum allotment of four and threepence but I’m glad I couldn’t make it any more for a while because I want to get some presents.

I am sending a few more snaps. By sending a few each week I hope to get a good collection home. Young Dick Lewis gets some done every fortnight. Like everything else they’re very dear but should be worth it later on.

I’m afraid there isn’t much else I can write about at present although the weather is worth an honourable mention – real Autumny – light sunny days and cool nights. I’ll sign off now. All the best to you both and to the boys.

Your loving son

Max

PS I wrote to Dorrie last Sunday.

Thanks for the wattle spray. I’ll keep that till it falls to pieces.

A big bundle of papers

AWM 021739 – mail being loaded onto trucks in Beirut

The popularity of Pix and Man

Cover from January 1941. Source – Facebook page: Paper Dolls – Australian Pin-ups of World War II

Cutting from the Women’s Weekly

Dad’s letter giving an account of his and Pete McCowan’s experience in a Syrian town, immediately after the cessation of hostilities, was edited and published in the Weekly – see post of July 16, 1941.

Interview with Ken

I have been unable to find this article as the Melbourne Herald archives have not yet been made available online. It is surprising that it was apparently acceptable for some details of the campaign, albeit from the perspective of one of the soldiers, to be printed – given the general direction to troops not to speak of any specifics in their letters.

The hospital known by the army as 115th AGH was opened in the Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg in March 1941. According to an article in the Argus in March 1941, there was accommodation for 272 beds in four pavilion blocks ….. The hospital, when completed, will have a capacity of 1,500 beds, and will be the largest in Victoria. The pavilion section, containing 1,000 beds, is now almost completed.

The Australian Army handed over the military hospital to the Repatriation Commission on 19 May 1947, and the hospital then became known as the Repatriation General Hospital Heidelberg.

Under the critical eye of the whole battalion !?

It’s unclear to me how many others were actually in the barracks – as most of the men of the 25th Brigade (3 battalions) were digging defences up in the hills (see previous post). Those who were still in Tripoli must have carried a bit of weight – at least their presence seems to have been experienced by Dad as a bit of a burden.

The allotment’s being paid

Dad’s status as Acting Corporal (granted in early July) was not upgraded to ‘confirmed’ until late January.

re – Orange Peel – a comedy ode

Cyril Fletcher’s ‘Orange Peel, A comedy Ode’ is available on a CD entitled Talented Talkers : Favourite Monologues. The online description says : Classic monologues from 14 of the great comedians of 20th century British comedy. With the advent of radio and the BBC in the 1920’s comedians finally found themselves in great demand. Hear how stand-up comedy developed in 20th century England.

There are clips of Fletcher reciting some of his odes available online, but Orange Peel is not among them, as far as I can see.

Posted in Camps and Barracks, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, Letters to/ from others, pay and conditions, Posts and telegraph | Tagged Ken Jenkins, Laurie Fisher, Orange Peel ode | Leave a comment

Half our money is spent supplementing army rations

Posted on October 3, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

3rd October 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

Just a line or two hoping to find you happy and well as I am at present. Our letter mail is a bit late this week. It’s amazing how a late mail upsets our calendar. Everyone’s been asking what day it is ever since Wednesday. It looks as though the Tassie plane must have missed the Melbourne to Sydney service because quite a number of QX’s got late mail (15th Sept) but none of the Tassies got any. However I got quite a pleasant surprise on Thursday in the shape of a parcel from Youngster.

We’ve been particularly busy with the barrack room racket for about a fortnight now. The rifle companies are out on manoeuvres so we have to do all the ruddy duties – guards, picquet’s and orderly duties. They’re not hard but damnably monotonous and boring. Still, we’ll get our turn soon – possibly next week.

Just how true it is I don’t know but one of the chaps just came into the guard room with the news that Fadden has resigned and Curtin is forming a Ministry. It’s a pity they didn’t have a stronger man still they can do no worse than the others because Menzie or any other Nationalist for that matter would never stop the strikes. The Unions will accept a lot less from a Labor government than they would from a Nationalist administration. That’s one of the farces of the Australian outlook. They will accept and even rejoice in the conditions offered under Labor when they would condemn better conditions offered by the others. It’ll be interesting to see what attitude they adopt towards the war – the possibilities were debated at length in the guard room last night and many and varied opinions expressed. Whilest everyone would like to get home the majority would not support any proposal to leave the job half done – in fact they nearly all want more determined and better organised war effort. The attitude and feelings uppermost in our minds are probably reflected in every unit of the AIF. They’re fed up with the boredom and the farcical disparagement in the treatment of the men as compared with the treatment of officers but they’re prepared to waive their personal interests to get on with the job. The pay question however concerns them very vitally because of the colossal prices of everything we buy even from our own canteens and at least half the money is spent supplementing the army rations of ‘the world’s best fed army’. Christ help the worst. So boiled down our two concerns are supplies (equipment) and pay.

There hasn’t been much of interest in our particular quarter during the last week beyond the fact that the wogs are picking their olive crop. The men knock the olives off with sticks and then sit under the shade whilst the women and bints (girls) pick them up in baskets. They must be a good line because some of the Queensland chaps reckon they’re worth 29/6 a case.

I must close now Mother & Dad as news is very scarce so cheerio for the present. Best wishes to the boys.

Your loving son

Max

Map – Tripoli area

from The Footsoldiers

Rifle Companies on Manoeuvres

This extract from The Footsoldiers makes it clear that the whole brigade was involved in the work in the mountains –

On 28 September, the battalion rifle companies were moved by vehicle…ten miles away in the mountains to the north-east. We debussed, marched and climbed from the road-head to a long plateau. Mules carried our tents and heavy stores up the two-mile climb. This was to be our part of the line that would defend the Port of Tripoli. Some 2000 feet above sea level, the escarpment looked down onto the flat lands that led away north to Latakia…..The battalion was the centre unit, with 2/25th on our left and 2/31st on our right….The battalion remained up in the hills until 21 October, and B company was to remain until 15 November. The life was pleasant and invigorating. Each of us would spend five days, each of ten hours, digging the trenches, section posts and HQ’s that were drawn out on the plan issued by Brigade. The sixth day was one of training, Sunday for ‘make, mend and rest’. At night the camp fires were going, and singing and story telling were popular pastimes……

I can find no photos of the 2/33rd at this time, but the AWM collection contains a number, including those below, depicting men of the 2/31 Bn – who as mentioned above were close by .

AWM 021186

Jebel Tourbel Syria (Lebanon): Because of the nature of the country, mule teams were largely used for transporting goods in many areas. This team is taking supplies to the 2/31st battalion in the Lebanon mountains defence area.

AWM 021138

Battle headquarters being constructed by men of the 2/31st Battalion. The Headquarters was cut out of the side of a hill and was in an almost impregnable position.

AWM 021199

Members of the 2/31st Battalion constructing pits which formed part of the defence line in the Jebel Tourbel mountains of Lebanon

AWM 021183

Men of the 2/31st Battalion at work on the field signal exchange excavations. The work was part of the second line of defence which ran from the coast at a point three miles south of the aerodrome almost due east to the Jebel Tourbel mountains.

Fadden’s resignation

The cartoon ‘taken over’ appeared in The Bulletin on October 8, 1941. On this website, there is some information that helps in interpreting the cartoon: http://www.john.curtin.edu.au/aspirations/activities/2cartoonpm.html

Posted in Australian, guard/ picket/ orderly room duty, Middle East, organisation, pay and conditions, Posts and telegraph | Tagged army pay, Curtin, Fadden, food | Leave a comment

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The Blog that might have been – 70 years on

A dearth of political leadership, farcical propaganda…and a scarcity of Nugget

Christmas cake received, Christmas greetings sent and snow arrives

Action on several fronts – the barracks, the sports field, Yugoslavia and the USA

Roll call of bottles and a wild ride with the Albury Basher

Fancy thinking we’d commandeered her sheep!

Joining a rifle company engaged in road building

Esprit de corps strained: the new CO has a hell of a job

Better tucker, Aussie beer and tinned Tassie apples

A mail bonanza, but snowed in with barrack duties

Half our money is spent supplementing army rations

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