The Blog that might have been – 70 years on

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

Plenty of mail, regimental hooey, dangerous drinks and instruction in the use of pick and shovel !!

Posted on September 24, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

24th Sept 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

Your welcome letters of the 18th August and sixth of September came in today. The 18th August had evidently been held up. In addition to your two interesting epistles there was one each from May, Youngster, Jack Chandler, Mae Menzie and Daisy Gourlay so I guess my spare time during the next few days will be well taken up. Very sorry to hear of the deaths of Aunt Min and Aunt Sylvia – I must write to Tom & Dorrie.

The other letters were very interesting too, covering as you may well imagine a wide field of ideas and news. I had quite given up expecting a letter from the Menzie’s. It’s so long since I heard from them – in fact nearly four months (1st June). The youngster’s letter and May’s were very newsy and Jack of course was his usual cheerful self.

On our side we have settled into barrack room like again and the barrack square has become the scene of regimental parades, guard mountings and piquets – all a lot of hooey but very nice to watch. The many bugle calls sounded during the day together with the hoisting of the Battalion flag at reveille and the lowering at retreat are integral parts of Barrack life. Even as I write the bull-like roars of the various CSM’s rend the air. Most of the work – cleaning up and digging – was under the supervision of the headquarters Company CSM so our barracks has been named Haigh’s concentration camp.

There’s been another wine party. This time in our barrack room. The wine was brought here in kerosene tins and the soaks lapped it up by the pot or mug. I was away from the room at the time, being on piquet duty in the town – others out of our platoon were reinforcements and when we got home they made enough noise scrounging for something to eat that they would have wakened the dead. Ordinarily the slightest noise produces a torrent of abuse next morning but on this occasion the noise was the lamentations of twenty suffering men. Near my bed some wine had been spilled and had eaten holes into the concrete. I believe when the party started they called the wine ‘Petain’s Pilsener’ but next morning it was ‘Petain’s poison’.

A rather humorous aspect of army life happened last Tuesday when armed with picks and shovels we were marched a mile or so from the barracks to an olive grove where we were given a lecture by an officer in all seriousness on the elementary use of the pick and shovel and the methods of using same and digging various types of defences. This is after we’d dug half of England up, undermined the desert and dug thousands of defensive pits in Syria – and when he called on me to give a demonstration well that was the last straw. Last week I sent you a few snaps of Syria. In this letter I am enclosing a few taken during the last few days of our sojourn in England. Except for the one taken in the cabin of the Nea Hellas (the advance party had made ourselves at home in a good cabin but our occupancy was short lived for on the morrow we were transferred to the bowels of the ship). To get back to the story – I was going to say that I’m not in any of the other snaps, they having been taken whilst we were in Scotland with the advance party. Incidentally I’ve had another letter from the Lairds – they still want us to go back there for another Hogmanay, though I guess it won’t be this one. Although we don’t know the minds of the mighty it looks as if we’ll be here for the winter and make a move somewhere in the spring.

Must say cheerio now. Best regards to all the old Brigade and of course the boys.

Your loving son

Max

Deaths in the family

Aunt Min was Minnie Bealey who was married to Dad’s great uncle Tom. She was 63 when she died. Their daughter Dorrie lived with them, and never married. I have been unable to trace Aunt Sylvia.

Regimental Parades

Photo – Battalion parade at Le Gaault Barracks – from The Footsoldiers

Instruction in use of pick and shovel

Photo – AWM 021198

Shows men of the 2/31st Bn who were operating in the same area as the 2/33rd (Both Bns part of the 25th Brigade)

Reply to Daisy Gourlay

(only pages 1-3 of this letter exist)

Dear Daisy

I was very surprised – agreeably so – to receive your letter of 23rd July. Thanks for all the nice things you had to say.

Your analysis of the life is very appropriate Daisy even though you consider it ‘dreadful construction’. Considered as a whole it is a marvellous experience. The many and varied incidents and happenings, the ever changing scene, even the long periods of intense boredom and the fortunately short periods of frightfulness merge together in a wonderful whole. The world in general and particularly those who get through this show will be the better for the experience.

To have travelled thirty five thousand miles of ocean in two of the greatest convoys that ever sailed, to have seen a great nation struggle to its feet after what seemed a death blow, to have seen the stoicism of the British nation and tasted its hospitality under war conditions are experiences that even the power of the purse cannot buy, and added to this the conglomeration of experiences of every imaginable type encountered in the not so romantic east make a story that outshines ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ and reduces to insignificance the exploits of Richard Haliburton. No man who made the grande tour appreciated every phase of it more than I did. Unfortunately all too many were incapable of appreciating the full significance of the experience and were too intolerant of the ways of others to understand the various peoples with whom we came in contact. To anyone with the slightest interest in psychology the tour has been a revelation.

Whilest most fellows find little to commend it I find Syria wonderfully interesting – the amazing scenery, the historical and biblical associations and the remarkable collection of human beings that make up then population are an unceasing source of interest. A country of conflictions and contradictions, Syria has had the most chequered history of any country in the world. From time immemorial it has been the battleground of the middle wast and the many peoples that have conquered or occupied it have left their mark so that today there are numerous races still retaining their national characteristics and individuality. The Lebanese dissociate themselves froth Syrians whilst the Jebel Druse – believed to be one of the lost tribes of Israel and the original worshippers of the golden calf – dissociate themselves from both Syria and the Lebanon. Some of the mountain scenery is the best I’ve ever seen and I really think the best in the world. Around the Jezzine area where we were fighting the rugged mountains, some of them ten thousand feet high, made a picture of unbelievable grandeur. The terraced foothills and unbelievably crazy patterns made by the multicoloured rock formations were beyond the description of pen or paint.

The ruins of ancient empires – Phoenician, Roman, Greek and of Crusading days are also very interesting. At Ball-beck (where the Anti-Tank – Agle(?) Gourlay’s crowd) were stationed after the armistice, there are the ruins of five famous temples. Some of the granite columns and stone work still stand as a monument to the workmanship of five thousand years ago. One of the things that confounds everyone is how they got the huge cut stones into place. In one of the temples there’s a stone sixteen feet long and ten feet square on the section. It would probably weigh eighty to a hundred tons. At Byblos just north of where we were stationed for eight weeks after the armistice are the ruins of another Phoenician city – most of the royal tombs have been dug up by French archaeologists for the gold and jewels they contained – here also are the remains fo a Roman amphitheatre and still standing a Crusaders Castle.

(remainder of letter is missing)

Terraced foothills

Photo – AWM 010554`

Byblos – Roman amphitheater

– from lebanoneguide.net

Posted in Camps and Barracks, gambling and drinking, Letters to/ from others, Middle East, organisation, training, Uncategorized | Tagged Daisy Gourlay, monuments | Leave a comment

Moving north, into French Barracks outside Tripoli

Posted on September 17, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

17th Sept 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

On Saturday yet another page of 33rd history was written when we came into barracks and it is from a magnificently appointed second storey suite that I am writing this letter. The appointments being a steel bed and an improvised table. The barracks are quite new but the architecture and plumbing are crude and antique. However they have quite a lot to commend them and now after four days of hard work a semblance of cleanliness and order has been achieved. Spit and polish will of course be the order of the day again though possibly not to the extent they were in England.

Your very welcome letter of the first of September arrived today along with one from Youngster and one from Mick Mason. The mail service certainly has improved considerably. That letter I wrote telling you I’d seen Ken must have got home very quickly because I think it was 18th August when I wrote – I can’t recall having been in a group snap since we came to Syria and I certainly haven’t seen the snap. I mentioned it to McDonnell and several of the others but so far haven’t traced who took it. I sent quite a lot of snaps and photos home last week. I hope I didn’t pick a bad time to send and that they make the grade. The Orderly Room was packing to move and I believe the mail was held for a couple of days till we came into barracks.

Did I mention in my last letter that I had received a cake last Friday? From Youngster – it looks a beauty but I haven’t cut it yet – will keep it till Friday (Youngster’s birthday). Then on Sunday I received another pleasant surprise in the form of two parcels from you – one of eats, and one of soaps. The insect powder could not have come more opportunely and of course the eats particularly the scallops and fruit are a welcome diversion from army food, especially the preparations that the Headquarters Company cooks prepare. I know you won’t mind my saying that tinned meat and sardines don’t meet with much approval – any tinned meat is related to bully beef and sardines bear some resemblance to herrings and I guess Dad knows our attitude towards those luxuries. But thanks a lot for the parcels Mother – we’re going to do the scallops up tonight.

Youngster’s letter today was one of the most cheering and cheerful letters I’ve and in a long time. She said she was feeling much better and is happy again now that she can spend some time in the garden. She’s very wrapped up in her home.

That case against Doctor Hiller didn’t last long did it? It’s a hell of a job to pin anything on a doctor – the old school tie is too strong.

The ASC crowd that I’ve mentioned in earlier letters are camped very close to here – about two hundred yards away in fact and last night a bunch of us – Tassies – were invited along. I’ve never struck so many Tassies at a party. It seems that in their explorings they found a cellar with a number of hogs heads still full and having given it a two day trial had proved its potency. I was never a wine fancier and didn’t have much but McDonnell, Ack Hallam and Nuggett Geeves drank pint for pint (enamel mugs) with Sam (?) Coverdale, Gordon Hutchens, Artie Parker and a few other celebrated Hobart soaks. It was a great little reunion and we had quite a good evening. But those who thought they were drinking beer are paying for it today. To add to their misery they’ve been digging trenches today. Several times during the night the local brew was mentioned – Old Nuggett – we call him old-un so the wogs call him ‘antiquer’ – said when you write home and tell old Henry about this he’ll hold out his hand and say Oh!

When I got my letters first thing this morning I woke McDonnell and told him old Ted had been sick – I can’t tell you the answer – it wouldn’t pass the censor.

I must close now so will say cheerio. Best regards to the boys.

Your loving son

Max

On the move

photo : mechanised Australian cavalry (i.e. Carriers) on the coast road between Beirut and Tripoli AWM 020033

The Barracks: From The Footsoldiers

At 0600 hours, 13 September, the battalion moved in convoy along the north road, arriving at the sea port of Tripoli at 1600 hours the same day. Here, just two miles above this pleasant and ancient fishing town, we occupied the French Legault Barracks. Built just ten years before, it consisted of three vast, two-storied concrete barracks surrounding a parade ground square. Walled around and gated, complete with guardhouse and cell block, it fronted the main road which ran down to the town 600 feet below. Much of 14/15 September was used in settling in and cleaning the place up. Both the 2/25th and 2/31st Battalions were also barracked in this sprawling garrison site. With one platoon to a room, and each man with an iron bed, it was reminiscent of our barrack days in England. Although the use of the toilets with a hole flush with the floor, water washing underneath, and two non slip grooves beside the hole made us wonder. The place, nevertheless, was agreeably comfortable. (pp 125-26)

The mail service

Ref: Battalion diary https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1027235.pdf

From Routine Orders August 21 –

AIR MAIL: Airmail is now received once weekly from Australia until further notice

From Routine Orders August 23 – Abundant writing materials are always available with the Padre and tps are advised to avail themselves of this offer.

Spit and polish will be the order of the day

Extract from Battalion diary https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/bundled/RCDIG1027235.pdf –

Extract from Routine Orders (Sept 13)

2. BOUNDS Tripoli is OUT OF BOUNDS to all ranks until further notice

3. ROUTINE The following daily Routine will be strictly adhered to

Reveille 0600 hrs/ Adm Parade 0630 hrs/ Breakfast 0730 hrs/ Parade 0800 hrs/ Stand Down 1215 hrs/ Midday Meal 1230 hrs/ Parade 1500 hrs/ Stand Down 1700 hrs/ Evening Meal 1730 hrs/ Duty Mounting 1750 hrs/ Retreat 1800 hrs/ First Post 2130 hrs/ Last Post 2200 hrs/ Tattoo 2200 hrs/ Lights Out 2215 hrs

4. BLACK OUT PRECAUTIONS Strict Blackout precautions must be observed. All lights burning at night must be carefully blacked out.

5. LEAVE No leave will be granted out of the Barracks area until further notice. NO person or vehicle will leave Barracks without written authority from this Office.

Dr Hiller and the ‘old school tie’ – a most peculiar trial!

‘Unusual development brings trial to abrupt end’ http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/25878663

Trench digging duty

Photo : AWM 021188 Men of the 2/31st Bn constructing a section post. Jebel Tourbel, Syria October 1941 . It was part of the second defence line in the area.

Posted in Camps and Barracks, gambling and drinking, parcels, Posts and telegraph, unit and personal diaries | Tagged Ack Hallam, ASC, Jim McDonnell, Nuggett Geeves | Leave a comment

Events on the various fronts…almost too good to be true

Posted on September 10, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

ML Hickman

2/33rd Battn

AIF Abroad

10th Sept 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

Your welcome letter of 24th August arrived today. I’m glad to know you’re both fit and well. The last letter I had was written in a handwriting I didn’t recognise and then when there was no letter at all last week I thought the pater mist be sick so that your letter today was very reassuring.

Quite a lot of things seem to be happening around home. Is Alec Worby getting married or just buying a block to hold? Jack Lewis(?) seems to have gone back to his old job rather well – it’s quite up to his standard sending young Pringle to you although the security might be alright. As you say old Nev is getting on. I guess he’d like to have the money he’s spent in whisky now.

There’s no doubt about it the people at home are only half hearted about the war – even as things are, the political crowds wrangle over the spoils. It’ll be interesting to see whether Fadden can make a job of things. Our ideas of democracy need a big overhaul. Politically they’re a farce, socially they’re childish and commercially piratical.

Events on the various fronts have been much more interesting lately – almost too good to be true. The news tonight is most encouraging. The Russians seem to be holding the Germans well and at sea and in the air England is doing good work. If they can keep it up till Christmas we might be home for Easter. We’re moving into barracks in the weekend so we look like staying here for the winter.

I didn’t go on that three day stunt I mentioned in my last letter – it was optional and only involved a reconnaissance of the areas where we were fighting. The other company’s stunts took them through Damascus and Baal-bek which would have been very interesting but riding three days in the back of a truck wasn’t in my line at all – although I believe those that went struck some Aussie beer at the Tommy canteens – Cascade and Carlton – any quantity they wanted too – whilst all we can get is wog beer. There’s something wrong somewhere when the Tommies can get any quantity they want of Aussie beer and we can’t get any – It looks like some palm grease somewhere – our crowd must be getting the sugar from the local heavies. Incidentally the crowd were very amused to see depicted in Pix the Australian soldier’s diet – we concluded that they must mean the Militia.

I am enclosing some snaps and photographs which I think you will like and find interesting too. I’m orderly dog today and have had about sixty interruptions since I started this letter so I will sign off now. Regards to the boys and love to May & Anne.

Your loving son

Max

Arthur Fadden becomes Prime Minister

from the National Museum website – http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers/arthur_fadden

Australia entered into the Second World War on 3 September 1939, and the period from 1939-1941 was one of instability in federal government. It was marked by conflict between the United Australia Party (UAP) and Country Party coalition partners, and by power struggles within each party, with the leadership of each changing several times.

In October 1940, when AG Cameron quit leadership of the Country Party, Earle Page and John McEwen contested the leadership, resulting in a tied vote. Fadden, as Deputy Leader, was appointed ‘Acting Leader’ to break the deadlock. He was confirmed as party leader on 21 March 1941, and retained the position for the next 17 years.

Fadden served as Minister Assisting the Treasurer and Minister for Supply and Development in Robert Menzies’ United Australia Party-Country Party coalition from March-August 1940, then as Minister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation from August-October 1940, and finally as Treasurer from October 1940-August 1941. He was a member of the war cabinet from 1940 to 1941. In January 1941 Fadden became Acting Prime Minister for four months while Menzies was overseas. After increasing dissension within the UAP-CP coalition, Menzies resigned as Prime Minister on 28 August 1941 in favour of Fadden.

The news tonight is most encouraging…we might be home for Easter

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/52462844

The front page of the Launceston Examiner on September 2, 1941 has articles regarding the many fronts on which Allied forces were fighting – including Russia. I assume radio reports were more selective in focussing on the positives for the Allies, rather than including reports from Germany itself. There is also an extract from a letter written by Robert Menzies for London’s Daily Mail in which he predicts Victory in 1942, and an article headlined ‘Signs that Axis May Attack Turkey’. No doubt this concern played a part in the decision to hold Australians in northern Lebanon/ Syria over the winter.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/1858611?zoomLevel=3

The Hobart Mercury on Saturday 6th September also makes fascinating reading. Claims and counter-claims from German and Russian sources in particular must have reminded Dad of those German broadcasts that they used to hear in England – of half the British navy being sunk on a daily basis.

Others went sight-seeing

Travelling in trucks….

photo from http://www.ourstory.info

(A British convoy in Syria )

to see the sights…

Battalion members at Baal-bek (from The Footsoldiers)

The Australian Soldier’s diet

I’ve been unable to locate the actual Pix article referred to, but here is one from Brisbane’s Courier Mail in September 1941 that seems to be of a similar tone, and may have arisen from the same press release: http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/41941795

Headlined ‘Australia’s New Army Cooks Earn New Dignity’ it describes how scientifically balanced the soldier’s diet is, how much attention is paid to providing fresh fruit and vegetables, milk (generally powdered) and cheese, what cooking methods are used to ensure maximum benefit to the soldiers. A few quotes…There are two objectives in Army feeding – first, to satisfy the soldiers’ idea of ‘good tucker’ and second to apply modern knowledge of nutrition so that the soldier will be built up in health, fitness, stamina and vigour and withstand the strain of total war and the risk of epidemic disease. …..Australian soldiers are provided with three times the quantity of fruit and vegetables eaten by the average civilian….And if our testing time does come, well, V stands for Vitamins, Vitality and Victory.

The article does speak about camps in Darwin and North Queensland, so could – as Dad suggests- relate mainly to the Militia, but it does also mention the availability of oranges and grapefruit in Palestine, carrots and cabbages in Cairo and in Tobruk – vitamin C tablets. No doubt, as with the constant invocation to troops to ‘write home first’, the Army’s PR machine was focussed on providing families with a positive picture of the provisions being offered to their boys.

Posted in Australian, gambling and drinking, organisation, The course of the war | Tagged soldier's diet, Tommy canteens, wog beer | Leave a comment

A parcel with scallops – hoping they’ll go the rounds

Posted on September 2, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

2nd Sept 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

Once again I write hoping to find you happy and well as I am at present. I am writing a little earlier than usual this week because I’ll probably be away on a three day stunt when the mail comes in.

The first thing I must tell you is that your very interesting parcel arrived on Sunday night. The orderly officer Monty Trask told Ted Fleming there was a parcel for him at the orderly room so thrilled with the prospects Ted bowls over only to find it was for me – and naturally I was delighted and Ted somewhat disappointed especially when it became known that there was a tin of scallops – every Tasmanian in the platoon considers he holds a royal prerogative over those scallops – no parcel ever incited such interest. Though we haven’t done them over yet I’m hoping they’ll go the rounds. The other things too were very welcome – peaches and cream, coffee & milk – well you sure know my tastes. The marmite too is a very pleasant change although we get plenty of cheese some of it particularly good – anyway thanks a lot Mother.

Army life goes on in its appointed way and although damnably monotonous it is becoming much more tolerable now that the weather has started to cool off and cards are becoming more and more sought after and when not on duty we spend the long evenings playing bridge or crib.

McDonnell and Peter McCowan afford some amusement at times. McDonnell as you know is Irish to the backbone whilst McCowan is equally Scotch and when they get on the hops (you know Mc’s form) they argue like hell. Sometimes Snow Lewis (a nephew of Colonel Lewis) joins the happy party. Snow as you might guess comes from ultra-conservative English stock and although very tolerant towards mankind generally has very definite ideas about Ireland, Irishmen and the Labour Party, which he expresses very fluently after eight or nine bottles. Whatever transpires in the course of the argument they invariably wind up singing Irish and Scotch airs.

On Saturday night another concert party visited the camp. They were a Chinese string band and for a little over an hour we had an absolute musical feast ranging from Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody and ‘Ave Maria’ to our own classics – ‘Waltzing Matilda’ and ‘My Mabel waits for me’ and a chap with a steel guitar rendered three solo items – Hawaiian melodies, My Prayer and The Rosary – an Aussie chap put over a composition called ‘Wouldn’t your mother like to see you now’ covering various stages of the Greek, Crete and Syrian shows – it was well put together and particularly well recited combining genuine sentiment with the humoresque so essential in maintaining morale – taking us right back from the days of embarkation through the scenes that in retrospect have many sided memories though they were nightmares yesterday.

Must say cheerio now. Give my love to May and Anne and regards to Laurie and the boys.

Your loving son

Max

PS I saw Eric Coverdale and Ray Usher the other day. They asked to be remembered to Laurie.

Collecting the mail

Although not of this Battalion, this photo by Frank Hurley makes clear that ‘orderly room’ is a generic term, not requiring there to be an actual room:

AWM 008797 Field Orderly Room of the 2/6th Field Ambulance, near Adloun Lebanon, June 1941

Delicacies in Tins

In researching the Tasmanian scallop industry, I had formed the view that due to its fledgling nature in the 1930’s and early 40’s the scallops in the parcel were probably from another state. However according to this article from the Melbourne Argus (June 26 1940), “Henry Jones & Co at its Hobart factory have been canning scallops, tuna and other fish for some time.” http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/12477010 I do still believe that scallop canning would have been on a very small scale. In terms of the ‘Tasmania’s war effort’, the only fish mentioned in the booklet of that name (see Sources) as having been canned in any quantity by Jones & Co during the war, is whitebait.

The importance of the mail

Wonderful article from the Barrier Miner about the importance of continuing to write letters and send parcels and newspapers to the troops – and emphasising their conscientious approach to responding. It still amazes me, that they had to buy stamps from the canteen and relied on ‘comfort fund’ provisions for paper. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/48375626

Air Mail, Palestine

This poem by Australian David McNicoll was written during the war – presumably during 1941/42. McNicoll went to the Middle East as a trooper with the 7th Division Cavalry. In 1942 he was commissioned and attached to the Military History and Information Section, Head-Quarters, AIF (Middle East). He became officer-in-charge of No. 2 Field Unit…in 1954 he became editor in chief of Australian Consolidated Press

“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,”

The padre said; and row on row

The rustling hymn books, in the sun,

Flickered, were folded. Then as one

A thousand voices stirred the air –

Were silent. Heads were bent in prayer.

Above the Padre’s voice we heard

An engine drone; then like a bird

With silvered wings, we saw the plane

Above the sandhills, out to sea,

Heading, with mail, to Galilee.

And in the clouds we saw again

Our homes; the noonday shimmering sun

On farm, and beach, and station run;

The stock knee-high in summer grass,

The shearers nodding as we pass,

Each stand; the silos crammed with wheat,

The sheepdogs panting in the heat;

The breakers’ curl, the lash of foam.

The aching, taunting thoughts of home.

“Praise God, from whom…”, and each man bends

His head, to thank his God who sends

Halfway across the world, the mail:

Who deems those engines shall not fail,

But that they bring across the sea

The mail, to His own Galilee.

Posted in escapades, relaxation, fun and games, gambling and drinking, parcels | Tagged concert party, humour, Jim McDonnell, Pete McCowan, scallops, Snow Lewis, Ted Fleming | Leave a comment

The comfort of a Chev sedan on race day in Beirut

Posted on August 27, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

27th August 1941

Dear Mother & Dad

I received your very welcome letter today – a day earlier than the usual delivery & you certainly tricked me with the handwriting and I read my other letters from May & Youngster first instead of the home letter first. However it was an agreeable surprise. Thanks a lot for the ticket – here’s hoping it’s a winner.

What you told me about Mrs Phillips is not at all surprising in fact I fully expected it. Though I have written a short letter of sympathy I’ll try and write a cheerful epistle.

The note from Gran was also a pleasant surprise. I hope she’s keeping well – my best regards to her.

We are still in the same possy and judging from the very limited news we get of world events are likely to be here for some time although I expect we’ll either move back into the mountains or barracks for the rainy season. It never rains here for about eight months of the year – It’s only rained once since we came east and that was only for an hour or two when we were at Gaza in March. However judging from the dry waddies (creek beds) that have been cut as with giant steel chisels through the mountains the water must pour down them during the wet season.

The last week has been reasonably interesting in fact for these parts very interesting both as regards work and pleasure. We’ve had quite a number of interesting stunts – route marches and carrier patrols and manoeuvres and from the lighter side I personally had a very enjoyable weekend and last might we had a concert given by the same people who used to go round the camps in England. The entertainment branch of the NAAFI (Navy-Army-Air Force Institutes). Things were rather quiet in camp on Sunday so after the church parade Nuggett and I got into the glad rags and hitch-hiked (no trouble at all in these parts) to an ASC unit some miles south of Beyrouth. There are various branches of the ASC controlling various matters of supply. At the first camp we met Major Mulcahy (son of old Frank at the Club). He’s a short chubby chap and we had quite an interesting talk for about half an hour when a runner came to tell him that a padre was waiting to see him. We walked back with him to his tent and saw that his guest was Padre Scarfe – the RC padre of our Battalion and as we had passed a canteen well stocked with Aussie beer on the ice could visualise an enjoyable afternoon for both the padre & the major. We had found out from Mulcahy that the crowd we were looking for – 7th Div Ammo Supply – were some miles further down so he did the right thing by sending his own car down. It was the first time I’d had a ride in a real car for a hell of a time and we were amazed at the comfort a Chev sedan can give after our struggle buggies and the backs of trucks in which O R’s invariably travel.

Getting back to the story we found the camp almost deserted – Sunday being race day in Beyrouth all those who had any fallouse were at the races. There’s no doubt about it the non-com units have a wonderful budge – only essential duties, no parades and only necessary guards – the very opposite of infantry battalions where duties must be created and guards maintained even though their presence is farcical. I’ve known guards to be placed over imaginary gun positions and on such things as the CO’s car even when the car is away for the day – the sentry still guards the position where it would park. However we met Archie Blackwood and Don Kessick with whom we had tea – quite a homely Sunday night’s tea – Tomato & onion salad. I also struck a couple of chaps from the Zinc Works – that fellow Dad called the Pom – McQuiltan – sparking on six – a chap named Austin – a brother of the one at the works and Roy Flanagan. Most of the fellows in the unit are Tassies and as one might expect, a mixed crowd – Coverdale is in it – they tell me he and a few of the others – Joker Kings etc – often spend three or four days at a time in Beyrouth and get away with it. Personally I don’t envy them. I’ve no desire to see that place any more than I have to.

The concert last night was the best entertainment we’ve had for a long time. The pioneers built a stage of sorts lighted by batteries and as the site was well chosen there was an excellent natural arena. The items were good and varied, raining from comic turns to first class musical items and as I said before was thoroughly enjoyable.

And now Mother & Dad as I’m orderly dog tonight I shall have to get laired up. Best regards to Laurie & the boys.

Your loving son

Max

The letter from home

There are very few letters from his parents among the collection – but there is a single page from the letter referred to above:

Mrs Phillips said she had a letter from the King & queen but it does not mean a thing to her as giving one life for King & Country leaves her cold. Your other letter was just as interesting in a different way. The idea of you two young devils going along to that village & letting this people think you were the officers – it was a wonderful experience also.

Merv Glover has joined up with the Forces but there are quite a lot of shirkers here still & will stay here too. Mrs Tom & Dorry Hickman on Sunday they brought up two lovely pairs of socks for you but I will not send them yet as you say you have enough to carry around with you as it is.

I do hope you have received some parcels & papers. I have been sending you Pix every week & other papers as well. You mention how you would like us to see some of the sights with you. Max it would be wonderful if we could be together again. If this war would only end.

Ann is very funny. One day she put her feet into a small box & said look Nanny I will have to stay here now. I said yes – all today & tonight & tomorrow without anything to eat – won’t that be a tragedy. She said by Heavens that will be a tragedy.

Well dear boy that’s all for now. God bless you & keep you with best love from Mother & Dad.

This is the ticket you wanted son.

A ticket in Tatts

George Adams moved to Tasmania in the 1890’s after being prevented from running public lotteries in NSW and Queensland. With the support of the Tasmanian Government, he operated a thriving lottery business – Tattersalls – which has continued to thrive in the 110 years since his death. A ticket in Tatts was always a source of delight in birthday cards etc in our family – feeding the well known Australian addiction to gambling!

The wadis : great gullies carved by the rain

eg – photo from www.destinationlebanon.gov.lb

Got into the glad rags

The standing orders about being properly dressed – wearing felt hats, clean shaven, etc…were apparently strictly enforced. So although Sundays were ‘free days’ the men still had to wear their ‘Sunday best’ (uniform). There were also rules about which cafes, hotels and clubs the men were permitted to visit in Beirut. Some units had by this time been banned from entering Damascus at all….presumably for misbehaviour such as ‘accosting civilians for money’ as this was specifically mentioned as an offence that would be severely dealt with in the same routine orders where the ‘out of bounds’ decree was made.

Chev sedan

Possibly one like this…from the Braille Scale Discussion Group http://www.network54.com

The Zinc Works

See previous post dated March 20 1941.

The races at Beirut

Photo – state library of Victoria image H99.202/3049

Also see – silent movie https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/F07004/ 8 mins silent – titled Christmas 1941 – includes footage of horse racing in Beirut

A concert for the troops

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/F01142/

Not the one Dad would have been speaking of, but this one was in the same general area – i.e., Syria 1941. It’s a delightful 8 minute clip of footage filmed by Frank Hurley and includes some sound.

Posted in escapades, relaxation, fun and games, Geography and Culture, Letters to/ from others, Middle East, organisation, training | Tagged Archie Blackwood, concert, letter from home, MaJor Mulcahy, Merv Glover, Nuggett Geeves, Roy Flanagan | Leave a comment

Every day we read the Germans are using their last reserves

Posted on August 21, 1941 by felicityh54

TX 1004

Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF Abroad

21st August 1941

Dear Mother & dad

I was very pleased to get your letter yesterday along with Youngster’s and one from Jack. Yours and Youngster’s are as regular as clockwork – either Wednesday or Thursday according to the field service. Between the three they certainly gave me something to think about. It looks as though it’s my letters that haven’t made the grade because all the things you mention in this letter have been in earlier letters. Most of my letters during the show were written in pencil as I had broken my nib and couldn’t get any ink. The parcels and papers however haven’t come along yet. I had a parcel from youngster (a cake) on the eleventh of June but that was the last I have had.

By coincidence the lines Brian wrote to Dorothy that you mentioned in your letter, Jack had put in his letter. There’s no doubt about it there [sic] wonderfully well put together – expressing almost completely the thoughts of ninety percent of those away. He certainly went out the way he had lived – helping others – he was the nearest approach to perfect I’ve seen in any man. I’m afraid I made a bit of a faux pas when I wrote to Mrs Phillips – I sent my sympathy to Joan and when I got your letter I remembered that Joan was his earlier friend.

They seem to have gone quite mad on the petrol rationing racket at home – Youngster mentioned a taxi drivers’ strike. I could sympathise with them a bit but I’d like to put the munition strikers up against the wall.

That chopping match at the Flemington must have been a star turn. I’ll bet there was puffing and blowing when it was over – neither Laurie nor Bert Lewis would be in much condition to chop. I can well imagine the turn Anne would put on with that pony – next thing she’ll be wanting the pater to buy her one.

Jack is as you anticipate very busy home-making but seems very happy about it . He’s hoping to see Rex before he comes over and as his nibs is at Western Junction that shouldn’t give him much trouble. I’ll bet Wedd can’t get away quick enough. I suppose you don’t know whether he’ll be going to Canada, England or here – in fact I don’t suppose he’ll know himself till he gets there.

The weather seems to have cooled off quite a lot here but there’s a lot of room for improvement yet. The training syllabus is also more to our liking – an hour’s swimming every day, route marches a couple of times a week and quite a bit of patrol work – not long patrols but interesting – although through country similar to what I’ve mentioned in other letters. From a cynical aspect this war is of great educational value both geographically and linguistically – when we came to Palestine we learned such words as were useful in buying, …[blacked out] or finding your way about and it was the same when we first came up here: now we say Seida and the wogs (locals) say good day – we say Bon jour and they say good morning…and so on – falons – money, buckara- tomorrow, quais- good, misquais – bad. It’s amazing how quickly they’ve learned English since the froggies left too. They probably knew a fair bit of it before but had the fear of death about speaking it.

The officers who were taken prisoner had an interesting experience as a result of their capture. They were taken via Aleppo to Greece thence through Austria and southern Germany to France and now back here. I rather think the other officers who are prisoners in Germany envy them the experience as well as being back with their own men.

There’s no doubt about it the Press and the Radio boost things out of all proportion to truth. Every time you read a paper or listen to the wireless you think they must be making our embarkation rolls out for home. Every day we read that the Germans are using their last reserves. I chanced to pick up an Egyptian Gazette the other day and read one of these twenty five years ago paragraphs – It read Aug 12 1916 “Reported from Paris today that General Joffre told American journalists that Victory is now assured. Germany is using her last reserves”. There was a lot more dribble too but it makes rather a striking analogy with the present time though I hope it won’t be another two and a half years as it was from the time of that premature mis-statement.

I’m afraid I must close now. Best regards to the boys and those I know.

Your loving son

Max

The petrol rationing racket

New restrictions came into force on August 1. See https://www.awm.gov.au/journal/j36/petrol.asp

Woodchopping at The Flemington

Woodchopping had been a competitive sport in Tasmania from the late 19th century. It seems there were small scale competitions in hotel yards – The Flemington was a hotel in Argyle St, Hobart. Dad’s brother in law Laurie was a leatherworker by trade.

Rex Wedd and Jack Chandler

Rex Wedd – ‘his nibs’ – was about to join the Air Force. He was first going to see Jack Chandler in Deloraine – not far (about 55km) from Western Junction, and on the train line to the north west – hence the comment ‘that shouldn’t give him much trouble’.

Cooler weather – concern about malaria?

As a Tasmanian, Dad would certainly have been pleased if the summer temperatures became more moderate. Although he doesn’t say so, this comment could also have related to concerns about malaria. Up until the late 1930’s malaria had been endemic in Palestine. Some fascinating information can be found at http://www.eradication-of-malaria.com, including: Eradication of malaria was made the top priority by the Jewish settlers in the 1920’s, as malaria had made the creation of settlement in many places, especially those with the most fertile soil, difficult if not impossible….From 1922 onwards, engineers and scientists relentlessly undertook drainage of marshland and swamps….In the early 1920’s the Haifa Malaria Research Unit under the control of Dr Israel Kligler was formed. The main idea of the MRU was to establish malaria control on an extensive scale at low cost.…. Dr Kligler recognised that drainage alone could never succeed in eliminating malaria and instituted a widespread anti-larval campaign alongside population-wide detection and education programs.

And from the document http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1070420–1-.pdf comes the following:

In May 1941, immediately prior to the Syria campaign, a special conference on malaria was held in Jerusalem. It was attended by malariologists and directors of British and Australian Medical units…. It was agreed that the whole of Syria must be regarded as highly malarious and that firm anti-malarial measures must be adopted at once. Personal prophylaxis was essential, using nets, protective clothing, repellant cream; destruction of mosquitoes and larvae was also necessary so far as campaign conditions allowed and suppressive quinine would be needed later….However, there was difficulty in the actual supply of repellent in the field, and also in getting nets for the men coming north. Protective clothing was not yet to hand, though ordnance services promised that long trousers would be supplied later. The shorts supplied to British troops which could be converted to long trousers by turning down ‘flaps’ were unpopular, at least with Australians whose usual reaction to them was cutting off the flaps…

…Malaria was the dominating medical factor. As already pointed out, the medical aspects of the projected campaign were not considered seriously during the early stages of planning, and though experts of the highest calibre were of great assistance later, the most essential links of the chain were defective. These were the unfailing provision to the troops of the necessary wherewithal for protection , and its unfailing use by them….Sometimes material was available, and not faithfully used. Sometimes the commanders wished to enforce its use but had no material…..The 25th Brigade was exposed to risk of infection at Merdjayoun, and the fruits of this exposure were evident later after the fighting was over when 300 men contracted malaria….nevertheless…there is no doubt that a definite degree of success attended anti-malarial work during June and July in Syria; it was during the later periods that the full significance of the sins of omission were realised.

Concern regarding malaria is evident in the Battalion’s ‘Routine Orders’ (see AWM – 2/33 Battalion Diary for August – December 1941 – item no. 8/3/33/5): Anti-malarial measures are repeated at least once a week – e.g:

15 August – Anti-malarial measures – All personnel must wear trousers KD [khaki drill] and long sleeved shirts from sunset to sunrise at all times except when under nets. Two tablets of quinine MUST be taken daily.

21 August – ….the idea that leave is an opportunity to relax anti-malarial measures must be countered. There must be NO laxity. Trousers KD and shirts with long sleeves MUST be worn from sunset to sunrise where NOT under nets. Nets MUST be used. Quinine MUST be taken. The ideal camping area is as a rule the worst malaria area. The following rules must be regarded in selecting bivouac sites – (a) at least one and a half miles from water in swamps, waterways, irrigated areas, open reservoirs or irrigation channels; (b) the windward side of a village or such water; (c) tops of hills are usually preferable….Only if these directions are rigidly carried out will tours continue.

23 August : Coys are reminded that it is compulsory for all personnel to wear trousers KD and long shirts from sunset to sunrise. It is apparent that this order is NOT being rigidly enforced, and any laxity allowed is against the personal interest of the soldier.

The training syllabus

The 25th Australian Infantry Brigade’s Training Instruction no. 7, issued on 10 August gives more details about route marches, night training and bathing parades:

source : AWM item no. RCDIG1024943 (25th Brigade diary July/ August 1941)

Photo : AWM 010445

Shows men of the 2/25 Bn on manoeuvres in Lebanon: presumably the 2/33Bn route marches were in similar territory. (Both Bn’s were part of the 25th Brigade)

Every day we read that the Germans are using their last reserves.

As the saying goes – the first casualty of war, is truth….

Faint Hope

I hope it won’t be another two and a half years as it was from the time of that premature mis-statement. How could Dad have imagined that he would in fact be actively serving for another 4 years?

Posted in Australian, Censorship, Middle East, The course of the war, training, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged Brian Phillips, Laurie Fisher, malaria, newspaper reports, prisoners of war, Rex Wedd | Leave a comment

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Every day we read the Germans are using their last reserves

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