A letter from an utter stranger: Flora the jeweller’s assistant

Posted on February 13, 1941 by felicityh54

Flora p1

Flora p2

Flora p3

Randles Bro & Hudson Ltd.

Jewellery Dept

Gardiner Street

Durban

South Africa

13th Feb 1941

 

Dear Mrs Hickman

No doubt you will be surprised to receive this letter from an utter stranger but I happened to serve your son this afternoon and knowing the army regulations, they are not allowed to give any details of their movements so I offered to write to you as it may be a little comfort to you to know that he has safely landed in South Africa.  The regiment to which your son is attached left Glasgow exactly a month ago experiencing a vast contrast of climate from an English winter to our midsummer.  Your son must have covered a good many miles on the high seas since leaving Australia because they were only a day’s sail away from the north of Africa when they were recalled to England in case of an invasion by the Germans.  However early in January they were on their way again to Africa and pulled into Durban harbour a couple of days ago.

It is expected that they will leave Durban in a few days’ time and no doubt will join the other Australians together with English and South African troops already up north and have a smack at the Italians.  Your son looks very fit and well indeed and it must be a blessing to know that it will only be Italians and not Germans that we have in this country.  According to all reports from up north of Africa the Australians who passed through Durban before Christmas have had smashing victories to their credit and done excellent work.  I feel sure that if their rapid progress continues it will all be over before your son’s regiment reaches the north at least we sincerely hope it will be so for all our sakes.

The citizens of Durban are going all out to give the passing boys a good time arranging concerts, dancing and amusements but unfortunately your son struck guard duty while in port and today was the first time he had been ashore since their arrival when he came into our store which is one of the largest jewellers in South Africa to buy your present which I hope you will receive safely.  We all feel very proud of all the thousands of boys who have volunteered their services against the Germans and it gives us confidence that we must come out on top.

We have been very busy since the troops have been in port and we serve many an Australian during the course of the day and like your own son they all seem to be in very happy spirits and as I mentioned previously he looks really well in spite of their long voyage.  This will most likely be the last port where the boys will be able to indulge in such freedom before they reach their destination where conditions are more difficult with miserable black-outs and monotonous miles of desert – however our own South African boys seem to be quite happy and enjoying the experience.

This convoy which is passing through Durban at present is a very large one, about 45,000 soldiers and consists mostly of English and Australian boys and it amazes them to find Durban all lit up at night and enjoying community singing and musical turns on the beach and our aeroplanes buzzing overhead – a welcome to the visiting troops when we are situated only about 4000 miles away from the war in Africa.  Trusting this finds you in good health and that your son will soon be home again.

I remain

Yours very sincerely

Flora Hirst

Dad’s accompanying note

insert with Flora's

Just a line in haste mother.  This letter will be a very pleasant surprise.  The lass who wrote it supplied the compact which I hope you will like and the serviette ring for Anne – these should have a better chance of getting home than those I sent from England and Scotland – am having a marvellous time here – it’s a fine town not unlike Melbourne in layout although very much smaller.  The chaps I’m with are getting a bit worried so I’ll go now.

Lots of love to you and the pater.

I saw Ken Jenkins and Dick Schultz yesterday and they had been AWL since Monday.  They were sparking on six – made a roll at two up I believe  Both wished to be remembered to you.

All the best

Max

 

 “It may be a little comfort to you”

This letter clearly arrived, but appears to have taken a long time – so it is likely his parents were well aware of his movements from the newspapers.  The presents were commented on in a letter Dad received from home in May.

“This Country”

It’s interesting that Flora refers to Africa as if it were one country: it must be a blessing to know that it will only be Italians and not Germans that we have in this country

“Smashing victories”

It is true that the North Africa Campaign began with some ‘smashing victories’ (Australian efforts were lauded in the Scottish press – see January letter from Glasgow), but by the time this letter was written, Rommel and the North Afrika Corps had arrived – and the tide would soon turn.

“the thousands who have volunteered…”

At the outbreak of War in September 1939, there was quite a debate in South Africa about joining the War.  The Prime Minister of the day, Herzog, was an Afrikaner who wanted the country to remain neutral.  His view was opposed by Jan Smuts who won the argument in the caucus, becoming Prime Minister in the process.  He was later made a Field Marshall in the British Army, but after the war his pro-British, anti-Afrikaner stance led to his political downfall.

…”happy and enjoying the experience”

It would seem that the South African troops wrote in cheerful tones to their loved ones, just as Dad and his mates did – regardless of the situations in which they found themselves.  Letters written by Dad later, under considerable duress, were apparently designed to buoy the spirits of those at home – not to give any insight into the actual experience.

Posted in Letters to/ from others, organisation, The course of the war, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Glasgow to Durban aboard the Nea Hellas

Posted on February 10, 1941 by felicityh54

January 12 – February 10 1941

There are no letters from this period, although Dad mentions writing them many times in his diary.  Diary entries for this period are as follows:

12th January

Sailed with the tide at dawn.  Land in sight all day.  At Ac Ac post.  Twenty two ships in convoy.  Number destroyers and cruisers – plenty of planes – ours – about.  Interesting day – smooth sea.  Played cards in evening.

13th

Sick Parade.  Capt Cobb treated [me] for bronchitis – still on duty preferring to be on deck than in cabin – played cards.

14th

Cloudy, cool & windy.  The sea a bit wild – a great sight – Turn south.

15th

Warmer weather, play cards at Isolation deck where our Ac Ac guns mounted.  Bright starlit night.

16th

Still under MO – pay day – Two up schools everywhere – poker, banker, crown and anchor.  Troops buy out canteen stock of tobacco.  Capstan 8/- lb (England 2/- oz) write some letters – Take over night duty on Ac Ac – glorious night – striking sunset.

17th

Letter writing – cards – lazy day.

18th

Same as 17th

19th

Weather warming up.  RO shorts and shirts – a week earlier were wearing the whole wardrobe.

20th

Cards & Reading

21st

Get sunburnt – Glorious weather on deck but hot as hell in cabin – sleep on deck.  Troops find hold where officers beer stored – get 14 barrels out with rope at midnight – everyone happy next morning – Thick heads the order of the day but it was lovely beer.  Acting CO & acting 2 IC wild as hell but other officers seemed a bit pleased.

Jan 22

Back on day shift – Crib, 500 all day – Community singing on deck in the evening.

23rd

similar to 22nd

24th

Sea like a mill pond – intensely hot – played cards between shifts

25th

Hot as hell – reach Freetown.  Enemy plane flies over.  Ac Ac fire from shore batteries – Junkers prevented from coming low – evidently on reconnaissance work – yarns on deck – no blackout – niggers come round boat selling and bartering fruit for shirts and other articles of clothing.  Beer party in cabin.

26th

Niggers about all day.  Hamburger Bill comes over from Franconia to give talk – returns to his ship.  Sleep on deck as usual.

27th

Excellent sunrise but hot as hell again – not a breath of air especially below decks.  Tommies and Scotties in English AMC unit have argument.

28th

1500 cigarettes stolen – muster parade – kit inspection.  News – German radio claims sinking Empress of Australia – E of A lying serenely at anchor about a mile from us.

29th

Left F’town at 8am this morning.  Hot lazy uneventful day – cards at night.  Sleep on deck – rain – scramble for cover.

Jan 30th

Payday – hot as hell – beer party to drink beer lost and won in 500 tournament – 10 gallons between six of us

Jan 31st

Wattsie and J Hocking wrestle on deck – impromptu PT – hot day – cards and reading as usual.  Crossed the line at 230 [1430?]  Father Neptune celebrations – several officers and nurses initiated.  Interesting for a while but later just a show.

Feb 1st

Two of escorting destroyers leave us & pass tramp going the other way – see Southern Cross at 2.30am – Evening yarning and drinking beer – strain the hops out of beer through teeth.

2nd Feb

Cruisers doing manoeuvres and target practice cause some excitement and rumours.

3rd

PT parade at 9.30 – TAB innocuolation at 2.30 – Cards – discussion on deck with RR JR (Jock & Tommy) JN and self – Tucker rotten – pigs better fed at home.

4th

Just routine day

5th

Wrote letters.  read & played cards between shifts

6th

As on the fifth

7th

Wakened by planes from Cape Town flying overhead – some ships leave convoy and go Cape Town – rest of convoy take up formation and move on – choppy sea – cold wind a change after the hear and monotonous calm of the tropics.

8th Feb (Sat)

On deck most of day as usual.  Sun comes out again – convoy only eleven ships now.  Wrote a couple of letters.

9th Feb

Pass two tramps – muster parade – lecture by CO – Pictures in evening – Dr Syn

10th Mon

Getting nearer Durban.  Everyone keyed up for new sights etc.

 

aboard Nea Hellas Jan41

The Convoy

The Convoy’s designation was WS 5B.  There’s a useful map, a photo of one of the ships, an outline of the comings and goings of the various ships  and for those who understand such things, a table representing the formation of the convoy at this website : http://www.naval-history.net/xAH-WSConvoys04-1941A.htm

Photo shown here – taken by Dick Lewis

Alcohol and Tobacco

Jan 16 – cost of tobacco.  In England 2/- per oz : this would equate to 32/- per pound, so getting it for 8/- was certainly a bargain by comparison.  Jan 21 – re the officers’ beer.  I assume there was a CO designated for each ship, since the Battalion CO (‘Hamburger Bill’) is mentioned later (Jan 26) as coming over from the Franconia to give a lecture.  Further thieving on Jan 28 (1500 cigarettes) – interesting there is no comment re culprits. Jan 30 – How could 6 men drink 10 gallons of beer?  that’s 80 pints!!

German Propaganda

Jan 28 re Empress of Australia: Just as earlier in the war (refer early letters from England), German broadcasts were conveying information that was clearly false!

Tucker rotten

He does comment further on the food situation in later diary entries and letters.  Dick Lewis confirms that there was a very definite class system on  board – the officers and nurses were the first class passengers, everyone else second or even third class.

Posted in at sea, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, gambling and drinking, organisation, pay and conditions, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Adventures in Glasgow January 1941

Posted on January 11, 1941 by felicityh54

Glasgow Jan 1941 pp 1 2

Glasgow Jan 1941 pp 3 4

Glasgow Jan 1941 pp 5 6

Glasgow Jan 1941 p7

TX 1004

Pte M Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF

Abroad

Dear Mother

Once again we are on the move whither only God and the powers that be know – but anyhow we’re moving.

The last month has been one of the most interesting of my life.  In the centre of two of the greatest festivals of all time – Christmas in England and New Year in Scotland.  I told you in an earlier letter of how we spent Christmas in barracks at Colchester forty miles from London – on the coast.  On the Saturday after Christmas the sergeant detailed a number of our platoon to go as baggage party to Glasgow and we spent Sunday loading our gear.  We left by train on Monday morning and for want of something better to do played cards all the way.

It was about half past six the following morning when we alighted at a Glasgow dock. The officer in charge was able to give us leave for the day.  That was New Year’s Eve so after taking us to a barracks where we were issued with blankets we were broken off for the day.  There were nine of our platoon and we decided to stick together but that arrangement didn’t last long.  We had a few beers together and then split up – Graham Watts – a Queensland bloke – and I went together.  We had a meal at Woolworths and went to the Central Station to find out what time trains left for Edinburgh next morning as we expected to get leave again on Wednesday.

Whilest at the station Graham got into conversation with some chap as to the shows that were on in town.  There was a girl standing nearby.  I passed the time of day and she returned my greeting.  She asked if we were on leave and not wanting to go into details I said we were and then went on to ask her the same question that Graham was asking the chap he was speaking to.  She said well I’m waiting for a friend whose coming on the next train from Edinburgh and if you’d care to come home with us I think I can promise you an enjoyable evening.  And what an evening it was.  We went by tram to a place called Newlands – incidentally Glasgow boasts the best tram service in the world – civilians may travel fourteen miles for tuppence ha’penny whilst members of the forces travel anywhere for a penny.

Although it was little more than an hour since we had fed we did justice to an excellent home cooked meal then whilst the girls and Mrs Laird cleared up we had a game of billiards with Tom.  He was a machine gunner with an English Battalion in Egypt and on Gallipoli and knew the Aussies in the last show.  The game finished, Tom, Graham and I drank a bottle of whisky then we danced till twelve o’clock and then went with the family first footing – a Scottish custom that is a feature of ‘Hogmanay’ as the coming of the New Year is called.  The idea is to be the first foot across the threshold in the New Year.  We visited several places – friends of the Lairds – at each of which we had a supper and a couple of drinks – always whisky – neat.  The Whisky has an entirely different flavour to the whisky at home.  At one of the homes we visited there were two sisters and with a piano playing they treated us to some really good singing.

It was half past six the following morning when we arrived back at barracks.  We had a clean up, saw the officer who gave us leave for the day and set out for Edinburgh.  We were not disposed to shave ourselves so went to a barber – like everybody else in Scotland he was suffering from the effects of an all night celebration – before shaving us he gave us each a glass of Whisky and then a glass of beer as a chaser and as our shave only cost 3d we got good value for our money.  Whatever other celebrations I have the fortune to attend I’ll never forget Hogmanay – most people were just arriving home or making their way home when we reached the station.  There was a heavy snowfall on New Year’s Day and in Edinburgh gangs of workmen were kept busy cleaning the snow from the tramlines.

Both Thursday evening and Friday evening we spent with the Lairds – the most charmingly hospitable family I’ve ever met.  There was Tom (the husband), Mrs Laird who comes from the far north and three daughters – Billie the eldest is I think the prettiest girl I ever saw.  Before leaving them on Wednesday morning we suggested taking them to a show and when we arrived on Thursday night they were all set to go but we were broke – the officer had told us that if we had any credit in our paybooks we could draw it on the Friday so I took Tom aside and explained the situation to him and without a question he gave me a pound and when I gave it back on the Friday he didn’t want to take it.

On the Friday afternoon we saw the most colourful pantomime imaginable.  I always thought pantomimes were for kids but almost the entire audience were adults.  On another day we went to the Art galleries.  They boast one of the finest collections of paintings and statuary in the world.  Glasgow though essentially an industrial city is a wonderful place and the Clyde is one of the greatest waterways in the world.

That Sunday the Battalion arrived.  We had come aboard on the Saturday and though the ship was still at the docks leave could not under any circumstances be obtained however we had promised to go back to the Lairds on the Sunday evening for a sort of farewell evening.  I had been put on guard on the Saturday night till Sunday night and during the time that I was off duty wrote and explained the situation however with evening came a heavy fog and in walking round the decks we conceived how easy it would be to slide down the ropes and at least attempt to get through the cordon of pickets and military police that surrounded the docks.

Luck was with us and once ashore we had little difficulty keeping in the shadows of the wharf and by crawling at times on hands and knees and climbing at others across steel pickets and barbed wire came out on one of the dock roads.  We had only a general idea of our whereabouts and presently were stopped by a civil policeman.  We told him how we were situated and far from hindering us he directed us to the city where we soon caught a tram and though somewhat later than we had intended were soon in the midst of another most enjoyable evening.

The Scotch people are the nearest to ourselves of any people int he world and the bond of friendship is wonderful – when our chaps in the East took Bardia the Scottish papers rang with praise.  The English papers took full glory to themselves.  The headlines of the Glasgow papers were of a type that in our papers would have been bombastic – such headlines as “Australians penetrate Bardia” and “Aussies show the way” were two of the flattering remarks that met the eye and reading down you came to such statements as “The Australians are the toughest fighting men in the world and the victory at Bardia is in keeping with their military history” and in titbits such remarks as – “Nice fellows these Aussies – even Bardia fell for them”.

It was with a deep sense of loss that I left Glasgow some few days later.

I sincerely hope there’s some mail for us wherever we’re going because it’s now nearly three months since I had a letter or any news from home. **

Though we’re not travelling on the grandiose scale that we started out on this venture we’re quite a happy family and so for the present Mother I’ll say cheerio.

Lots of love to you and the pater.  Regards to the troops.

Max

Christmas letter

Dad’s Christmas letter is not in my collection, but there is a description of the Christmas dinner mentioned in a later letter. However I do have a Christmas card sent from Scotland:

Scottish Christmas card

 

 

Christmas card from Scotland inner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

News from Home!?

Once again, Dad speaks of it being months since he had any news from home, but his letter of Dec 8 he mentions receiving letters from his mother – admittedly written in September – so maybe this is what he means by the three months mentioned (i.e. that the latest news he had received was from 3 months ago).  On 16th Dec he says his last letter from Youngster was on October 24th – and again, it’s not clear if this is the date of the letter (more likely) or the date of receipt.

On November 17 he says An old letter of May’s written on the 29th of May turned up last week. So again, he might mean – no recent news, rather than no recent letters.

Alcohol consumption

The diary entry below speaks of drinking a bottle of Black & White (it sounds as though he was the only one drinking – but maybe not), and the letter above of three men consuming a bottle of whisky between them.  This seems an awful lot to me…especially as there was a lot more alcohol consumed on New Year’s Eve!

Diary entries

In packing to move house, I have uncovered one of Dad’s wartime diaries.  It is a memo book and covers the period from December 31 1940 – July 16 1941.  For December 31 and the first part of January entries are as follows:

(Note – according to Dick Lewis they were discouraged from keeping diaries – but clearly many did – as William Crooks says that when writing The Footsoldiers he relied on them)

December 31

Arrived Glasgow from Colchester at 6.30am – taken to York Hill Barracks – dismissed at two o’clock.  Courtesy call Buchanan’s Warehouse drank bottle of Black & White.  Went on pub crawl tea at Woolworths – walked to Railway station – met Billie Laird – pretty as a picture – took Graham Watts and self home – Tom, Mrs Laird, Sally, Margaret and Hazel – Whisky – another tea – Billiards, Whisky & Cocktails – Toast New Year.

1st January 1941

One minute past twelve went first footing – hell of a good night.  Whisky, Beer – fatted calf.  Back to Barracks – had a clean up – went to Edinburgh – North British Hotel – Daisy Aird – Snow storm – back to barracks 1am.

2nd January

drank some beer.  lunch at YMCA met sailor from Empress of Britain – Head bandage and leg in a mess – told us the story of the sinking – Bombed with HE  (?) then with incendiaries then torpedoed by submarine – Went to Lairds in afternoon – went to a show in the evening

3rd January

Went to pantomime with Wattsie Billie & Margaret…. colourful show – tea and ….at Lairds (Mrs Soldier…cabbage – leaves a ….wherever he goes)

4th January

Went aboard ship – New Hellas – put on guard duty

5th January

Guard all day – dismissed 5pm.  Battalion came on board went AWL that night – went out to Lairds – once clear of ship kept in shadows of Railway trucks – crawled through barbed wire – round docks – directed by civvy police – Had a couple of drinks at a big hotel – Adelphi – and went out to Newlands again.  Farewell evening.

6th January

Shifted out of cabin to make room for postal staff.  Loaded mags for Bren – Tucker light on – sleep on floor.

7th January

Fix Ac Ac ports.  very cold.  Heavy fog.  Boat drill.  Ac Ac lecture

8th January

Route march in afternoon – round Glasgow along Great Western Road.  sleep on floor

9th January

Route march again.  bought shop out of milk & cakes

10th

Fog bound still.  move into cabin P46 – Ray Ross, Viv Abel, Tom Brereton, Graham Watts, Jack Doran.  all afternoon settling in.  Helped by Capt Miller got to wharf and rang Mrs Laird and Billie.  Promised to see Billie that night – got sick.  Bloody sick at tea time – vomited blood.  Couldn’t get ashore – wrote Billie a note.

11th January

sick parade – temp 102 Tugs took ship into stream – down the Clyde – passed big dockyards to Greenock.  Hills very bare and barren in contrast to when we came in in June ’40.

Posted in Britain, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, leave, The course of the war, Uncategorized, unit and personal diaries | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Winter and the boredom of barrack room soldiering

Posted on December 16, 1940 by felicityh54

16 Dec 1940 pp 1 2

16 Dec 1940 pp 3 4TX 1004

Pte Max Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF

16th Dec 1940

Dear Mother

Though there is precious little to write about I’ll send a few lines trusting they find you well and happy as I am at present.  Apart from the two letters you wrote me in September Mother I have had no news at all from home – the last letter I had from Youngster was on the twenty fourth of October and its months and months since I had a letter from May, Jack or the Menzies.

Winter is reaching severe proportions now and I think it’s even colder than our Tasmanian Winter although our platoon officer who is a Tasmanian says the frosts make him quite homesick.  There’s eight hours daylight in the twenty four hours now and the circle of the sun has a radius of about three inches and though there’s been no actual fall of snow in this particular part yet there’s been snow in the rain.

The chaps are all sick of being here especially those from the northern states to whom the weather is worst ever – and they are envying the Aussies in the East and wishing they could be with them.  I’m sick of barrack room soldiering myself the spit and polish of the parade ground – the discipline and Kindergarten ideas may be alright to those used to an ordered life but to those accustomed to making their own decisions it’s taboo.  I suppose it will change sometime.

Everything in the army life is the absolute antithesis of the moral and ethical codes of civil life – the characteristics most desirable in citizenship in civil life have no place in the military ideal.  Shakespeare said ‘In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man as modest stillness and humility but when the blast of war blows in our ears stiffen the sinews with hard favoured rage” but that’s only one phase of the transition necessary in the evolution from civilian to military life.  In the last war Kitchener said that the three essentials for a soldier were coolness, courage and cunning and now Wavell says a good infantryman should be a poacher, a cat burglar and a gunman.

In the army there are a thousand and one listed crimes but the only crime punished is for being found out – no matter what crime you commit providing you can concoct a story to fit the bill you get the benefit of the story and punishment is meted out in inverse ratio to the size of the lie you tell – a cunning liar will go farther in the army than the man who tries to be honest.  Every job in the army is judged on its merits as a bludge – a good bludger has an easy time but an amateur bludger isn’t in the race.  That’s why they always catch up with me.

I’m sending a snap of Shirley and me.  Shirley had her photo taken but they’re not ready yet.  I’ll send you one as soon as they are.

And now Mother I must go to duty – we’re on guard again – striking guard duty every second day now and it’s a monotonous job too.  Goodbye for the present Mother.  My love to you and the pater and regards to the troops

Max

The only crime punished…

Dad often speaks with envy and dismay about the fact that he wasn’t as good a storyteller as some others.  He took bad luck very personally!

Photograph of Shirley

As mentioned in a previous post, I have never seen a photo of Shirley.

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I’m engaged: a letter to May

Posted on December 11, 1940 by felicityh54

to May Dec 1940 pp 1 2         to May Dec 1940 pp 3 4             to May Dec 1940 pp 5 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to May Dec 1940 p7

11th Dec 1940

Dear May

I suppose Mother has told you that I’m engaged to a very charming Scotch girl – Shirley Balfour – a nursing sister in an Edinburgh hospital.  I hope to send Mother a photo next week – I met her on my six day leave.  When I came back we wrote to each other and about a fortnight ago she came down here or at least to a town near here to be with her sister in law who was having a child and I saw her quite a lot and before she went back we got engaged – She’s twenty six, has dark brown hair but a fair complexion and though small built has a lovely figure.  I’m hoping though I think it’s a wild hope that I may get enough leave to spend Christmas Day with her….

(top of next page cut off)

It’s now nearly six months since our arrival in England.  What a wealth of experience that six months has given us: in moving from camps and barracks we’ve had an opportunity of seeing a good deal of the country and of getting to know the English people.  My ideas of the English have been completely changed and I can’t speak too highly of them now.  When one sees the terrible drubbing the civilian population have had – their homes wrecked, relatives and friends killed and maimed – no moaning or wailing – no hysteria – no panic of any description – they remain cool, calm and determined.  This same spirit dominates the services too – the RAF – their exploits are well known but the various branches of the silent service that get very little publicity are doing a marvellous job – the navy itself – and most particularly the merchant service – the Ned Kelly’s of the war – they take the ships out knowing that the cards are stacked against them – they have to contend with motor torpedo boats, with enemy bombers, with battleships and submarines and though it is futile they fight to the finish as Jervis Bay and Rawalpindi did.

Six months ago the world wouldn’t have given England one chance in ten of winning but now they realise what a nation the English are – and the airforce and Navy go from success to success.  Peoples who hesitated to be friendly now wish England well and it looks as though the Italians are regretting their grab for spoils in a war they thought was already won. We’ve had an opportunity of seeing – unfortunately under the worst possible conditions – a good deal of the country and some of the greatest cities in England and Scotland.  On our thirty six hours London leave we had a fleeting glance of the world’s greatest city.  Whilest in camp on the plains we saw the city of Salisbury – a city of about a quarter of a million people and centre of Britain’s military training grounds.  We also saw Winchester – the ancient capital of England with its very old and interesting Cathedral its interesting architecture and statue of King Alfred.  We saw Marlborough, Andover, Tidworth …and many small towns and we travelled down the west coast by train right through the midlands, and on six day leave both up and down the east coast – through York, Hull and Newcastle.  In Scotland I had a good look round the wonderful city of Edinburgh – was through Dunfermline, Alloa, Stirling, Helensburgh and Glasgow.

Though at times we’ve moaned and whinged about our own personal grievances it’s been a wonderful education and I hope someday to come back and see it all in its peacetime setting.

Our Colonel has been promoted to acting Brigadier and we don’t know whether he’ll come back to us or not.  We’ve lost a good CO – because although he was very irregular in dealing with offenders he had the interests of the battalion at heart and was a vey able officer.

The weather is terribly cold here now and the days have less than eight hours of daylight – guard duties these nights are damnably cold however it’s only a week to the shortest day and it may start to mend then. Well May I’ll say cheerio for the present – best regards to Laurie and love to you and Anne

Max

These are for Anne xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

TX 1004

Pte M Hickman

2/33 Battalion AIF

 

Shirley Balfour

The engagement was doomed not to last – it’s not clear from subsequent letters, just how long it was in place, but certainly  within a couple of years Shirley had married someone else.  There is no photo of her in Dad’s papers, although at least one of his non-family correspondents comments favourably on her appearance so I assume he shared copies of her photo fairly widely.  I suspect Dad’s mother did not respond favourably to the news: she would have been anxious about the prospect of ‘losing’ her only son to someone on the other side of the world – but there were probably many complex reasons for the eventual outcome.

The Jervis Bay and Rawalpindi

Both ships were converted merchant vessels that were sunk by German battleships.  The captain of the Jervis Bay received a posthumous Victoria Cross.  The story of both encounters can be found in Wikipedia. The hope to visit again in peacetime Sadly, Dad never had the chance to return to the UK in peacetime.

 

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Guard duty on pay day, chocolates in the mail, snooker on picket duty

Posted on December 8, 1940 by felicityh54

8 Dec 1940 pp 1 2

8 Dec 1940 pp 3 4

8 Dec 1940 pp 5 6

8 Dec 1940 p7TX 1004

Pte M Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF

8th Dec 1940

Dear Mother

Once again Sunday comes round and so again I write you a resume of the week’s events.  Though I still haven’t had any mail from home – there was a packet of papers came in this morning but most of it was for the Queenslanders.

Though I’ve been on guard duty many times Thursday night was the first time I’d struck guard duty on a pay night and it was quite an experience.

On pay night everyone except those on duties get leave till midnight.  The pubs close at 10 o’clock and on my shift at the main gate from half past nine till half past eleven I saw and heard some of the funniest things I’ve ever experienced: between that time the boys came rolling, rolling, rolling home and I could have had enough beer to make me drunk for a week however as I don’t like English beer I wasn’t interested.

As our stay in this barracks is only temporary the guard room provides a comical spectacle.  The prisoners – only chaps who have committed trivial offences  such as being AWL for a few hours – fraternize with the guards playing cards, yarning and joking – eating and drinking together – some of them are hard citizens too.  On the Friday afternoon during my last shift – half past three till half past five – one chap staggered into camp who had been away since the previous evening.  He was gloriously sozzled – his lip was cut – his nose twisted at a rakish angle and his cheek bones skun whilst the skun knuckles of both hands told the other side of the story – he was in the midst of telling me that he exemplified the vices of three great countries when I saw the adjutant approaching on a motor byke (sic) and unceremoniously hid him behind some sandbags.  He got through the lines safely but was later picked up by one of his officers and just before the new guard took over was brought to the guard room under armed escort – quite happy.  He was born in Canada of Scotch parents and at the age of ten came to Australia hence the vices of three great countries.  Hold everything the orderly has just brought me a parcel.  I’ll open it straight away.  A beautiful tin of chocolates.  Thanks a lot Mother – they’re a sight for sore eyes and certainly a delight to the palette – wonderful – Hell I hope there’s another layer because the top one’s nearly gone.  The moment I opened that tin the blitzkrieg started – I’ll put them away before I lose the lot.

Monday

I had got so far Mother when the bearer of bad news the Company Sergeant Major came into the barrack room and detailed me and several others for a mobile picket duty and five minutes later we were on our way to a township about twenty miles from barracks – quite a good sized town too and as there was nothing to do we went to the local YMCA and played snooker – I am writing this during the midday break and the orderly corporal has just brought in a bunch of mail – three for me – two from you Mother written on the eleventh and 21st September.  It’s wonderful to get letters from home again and to know that you are well.  These are the first I’ve had for six weeks.  I’m very sorry to hear of Aunt Emily’s death – she always looked so fit and well.

I often wondered how Mahoney got on in the election – we get very little Australian particularly Tasmanian news.

Your letter clears up a matter that caused me considerable worry for a while – the matter of the bank account.  When the London branch wrote me that my balance was only one hundred and sixty pounds I thought though I couldn’t see how somebody had put one over me but now it’s all quite clear.

I’m glad you sent youngster a birthday present from me.  I sent her a cable but I could do no more at the time.  I’ve sent home a lot of parcels of souvenirs of different parts and presents and I do hope you get them alright.

So Nance is engaged too well it must be the spring air.  I’m glad to hear that Jack and Lil are still getting married at Christmas.  I didn’t know whether the war had caused any change of plans or not and of course didn’t know whether to send them a cable or not but now I will send one on payday.

I hope you got my last letter mother it was very important.  I’ll send you a photo of Shirley next week if I can.

My best regards to the boys.  I’m glad their standing up to it alright.

And now mother with love to you and dad I’ll say cheerio for present.

Love Max

PS Dick and Ken send their best regards to you both.

 

That Important Letter

For reasons best known to his mother, neither the ‘important letter’ nor the photograph mentioned here are part of the collection of letters on which this blog is based.

Australian Politics

As mentioned in a previous post, the Federal election in September 1940 resulted in Robert Menzies (leading a United Australia Party/ Country Party coalition) continuing as Prime Minister with the support of two independents.  Prior to this election, the member for Denison in the House of Representatives was Gerald Mahoney – a Labor man.  Despite a national swing away from the Government, Mahoney lost his seat.  The following is from Wikipedia:

Gerald William Mahoney (24 May 1892 – 16 September 1955) was an Australianpolitician. Born in Tasmania, he was educated in that state at Latrobe, becoming a painter and an official of the Painters’ Union. In 1931 he was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as a Labor member for Denison. In 1934, he transferred to federal politics, defeating United Australia Party MP Arthur Hutchin for the federal seat of Denison. He held the seat until his defeat by UAP candidate Arthur Beck in 1940.

Putting his money where his mouth was

Dad had in fact stood against Mahoney in the 1937 Federal election.  He is described in the record as ‘Independent Labor’.   The final results on that occasion were (party/ candidate/ number of votes/ percentage of the total)

Labor Gerald Mahoney 11,652  47.5%   United Australia  John McPhee 10,123  41.3% Independent Labor Maxwell Hickman 2,159  8.8%  Social Credit Athol Smith 600 2.4% Total formal votes  24,534    Informal votes   1,067   Turnout  25,601

Two-party-preferred result  Labor  Gerald Mahoney  13,218   53.9%   United Australia  John McPhee  11,316   46.1%  Labor hold   Swing+3.6

 

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Visit to the dentist, then two days’ pay for one feed

Posted on November 24, 1940 by felicityh54

24 Nov 1940 pp1 2

24 Nov 1940 pp3 4

24 Nov 1940 pp 5 6TX 1004

Pte M Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF

24th Nov 1940

Dear Mother

I have just come back from the Dentist – a cheerful subject to start a letter however such is the condition of news – decidedly light on.  There’s no doubt about English army dentists – he took one tooth out, drilled and filled two and polished my teeth in twenty minutes – when he put the drill to work I thought I’d struck a navy (?) drilling stone but it was only a matter of seconds and it was over – the rest of the job was easy – I didn’t know he’d pulled the tooth out.

It seems ages since I had a letter from home – the last one was from youngster and that’s five weeks ago.  Still none of the chaps are getting Aussie mail except airmail so I can’t complain.

I went to a seaside resort yesterday afternoon – some of our chaps had been there on Saturday afternoon on picket duty and they boosted it up so much that Ted Fleming and I decided to look the place over.  It was Sunday and we had leave from two o’clock so we caught a bus.  The place we went to was quite a big township but except for troops it was practically deserted.  There were at least sixty big hotels to let on the waterfront – all the swimming pools were empty because of the cold weather but apart from that it was a deserted city and we were glad to get a bus back to barracks.

I haven’t heard from Jack or Max Phillips – I had two letters from Jack early but I haven’t had any at all from Max and until I do I’m not going to write him again.  I suppose you haven’t heard anything from Brian at all.

In the hope of finding some more writing matter I’ve just read through all my letters from home – your letters, May’s letters, youngster’s letters, Jack’s and Mae Menzie’s but I’m afraid there’s still nothing that I haven’t already written – news is so scarce – that is news we’re allowed to write – that most of the chaps only send cards now.

When I was on guard the other day Dick [Schultz] went past with the Medical Officer of his battalion – there’s no doubt about that fellow he’d talk his way in anywhere – he’s as fat as a seal.  I’ve never seen him look as well – he spends most of his time riding around in cars – he goes everywhere and sees everything there is to see – but there’s no doubt about Dick he’s a fine fellow.  Ken Jenkins is the most homesick man in England – he’s changed remarkably.

I was on Town picket the other day – Saturday – the idea being to go round and see that no disturbances are caused – we got tired of roaming round so the Corporal and I went to the pictures – saw Mickey Rooney in Andy Hardy Goes to New York – quite a good show.  Later we met up with the other pickets on their way to have supper so we went too – we had steak & eggs – supposed to be rump steak but of course all steak is rump steak these days.  Anyway when we got the bill it was four and a penny – two days’ pay for one feed.

When we arrived back at the Police Station a crowd of Military Jacks had brought in two Aussies – they were gloriously sozzled – if you had breathed hard on them you’d have knocked them over and because one of them was a bit cheeky the Jacks wanted to take them upstairs and do them up – I’ve never seen or heard of anything so contemptible.  Had they started anything there’d have been a free fight between the Jacks and pickets but the jacks backed their cart.

Well Mother beyond assuring you that I’m fit and well as I trust you, the pater and all the family circle and troops are, there is nothing else to write so with love to you and the pater I’ll say cheerio.

Max

Posted in Britain, Censorship, escapades, relaxation, fun and games, leave, pay and conditions, Posts and telegraph, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Our job is watching and waiting

Posted on November 17, 1940 by felicityh54

 

late 1940 pp 1 2

 

late 1940 pp 3 4

 

 

 

Dear Mother

Even though it seems ages since I heard from you – about a month I think – I could write you quite a good letter but for the fact that the sergeant who has been in charge of our platoon has got his commission now and may happen to censor this letter.

An old letter of May’s written on the 29th of May turned up last week.  I suppose it had been on a world tour still it was good to get it.  The only letter written at all recently was from Mae Menzie.  A very bright cheerful note – it’s the first I’ve had from May although she told me she had written several times.  I’ve written several letters to Max Phillips but so far have had none from him and will not write again unless I do.  In several of youngster’s letters she’s told me that parcels had been sent but with the exception of the parcel I had in August nothing else has come along.  I must have been marked off Mrs Toomey’s writing list too.

We’ve been moved to another barracks.  The barracks we were in for the last month were new and very comfortable with all modern conveniences but these are old barracks with all the disadvantages of the architecture and engineering of fifty years ago but even at that they’re better than the tents and wide open spaces of the Plains.

Except for the times when we are on barrack duties we are free from tea parade till eleven o’clock and allowed leave to the local township till that time but very few go out preferring to read or play cards – we play quite a lot of crib and five hundred.

By the time this letter reaches home the parcels I sent from here and from Scotland should have reached you at least I hope they have and of course the letters about my leave would be there too because I sent one to you by American Airmail and to May by ordinary mail so one of them should make the grade. Although according to the last letter I had from youngster very few are getting home – she said the last letter from me that she had read was sent over by May and was then five weeks old.

The Navy and Airforce are still doing a great job but it looks as though our job is watching and waiting and according to some biblical authority writing in this morning’s paper the war will go on for 1290 days – what a cheer up society he is – nearly another nine hundred days.  Europe will be a very sorry sight by then.  It’s questionable whether they’ll ever rebuild the cities that are being razed to the ground  When the was is over Australia will have its great opportunity for expansion – millions of people will want to get away from Europe with its recurring wars and depressions – we can build a great nation with real democracy.

Well Mother as you’ll gather from reading this there isn’t much real news of which I can write you so with love to you and dad and regards to the boys I’ll sign off for the present. Love and good luck

Max

 

Mail and Melancholia

Dad doesn’t say that this letter will be posted ‘outside’ – and to the contrary, he comments on the likelihood of censorship – and yet is does not carry the approved identification at the top.  Nor is there a date – but according to the Footsoldiers, the move to a different barracks – Sabroan Barracks in Colchester – occurred in ‘early November’.  I have attributed a date around November 17 to this letter.

Despite Mae Menzie and ‘the youngster’ (Ivy) telling him they had sent letters and parcels that he hadn’t received, he was willing to assume that others – like Max Phillips and Mrs Toomey – had ‘crossed him off their list’ because he hadn’t received any letters from them.  Most of the parcels did arrive eventually.  The Menzie family were great friends of Dad’s who lived in the Huon Valley.

‘Nearly Nine Hundred Days’ : In fact, there would be many more days before the war ended and Dad could go home…around 1700 days, by my estimate.  There were many times during the course of the War when Dad expressed frustration that the job of his Battalion or his Platoon seemed to be ‘watching and waiting’.  Ultimately, the Battalion saw plenty of action – though it was true that in some cases Dad was elsewhere.

We can build a great nation with real democracy

Dad had a keen interest in Politics.  Dick Lewis described him as  ‘Labor firebrand’.  He had stood as an ‘independent Labor’ candidate for the Federal seat of Denison in the 1937 elections.  I don’t know why this was his designation – but I assume there had been a falling out with the ALP.  He only polled about 10% of the primary vote.

On Guard Duty: Sabroan barracks, Colchester

Photo : Dick Lewis

Sabroan barracks

Posted in Camps and Barracks, Censorship, Posts and telegraph, Tasmanian, The course of the war, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Six days’ leave in Scotland – at last!

Posted on November 10, 1940 by felicityh54

10 Nov 1940 pp1 2

10 Nov 1940 pp3 4

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10 Nov 1940 p7

TX 1004

Pte M Hickman

2/33rd Battalion

AIF

10th Nov 1940

Dear Mother

This should be the best letter I’ve ever written because I’ve just come back from six days’ leave in Scotland.  It was the best holiday I’ve ever had.  I’d given up hope of ever getting the oft promised leave when last Sunday the skipper told us that all who hadn’t had their leave in August and September would go on Monday morning.  The train we travelled by reached Edinburgh at eleven o’clock at night.  The two chaps I went with – Ted Fleming and Viv Abel (Ted’s father was a sergeant in the 26th) got sick of the train journey at Newcastle and left intending to come on again the next morning but that was the last I saw of them.

However I booked at a Services place called the Victoria League in Princes Street.  I was about early on Tuesday morning although it was raining like hell.  My first move was to get some Christmas presents and after an hour’s window shopping went to a leather goods place.  I got a nice hand bag in a rustic brown shade for you, a little needlework compact for May and a writing compact for youngster, then from a stationer I got some very fine Scotsman calendars and some views.  I registered and insured the parcels and trust they reach you by Christmas.  I could not think of anything for dad because clothing is very dear and as he’s a non smoker it was not good sending anything of that nature.

That afternoon I went to Edinburgh Castle a wonderful place built on top of a rock and although very old it is in a splendid state of repair.  There are a series of small towers, a very old chapel and ancient battlements on the outer edges and in the centre of what was the battlements has been built the Scottish Shrine in memory of the Scottish soldiers who died in the last war.  Though not as big as the Melbourne shrine it is wonderfully conceived and magnificently built.  Within the hall carved in granite are the battle honours of all the Scottish regiments.  Around the walls is the most artistically carved tympanum I’ve ever seen.  Every branch of the forces is represented – all the faces brilliantly portrayed – the bronze figures almost walk off the wall.  Suspended from the ceiling is the figure of St Michael- the patron saint of soldiers.  The colours, books (?) and stained glass windows have been put away for safety during the war.

The Argyle Tower of the castle commands an excellent view of old and new Edinburgh.  The line marking the junction of the old and the new is the railway built on the reclaimed land of what was the Nor Loch.  The charm and beauty of the modern city with its wide streets and footpaths blends in perfect harmony with the ancient city’s time honoured buildings and historical interest.  The new Edinburgh is a beautiful city and has some fine statuary and buildings and numbers parks and gardens.

On Tuesday night I was invited to an evening at a private home in one of the residential suburbs.  It was a fine place – there was a Canadian, a Newfoundlander, two Australian sailors and myself and we had a really good evening.  The owner evidently a very wealthy man named Cousins (they have two cars a Rolls Royce and a Daimler) – turned on some good beer.  Scottish beer is like Cascade when fresh and raw off the wood and although I very seldom drink English beer I thoroughly enjoyed that Tenants Ale.  It’s a beautiful golden brown and sparkled in the crystal glasses like champagne.

On Thursday morning I went to see the Bridge over the Firth of Forth – a magnificent structure and a masterpiece of engineering, though it only carries double track railway lines and makes no provision for road traffic having been built before the advent of the motor car.  There is a ferry like the Lurgurena that conveys vehicles and passengers across the river and as I was going across in the ferry to get a better view of the bridge I met a ship breaker.  He invited me to have a look at his yards on the other side and then took me to Dunfermline a good sized town where Andrew Carnegie was born.  Before leaving he told me that he was sending a lorry to Inverary next day and if I cared to go I could catch a train to his place at half past six next morning.  As the trip involved a journey right across Scotland round Loch Lomond and through the foothills of the Highlands it was not to be missed.  The trip was all it promised and I saw some of the finest scenery I’ve ever seen – I’m sending some views of the Loch country.  In the course of the journey we passed the ancient battlefields of Bannockburn where Robert Bruce fought in 1314 and a little partner on a monument to William Wallace rises sheer from a rocky promontory overlooking the battlefield of Stirling Bridge.  Bruce and Wallace are Scotland’s national heroes and are held in reverence everywhere.

The beauty of Loch Lomond is almost beyond description although in many ways it resembles the Great Lake.  It is less rugged than the Great Lake country – more mellow and peaceful.  The rest and be thankful hill is a good testing ground for cars.  Just before we got to Inverary – a seaside town about seventy miles north of Glasgow – the lorry broke down and had to be towed to the township – so as it would be a couple of days before it could be repaired I came to Glasgow with a commercial traveller and saw some more beautiful country and some fine old homes and castles.

I did not stay in Glasgow but caught the train from there to Edinburgh – after a meal I went to a news theatre and from there I called at a pub for a spot.  I was with a chap named Boyd – as soon as we got in the bar we were invited to have a drink by a chap who turned out to be the skipper of a merchant ship trading to Australia.  With him was a doctor and a naval officer and we spent a good couple of hours in time honoured manner.

The people in Scotland are wonderfully hospitable and although the city is full of troops of many nationalities everybody wanted to make our stay enjoyable and I was very sorry when I had to catch the train back to camp.

Well mother I trust this letter will be as pleasant to read as the experiences mentioned were and now with love to you and dad and regards to the troops I’ll say cheerio.

Max

 

The Shrine at Edinburgh Castle

Photos : see http://www.snwm.org/gallery/

The Ferry

‘like the Lurgurena’  :  photo from

http://catalogue.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/item/?id=NS1231-1-96

Lurgurena Hobart 1910 35

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Snail mail and expensive gifts: that safety pin is part of the dress

Posted on October 27, 1940 by felicityh54

27 Oct 1940

27 Oct 1940 pp3 4

27 Oct 1940 p5

27th Oct 1940

Pte M Hickman

TX 1004

 

Dear Mother

I had an airmail letter from youngster yesterday sent via USA.  It was a very newsy and interesting letter but contained some very surprising information.  Firstly it’s almost incredible that you should not be receiving my letters because I’ve written regularly and Dick Schultz and Ac Hallam are both getting replies to their July and August mail and as my letters often went to the orderly room the same time as Ac’s they must have been knocked back by the censors so I’m going to post this one outside and see if I get better results.  Several of the letters sent were by air mail.  At least I put 1/3 stamps on them when I handed them in.  I’ve been getting your letters and May’s regularly.

The second and even more amazing revelation concerns the Commonwealth Bank’s suggestion that I wanted my account transferred to London.  It’s absolutely the first I’ve heard of it.  When we went to London on 36 hour leave at the end of July we had to pay our own fares and I was broke when I got to Waterloo Station.  I went to the Commonwealth Bank’s London office at Australia House int he Strand, had an interview with the manager – told him I had an account at Hobart and from my pay book he got sufficient information for identification and told me I could draw whatever money I needed.  I drew five pounds – that’s six pounds five shillings Australian.  I understood that a record of the debit so would be sent to Hobart but there was never any suggestion of transfer.  About a fortnight ago I wrote the Bank for ten pounds to buy Christmas presents and for six days’ leave which had been promised to those who didn’t get it in September but so far has not eventuated and I haven’t heard from the Bank since.  But I wrote them yesterday to find out what has transpired between the London office and Hobart.

Last week I posted a Macdonald tartan for Anne – Ac Hallam got some people he met on his six days’ leave in Scotland to get it for me.  I had hoped to get a bonnet and socks to match but as I didn’t send enough money they didn’t get them.  They must be very dear because the invoice for the skirt and jumper was two pounds four and sixpence.  That safety pin is part of the dress.  I certainly hope it gets home alright.

We’ve settled into comfortable barracks for the winter and there (sic) a great improvement.  Beds are very comfortable after sleeping on the ground for five months – we also have electric light and hot and cold showers.  Our camp on Salisbury Plains was not very interesting – some quite good scenery but apart from a few scattered villages and military barracks there was no life in the place at all but now we’re within three or four miles of a good size township – a very old place but with modern outlook.

Youngster mentioned in her letter that petrol rationing has started and that it’ll take getting used to.  It’s marvellous the conditions people have to conform to.  The blackouts here are a set.  Driving under such conditions must be almost impossible but the care, taxis and military vehicles ply through the streets almost as they would in daylight.  Of course the people stick to the footpaths and that makes it easier.

Well Mother I’ll close now with best wishes to all and love to you and the pater.

Max

PS Did you get the Queen Mary playing cards – the souvenirs of London and the packets of postcards of London, Windsor, Salisbury and Marlborough.

 

The Mail Service

I imagine that Dad’s letters to his mother arrived in ‘fits and starts’, as did hers to him. However it seems that in general, the mail did get through – e.g. he had previously despaired of the ‘Scotty rig’ for Anne ever reaching him, but it did – and periodically he mentions getting a whole bundle of letters.  It’s surprising given previous comments about how ‘ordinary mail’ and airmail seem to take the same amount of time to get from Australia to England, that he should ever have bothered to add airmail postage to his letters.  And on censorship – we learn later that when a whole letter was deemed unsuitable the censor would advise the man concerned.

The slowness of the mail service must have really tried his patience: those Queen Mary cards would have been sent six months previously, and to be still wondering whether they had arrived would have been frustrating.  Of course, it is also possible that his mother focussed on ‘local news’ and didn’t always report on whether such items had arrived.

Petrol rationing

The introduction of petrol rationing in Australia had been quite a saga – and the problems did not diminish after its introduction on October 1.  The near-defeat of the Menzies government at the election that month was blamed on the scheme.  Menzies was only able to continue as Prime Minister thanks to the support of two independents.  Finding an equitable and efficient way of administering the scheme continued to be problematic for governments in subsequent years.  See this fascinating entry on the War Memorial’s website:

https://www.awm.gov.au/journal/j36/petrol.asp

Ration tickets looked like this:

http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/1328498/ration-tickets-petrol-2-gallons-circa-1941

Posted in Australian, Britain, Camps and Barracks, pay and conditions, Posts and telegraph, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment