War Letters – New Guinea: 10 Feb 1944, Townsville; Killing time waiting

W.E. Pidgeon
C/o P.R. Unit
7 Murray St.
Stanton Hill
Townsville

Thurs. 10th
[10 February 1944]

Darling,

As you can see by the letter head I am back on the mainland, killing time while I wait for transport up to Cairns.1Permission had been granted for Wep to travel to the Atherton Tableland where he would make some sketches of several recipients of the Military Medal  In all probability I shall be home in a week’s time.  Have a nice steak in the house – and a cold bottle of course.

Will you please send me a page, or about 20 clothing coupons.  Do not send the book as the Officer’s shop will accept loose coupons.  I want to buy a pair of shoes they are very good and only 25/-.  Post them as soon as you get this letter for I shall only be about 3 or 4 days up north.  Shall then try and get home on the flying boat which gets to Sydney about 5 o’clock which, I hope, will just give us time to dash off a quick one at Coy’s.2Harold and Bassie Coy ran the Hotel Hunters Hill, a favoured drinking spot of Wep and Jess.

How are all the parlour geese there?  Can Molly3Molly Turton get through the swing doors now?  Got any home brew?

Had a fine trip down from the island.  Left at four on a slightly cloudy but moonlight morning and arrived here at 7.30 am.  That’s good going.  The dawn was really magnificent coming on while we were flying above the great cumulus clouds.  The effect was brilliantly violent.  It was a Superman sunrise.

Have struck Bill Marien4Bill Marien was a former colleague of Wep’s at the Daily Telegraph and was now an Official War Correspondent working for the ABC., who, by the way, is married to that girl and has a kid about 18 month’s old.  We had dinner at the Officer’s Club5Hotel Seaview on The Strand and a quantity to drink.  It affected me poorly and I am now happily feeling the retirement of the ragged hangover that accompanied my awakening.  The rest of my time has been spent dismally sitting on my bum and gloomily reading old Lifes, Reader’s Digests, Mans and other sundry publications.

Have just heard that I will be moving off tomorrow.

If you happen to be going to town will you pop into Moore’s Bookshop next the Criterion Hotel and ask if they have a copy of the cheap edition of Laurence’s (sic)6T.E. Lawrence Seven Pillars of Wisdom.  Also can you get me, at any bookstore a copy of Cleanliness and Godliness by Reginald Reynolds?

Have only had one letter from you so that if you have happened to send others I must presume their demise in the Jungle Hells of NG.

Nothing else of interest at the moment.  So accept my utmost adoration.  Your devoted willie.

 

[It is most probable that Bill visited the Atherton Tablelands on Saturday, February 12 where he sketched several men who had recently been awarded the Military Medal. They were Sgt Wyatt, Sgt. Marney and Pte. N. Blundell.7Details of the incidents that earned these men the MM are available from James Parker’s site, Teller of Yarns – William Edwin Pidgeon: Sketching Battles of WWII. (2024, January 19). Retrieved from https://www.tellerofyarns.com/post/william-edwin-pidgeon-sketching-battles-of-wwii Afterwards Wep hitched a ride with Major C.H. Cheong, editor of the Army newspaper ‘Table Tops’ who drove him to Cairns. It is estimated that he made it home by Thursday, 17 February 1944.]

Sgt. Arthur James Wyatt, MM
Sgt. Ray McDonald Marney, MM
Pte. Neville Blundell, MM

Notes:

  • 1
    Permission had been granted for Wep to travel to the Atherton Tableland where he would make some sketches of several recipients of the Military Medal
  • 2
    Harold and Bassie Coy ran the Hotel Hunters Hill, a favoured drinking spot of Wep and Jess.
  • 3
    Molly Turton
  • 4
    Bill Marien was a former colleague of Wep’s at the Daily Telegraph and was now an Official War Correspondent working for the ABC.
  • 5
    Hotel Seaview on The Strand
  • 6
    T.E. Lawrence
  • 7
    Details of the incidents that earned these men the MM are available from James Parker’s site, Teller of Yarns – William Edwin Pidgeon: Sketching Battles of WWII. (2024, January 19). Retrieved from https://www.tellerofyarns.com/post/william-edwin-pidgeon-sketching-battles-of-wwii

War Letters – New Guinea: 20 Jan 1944, Port Moresby; Catching up with colleagues

Public Relations
Field Unit
HDQ
N.G. Force

20th Jan 44

Darling,

I am trying to write this in the correspondents dormitory.1Colloquially known as St Percy’s Seminary by the correspondents, it was situated at Headquarters, New Guinea Force in Four Mile Valley on the main road to Port Moresby – See FOUR MILE VALLEY, PAPUA, NEW GUINEA. 1944-01-02. A VIEW OF THE MAIN PORT MORESBY ROAD AT FOUR …. (2024, January 19). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C54321  Three or 4 of them lie about spine bashing – Others reminisce of their experiences in the area.  It is about 4.30 pm & it is still hot – albeit not so bad as Townsville where on Tuesday the water out of the taps (when one was allowed to use them) was 92º.

Left about 6 in the morning & we here for lunch.  It’s quite a treat to see land after flying over the sea for a couple of hours.  There were lots of clouds about & occasionally you could get glimpses of the barrier reef below – not that its much to see from the air.  Circled the town & landed amongst hills very little different from those down south.  The foliage & earth are much the same colour as that around Darwin.  However it is a picturesque spot as the mountains run fairly close to the sea & are an ominous blue under the clouds.  Long long off above the clouds can be see peaks jutting through – I guess they must be plenty high!

Tried to ring Tommy2Frederick Thomas O’Dea was the former General Manager of Guinea Airways and life-long close friend of Wep’s. At the beginning of the war he joined the RAAF and flew in an out of remote areas in New Guinea with supplies but following a severe crash he was unable to fly again and transfrred to the RAN where with the rank of Lieutenant became a Naval Coastwatcher in New Guinea.3WABAG, NEW GUINEA. NATIVES SURROUND THE FIRST AEROPLANE TO LAND AT WABAG WITH SUPPLIES FOR THE …. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2557734Myola 2, Papua, 1942-10-22. A crowd of Australian soldiers gathers around a Ford tri-motor …. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C3190565LAE, NEW GUINEA. 1944-06-02. VX65671 MAJOR J.T. TAYLOR, OFFICER- IN- CHARGE, NORTHERN ECHELON, …. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C64803 but they said they hadn’t heard of him so I suppose he has not arrived yet.  I would have rung him in Brisbane but didn’t.

I don’t know that there is much I can tell you about this place without infringing security regulations.  Letters take some time to get down to you from here & God knows how long from other areas.  If you do not hear from me for a while don’t worry because it will be purely a matter of mail difficulties.  I ……[torn]…….. will not be writing much under …………………….. I shan’t be able to get many ………[torn]………………d… 10 days so don’t bother ………[torn]………… feel like it.

Am leaving here tomorrow for more important spots.  Have been issued with jungle green clothing – that beautiful aspidistra leaf trembling in the breeze over there will be me.  I don’t feel like doing anything here – even writing – it’s such a dead end.  When I move off I shall probably be too tired to send much.

There were 2 correspondents here who were at Darwin.  Caught up again with Trotter  yesterday but he moved out today.  Bill Dargie official war artist6Captain William Dargie. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P65046 called in on me yesterday & we passed the time of day.  Roy Hodgkinson7Captain Roy Cecil Hodgkinson. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P65080 called this morning & I lunched with him at his mess up the road a bit.  He and Alice are divorced.  She is about to marry the Yank corpl (?)  Roy seems quite happy about it all.

Saw a native sing song which was turned on for Stella Wilson8Austral Groves Wilson. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austral_Groves_Wilson9New Guinea. Private M. Daly of Bendigo, Vic, offers Miss Strella Wilson a mug of Army tea after …. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C238355 who is up here at the moment.  It was interesting enough but somewhat scrappy around the edges.  Not the real McCoy.  Hardly get the best effect when the music consists of a boong banging a bucket with sticks and another playing a drum like the one we have at home.

Am going tonight with the rest of the gang to hear the final concert from Stella Wilson and Edwin Styles.10Edwin Styles. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Styles

Reg Harris who used to work in the office11Reg Harris was also a fomer Smith’s Weekly journalist and later press secretary to several Federal Ministers. has just stuck his head around the door & sends his regards to you & Petrovs12Geoff and Molly Turton, etc.  You probably don’t remember him but what the hell!  He is not a reporter.  Has just returned from Shaggy Ridge after months of front line fighting.  He very decently gave me aluminium mess tins to save on weight.  Said you  can buy him a drink when he gets back.

Later

I’ve had a rest – a shower – a shave, etc. Tea – & the rest.

All are getting ready for the show so bye-bye for the present dear.  Hope you are well and are being careful with Junior.  Not too much work – grog – travel – and contemplation.

Lots of love, darling,
Bill

Notes:

  • 1
    Colloquially known as St Percy’s Seminary by the correspondents, it was situated at Headquarters, New Guinea Force in Four Mile Valley on the main road to Port Moresby – See FOUR MILE VALLEY, PAPUA, NEW GUINEA. 1944-01-02. A VIEW OF THE MAIN PORT MORESBY ROAD AT FOUR …. (2024, January 19). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C54321
  • 2
    Frederick Thomas O’Dea was the former General Manager of Guinea Airways and life-long close friend of Wep’s. At the beginning of the war he joined the RAAF and flew in an out of remote areas in New Guinea with supplies but following a severe crash he was unable to fly again and transfrred to the RAN where with the rank of Lieutenant became a Naval Coastwatcher in New Guinea.
  • 3
    WABAG, NEW GUINEA. NATIVES SURROUND THE FIRST AEROPLANE TO LAND AT WABAG WITH SUPPLIES FOR THE …. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C255773
  • 4
    Myola 2, Papua, 1942-10-22. A crowd of Australian soldiers gathers around a Ford tri-motor …. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C319056
  • 5
    LAE, NEW GUINEA. 1944-06-02. VX65671 MAJOR J.T. TAYLOR, OFFICER- IN- CHARGE, NORTHERN ECHELON, …. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C64803
  • 6
    Captain William Dargie. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P65046
  • 7
    Captain Roy Cecil Hodgkinson. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P65080
  • 8
    Austral Groves Wilson. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austral_Groves_Wilson
  • 9
    New Guinea. Private M. Daly of Bendigo, Vic, offers Miss Strella Wilson a mug of Army tea after …. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C238355
  • 10
    Edwin Styles. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Styles
  • 11
    Reg Harris was also a fomer Smith’s Weekly journalist and later press secretary to several Federal Ministers.
  • 12
    Geoff and Molly Turton

War Letters – New Guinea: 9 Jan 1944, Sydney; If anything should happen to me…

Wep and Jess setting off for Kosciuszko on their honeymoon; 24 Aug-7 Sep 1933

Jan 1944

Darling,

If anything should happen to me I’d like you to do a few things that while I was here I didn’t seem to be able (or for that matter, had no point in saying) to tell. Or ask, of you.

Above all, I don’t want you to blow the old top! I expect you to be upset – that is human enough.

But these are the things I want you to do. I couldn’t tell you them – it would sound all so silly and melodramatic.

Go for a trip or something. Don’t hang around the house we lived in. Wipe all the half-wits you and I know are half-wits. Get rid of Molly1Molly (nee Evans) was married to Bill’s Best Man, Geoff Turton (aka Petrov) a fellow artist at The Australian Women’s Weekly. Molly and Geoff were extremely close friends with Bill and Jess but she had a problem with drink which ultimately led to her marriage failing. Clearly Wep could forseee that Molly, sadly, presented a poor influence on Jess. And for Christ’s sake don’t finish up the widow Vi2Violet May Cadd (nee Allmark) (1905-1984) was probably Jess’s best friend. Vi married Robert A. Cadd in 1928. He committed suicide in 1931 and Vi never remarried. She lived with her father a few houses up the road from Bill and Jess in Bellevue Hill at the time of their marriage. Vi was Godmother to both of Bill Pidgeon’s sons, Graham and Peter. She was known as Aunty Vi and was a regular visitor especially at Christmas time.. Get married.

Don’t panic. You’ll be getting more money than even you know what to do with. What with office compensation, my insurance, remains of my mother’s property3Bill’s mother Thirza Jessie (nee White) died of cancer in 1941, and your own people’s estate, you will be worth about £5,000. You don’t have to let a cheap hick get hold of you. I would hate the guts of that. Don’t sell your mother’s house.4Jess was an only child. She was born in 1908, 17 years after her parents George Alexander Graham and Mary Jane Wray married in 1891. George died 14 Jan 1945 when Wep was setting off on another trip and her mother Mary Jane died at Wep’s home a year after Jess in December 1953. Don’t sell my property. Lend £1,000 to Jack5Bill’s older brother John Frederick Pidgeon (1904-1972) at 5% – he could use it. All in all you should be able to get about £5 to £6  per week without doing a tap.

Please always be a little bit in love with me. Within my pretty lousy way I have loved you. Unspectacularly maybe – but there has been no other.

Please don’t lose that little baby.6Graham Richard Pidgeon was born July 1, 1944 Perhaps I’m sloppy – but I’d like to leave something behind to justify the old existence.

I love you – at times, wildly, deliriously, and without reason. I have loved you.

Too bad I think that there is nothing after all this. I’d have liked to have seen you.

Snugglepot Bill

[This letter was probably never revealed to Jess till later. It may have been in a sealed envelope, or it may have been given to an associate to give to her in case Bill was killed whilst overseas.]

Note: Bill left for Townsville on 9 January 1944 (Ref: DVA File No. X336636)

Jess Pidgeon with Geoff and Molly Turton as Wep and Jess prepare to set off on their honeymoon to Kosciuszko; 24 Aug-7 Sep 1933
Vi Cadd, Bill Pidgeon and Jess Pidgeon and unidentified at what is probably the 1939 Artists’ Ball held at the Trocadero, 14 Apr 1939. Note – Wep is wearing one of Jess’s dresses.
1931; L-R: Wep’s brother Jack and his fiancee Verona Chadwick, Thirza Pidgeon (Wep’s mother) and Wep (Bill Pidgeon) in Wep’s 1928 Chrysler 75 Roadster
Graham Richard Pidgeon, three days old; July 4, 1944
Jessie Ann Pidgeon (nee Graham) circa Aug. 1944, sitting on the front steps of home at 85 Northwood Road;
Little Wep by Wep; The Australian Women’s Weekly, July 21, 1945

Notes:

  • 1
    Molly (nee Evans) was married to Bill’s Best Man, Geoff Turton (aka Petrov) a fellow artist at The Australian Women’s Weekly. Molly and Geoff were extremely close friends with Bill and Jess but she had a problem with drink which ultimately led to her marriage failing. Clearly Wep could forseee that Molly, sadly, presented a poor influence on Jess
  • 2
    Violet May Cadd (nee Allmark) (1905-1984) was probably Jess’s best friend. Vi married Robert A. Cadd in 1928. He committed suicide in 1931 and Vi never remarried. She lived with her father a few houses up the road from Bill and Jess in Bellevue Hill at the time of their marriage. Vi was Godmother to both of Bill Pidgeon’s sons, Graham and Peter. She was known as Aunty Vi and was a regular visitor especially at Christmas time.
  • 3
    Bill’s mother Thirza Jessie (nee White) died of cancer in 1941
  • 4
    Jess was an only child. She was born in 1908, 17 years after her parents George Alexander Graham and Mary Jane Wray married in 1891. George died 14 Jan 1945 when Wep was setting off on another trip and her mother Mary Jane died at Wep’s home a year after Jess in December 1953.
  • 5
    Bill’s older brother John Frederick Pidgeon (1904-1972)
  • 6
    Graham Richard Pidgeon was born July 1, 1944
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