Brisbane
Sat.
[10 July 1943]
Dear Jesso,
Poor little Willie
Is sitting alone
I’m out at a military hospital waiting for results of a malaria test. Everyone going north has to have a Malaria free certificate.
Arrived here at 1.15 after a pleasant trip. When we got to ANA office in Brisbane I left my gear & reported to the Public Relations people where I had to get a further pass & have arrangements made for transport further on. So far as I know I’m leaving Monday.
Contacted Hughie Dash, Telegraph representative here. He took me round, got me accommodation at a PRIVATE hotel. When I returned to pick up the luggage – the blasted kit bag was missing. One of the girls seemed to think it a great joke that she had seen a soldier take it out. Christ! Was I mortified! Panic swept over me like a steamroller. Your heart would have bled for me. The manager was a little more civilized & suggested it may have been picked up by mistake. So he started ringing all the military folk who were on the plane. None of them had it. At 6.30 pm I staggered down to the Police & reported. Tottered back to the ANA & at 7 pm the bloody thing turned up! A RAAF driver had taken it in mistake. I’d have got drunk if there was anything to drink in this God-damned dry joint. The beer here just ‘aint! It’s only for ½ hour midday and again from 4.45 pm to 5.15 pm. A seething screaming mob of soldiers and civilians battle grimly for a smell of what’s going. Most of them only get a look at it. Hugh Dash, Ian Gall, cartoonist and Roy Connolly, (of Colin Wills wife fame) & I managed to get 4 beers & 3 rums between 2 pubs. Grog was then over.
Brisbane is a hell of a lot busier than Sydney. Streets are jammed with cars and people. Vast vistas of squealing yanks open before the eyes. The place is lousy with them. At night the city is scarcely less infested than in day. S’Awful! Everybody gapes at my green armbands – most embarrassing – one hears – “Big Shots!”, “General Staff” etc. Mortifying! All the others have learnt from experience to wear inconspicuous metal badges. The correspondents life is not a happy one!
STOP PRESS
Am leaving for Darwin at tremendously early hour as appointed. Lots of love, be good and give me some kind thoughts – love
Willie