W.E.Pidgeon
C/O DPR
APO Darwin
Sat. morning
[31 Jul 1943]
Darling,
I wish you were here to smother me. I’m not so damn hot this, for others, gay & cheerful morning. Some wild men from the hospital fixed me up last night. My dearest wish is that they suffer with me.
After being about the hospital grounds for three days I was invited to attend their formal mess. On these occasions there is supposed to be a little ceremony attached to the business of eating. In this case it was pretty free the only formality being the smart (but not from me) standing to attention & drinking the King’s health. The port was passed – somehow or other – due either to the shortage of decanters or the shape of the table – the grog was passed the wrong way round. Previous to going over the beer ration arrived & rather than pass it by I downed the bottle with great expediency (you wouldn’t know him). Vic Bitter it were & booful cold. Had a coupla gins before dinner, then the port & back to gin after the meal. Managed to do myself up fairly nicely with 3 majors. I repeat, I am not so hot. Hangovers in hot weather are not recommended.
Am going back to the home town today. It will be a hellova treat to get some clean clothes & a spot of spine-bashing. (Why lying down on bed is called spine-bashing is beyond me.) Darling, I love you. Our old friends from Admiralty House are due up here any tick of the clock. I will not be calling on them. May leave my card though. I don’t seem to be getting through the work very rapidly. Hope to start on the air force next week. Miss you a lot. Am working diligently when hangovers are not on deck. It is bloody hot work standing at an easel during the day. I should imagine I have lost quite a bit of weight what with the sweating & lousy sleeping.
Big wedding on at Darwin this afternoon. One of the doctors going off with a sister.
Am looking forward to your letters. Quite an event to return to Correspondents’ mess & receive my mail. Forgive me, dear, not writing more at the moment. I really am very faint. The old blood pressure wouldn’t squash a fly. – Plenty of love to you darling from little Willie.
Love to Mum & Dad. Hope they got my telegram on the right day.1Jess’s father, George Alexander Graham celebrated his 79th birthday on Sunday, August 1, 1943
Notes:
- 1Jess’s father, George Alexander Graham celebrated his 79th birthday on Sunday, August 1, 1943