Transit camp Archives - Pidgeon Post

C/O DPR Unit
Army Post Office
Darwin

Tuesday night
(I haven’t the foggiest idea of the date)
[27 Jul 1943]

Darling,

Didn’t have time to write you yesterday. Arrived down south¹ fairly late, about 3.30pm tired & dirty. Showered & rested. Fed – then off to pictures (what again!) where “Mrs Miniver”² was showing. It exhibited all the usual American glamorisation of sentiment & emotion. Just a show. By making this trip I have missed “In which we Serve”³ so if you haven’t seen it by this hold your horses until I return.

Probably I find myself as lonely as you do, although I can manage to submerge myself to a great extent in work. The nights all seem somehow short and useless. There is practically no ground of common contact with the people I meet. This is no doubt to be expected – Army people talk shop as much as others do.

You’d love to be here with me in the tent I am at present occupying. – A bloody bobby dazzler. Usually its function is to accommodate high officials & big wigs. Because the earth round about gets mighty soggy during the wet season the floor is built some 2 ft above the ground. To have a real wooden floor (even though made of packing cases) is dinkum Point Piper up here. Edging the floor & meeting the tent sides is a ducky wooden fence. Alongside the entrance steps one may tread lightly down to the sun deck furnished with deck chair. Tent flaps are open wide & sensuously warm breezes wiggle over the old bod. There’s room for twin beds how’s about? Just the cool summer night touch. All just too too.

I had my best sleep since being up here. The bed is good and I have been honoured with 2 SHEETS. Christ, this is a grim & arduous front line. Pay up for a couple of Hail Marys and pater nosters for me, my sweet. I’m battling through on fresh eggs, Gorgonzola, Scotch Whiskey and Van der Hum (imported). Keeping a stiff upper lip, that’s me. The only ointment on the fly is the dust, that’s lovely, just like wading through a foot of talcum powder.

Have walked about 6 miles today. In the morning down to a transit camp alongside a river⁴ in which one of the troops caught, while I was there, a swordfish of all things – about 2’6” long. Spent the afternoon at a field hospital⁵ – i.e. one in which the patients are under canvas.

All very picturesque, the large and calming masses of white & salmon tinted tents slashed and emphasised by the waving greens of paw paws & bananas. A good spot to paint – but time is too limited. From the newspaper point of view I should restrict myself more to close-ups of patients & to merely suggest the pleasantries of the scene. Will spend about two days over it.

Had to go down a slit trench tonight.⁶ I took it arse up – nose first. This is not the accepted technique, but I had no time for indulging the niceties of descent. I fell in. next time I walk around after dark the torch goes with me. Gave myself a fearful thump – winded me for a few minutes – However am all right except for some cutie saucer shaped bruises on the hip.

About time I got to bed – I’m losing my grip – mosquito dive bombing is most demoralising.

Lots of love to you my darling.

Willie

Hope mum got my telegram on the right day.⁷ You have to send them early here – they say it takes about 2 days. Glad to hear dad is still up & doing.

More affection to you from me.

Nightie.

Notes:

1
Adelaide River Camp
2
Mrs Minniver (1942) starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon- see also Wikipedia
3
In Which We Serve (1942) starring Noel Coward. See also Wikipedia
4
Adelaide River
5
119th Australian General Hospital
6
There is no official record of any Japanese air raids that night. Was probably a practice drill or Wep simply fell into the trench by accident.
7
Wep sent a Telegram to Jess’s mother, Mary Jane Graham (nee Wray 1868-1953) for her birthday the previous day, July 26.

Tag: Transit camp

War Letters – NW Australia: 27 Jul 1943, Adelaide River; Visited a transit camp and a field hospital

Notes: