{"id":206,"date":"2023-07-21T08:00:19","date_gmt":"2023-07-20T22:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wepidgeon.com\/pidgeonpost\/?p=206"},"modified":"2023-08-16T10:57:52","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T00:57:52","slug":"war-letters-darwin-wednesday-poss-4-aug-1943-description-of-officers-mess-canteen-and-bush-races","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wepidgeon.com\/pidgeonpost\/?p=206","title":{"rendered":"War Letters – NW Australia: 21 July 1943, Darwin; Bush races at a military camp down the road"},"content":{"rendered":"

C\/O DPR Unit
\nDarwin<\/p>\n

Wednesday night
\n[21 Jul 1943]<\/p>\n

Dear Jesso,<\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t been staying at the palatial residence of press fraternity for 3 days. At present situated at a spot about as far as Camden.\u00a0 The weather still holds its perfection although away from the coast the nights are considerably cooler.\u00a0 Poor Willie having brought only 1 blanket inevitably wakes during early morning & spends the remainder of the night between a spit and a shiver.<\/p>\n

First day out I stayed at a big shot camp & dined in the big shots\u2019 mess1<\/a><\/sup>Most likely the 12 Div NT Force HQ at 57 Mile Camp. Here Wep would have seen the HQ of the Royal Australia Engineers 12 Div Northern Territory Force and sketched bulldozers practising bridge building in New Guinea, which appeared in The Australian Women’s Weekly<\/em>, June 10, 1944, p41<\/a>.<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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The Royal Australian Engineers HQ was situated at 57 mile camp along with 12 Div NT Force HQ at the time of Wep’s visit. Here they were practising bridge building in preparation for New Guinea.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The food was very good \u2013 much better cooked than at above \u2013 this is to be expected I guess.\u00a0 Cook would have to be on his toes (i.e. as far as is possible when cooking under the conditions here).\u00a0 There\u2019s plenty of good grub but it is all hash house cooked except the potatoes which are invariably damned good.\u00a0 Tomatoes too are available, as most of the camps irrigate the plants with the waste from showers.\u00a0 Saw two cabbages grown here, one was 20 lbs & the other 23 lbs in weight. \u2013 some cabbage!\u00a0 Telegraph correspondent Bill Moore is a keen tomatoeer \u2013 more power to his soul!\u00a0 Moreover we had asparagus sandwiches for supper!\u00a0 That may be nothing in your sweet mouth \u2013 it wasn\u2019t much in mine either, I was too darn polite to hog \u2018em.\u00a0 Raisin puddin\u2019 is another standing dish up here.\u00a0 My bowels & appetite can’t cope with the supply of edibles as yet.<\/p>\n

After spending two nights at the abovementioned camp (sh-h-h!) I was transported hither2<\/a><\/sup>Believed to be Adelaide River Camp<\/span> \u2013 Here all is livelier.\u00a0 The restraint subconsciously imposed on everyone by the presence of a plus senior officer is gone \u2013 Another fundamental difference is that this is one of the few NSW crowds about locally.\u00a0 They seem much more companionable.\u00a0 All the officers in this mess are motor men the majority from Sydney.\u00a0 The C.O.\u2019s face is familiar.\u00a0 I think we may have seen him at the Auto Club.\u00a0 Another officer said he had seen one there.\u00a0 Asked if I knew Ron Gill3<\/a><\/sup>Ronald Edward (Ron) Gill<\/a>, was a motor car salesman from Sydney and was formerly engaged to Jess prior to her meeting Wep.<\/span>.\u00a0 Said Ron had a very bad attack of malaria & has been in & out of hospital for some eight months.<\/p>\n

Am making sketches of the local race track recently cut out of the bush by the army forces4<\/a><\/sup>The Northern Picnic Races (later Adelaide River Races) were first run in December 1941 and are held annually at the ARSS Showgrounds<\/a> in the beginning of the dry season. Originally commenced as a rest and recreation event for Australian troops stationed there during the Second World War, the event has increased in size and popularity each year.<\/span>.\u00a0 By Christ it\u2019s a surprisingly good little course.\u00a0 A creek covered with water lilies flows round the edge of the paddock & official stand.\u00a0 A pleasant spot covered with pandana palms is set aside for the horses, jockeys & form gazers.\u00a0 The nags are brought in form the neighbouring stations and auctioned to whoever wishes to buy. The proceeds from the sales are put into prize money.\u00a0 At the last meeting stakes were \u00a31,500!<\/p>\n

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No change given here, The Australian Women’s Weekly, 15 Jan 1944, cover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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No change given here<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The official box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is a big tote \u2013 3 stands for the hoi polloi \u2013 the flat contains a football field.\u00a0 The course is half a mile.\u00a0 A commentator\u2019s stand is behind the winning post.\u00a0 Judges\u2019 box and result board just like Randwick.\u00a0 It\u2019s bloody staggering.\u00a0 I believe the sight of the north, is the numbers of two up games being played on the flat.\u00a0 About 50 schools at one time.\u00a0 And the thousands of bottles of LOLLY WATER emptied down the parched army throats.\u00a0 It is reputed to be impossible to step between them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"28\"<\/p>\n

This afternoon I emerged as a both a public entertainer & benefactor.\u00a0 I appeared as the only live artist left in the territory.\u00a0 I sat & worked before the bewildered gaze of at least 40 taken in relays of about 5 at a time.\u00a0 Strangely enough I have found that when these things become unavoidable I could settle down a bit.\u00a0 Not much though. Obviously I will get accustomed to it.<\/p>\n

There is a magnificent canteen run by the publican of that new pub set back from the footpath on Botany Rd at Mascot.\u00a0 Pub on the right on the way out to Brighton.\u00a0 Dozens of tins of asparagus \u2013 plenty cigs, tobacco, Minties, Chocolate and god knows what.<\/p>\n

Saw another picture the other night.\u00a0 Accepted troop behaviour is after standing to God Save the King (with picture of George VI) and Star Spangled Banner (pictures of McArthur & Roosevelt) the troops in a body scream out \u2013 \u201cWhat about Joe?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cGive us Joe\u201d Whee \u2013 i.e!\u00a0 \u201cIn which we Serve\u201d is to be shown here next week \u2013 So you may as well see it at home.\u00a0 A sketch for you, my darling see below \u2013 and attached thereto.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

All the messes in the bush are built bush carpentry fashion \u2013 walls consisting of bark slabs \u2013 or more elegantly of the slender & decorative poles of the palms which grow in profusion around here.<\/p>\n

This sort of<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Trunks about 3\u201d diam.<\/p>\n

Or else bark thatched roofs with bamboo strip wall lining \u2013 looks very well.\u00a0 The country is much the same as down south.\u00a0 Tropics are suggested by the brilliant green & luscious leaves of some of the gums & these are all small & at times with the sun light streaming through take on the appearance a an apple orchard is climes more mellow.\u00a0 Hawks in their hundreds look like black paper litter blown about in the wind.\u00a0 Their incessant curling & dipping is reminiscent of what I should imagine a plane battle to be.\u00a0 When far away they can be mistaken for the spits.\u00a0 That is, to my poor old enfeebled vision.<\/p>\n

The talk of women is incessant.\u00a0 It\u2019s quite easy to understand.\u00a0 When I stop working I miss you in large bundles.\u00a0 Fellows after 12 months of this become quite obsessed.\u00a0 Lots of love my dear \u2013 am looking forward to seeing you \u2013 I haven\u2019t settled down yet \u2013 am still restless \u2013 in too much of a hurry to get something done \u2013 I know that with a little more resignation & detachment I could do\u00a0 quite well \u2013 hope to Christ it soon arrives.<\/p>\n

How\u2019s Pop5<\/a><\/sup>Jess’s father, George Alexander Graham (1864-1945)<\/span>?\u00a0 Haven\u2019t had a letter yet but expect to get one on my return to D.\u00a0 I keep wanting to go back \u2013 hearing from you will be bloody good.\u00a0 Good luck, honey.\u00a0 Give me some nice thinks.<\/p>\n

Love<\/p>\n

Bill<\/p>\n

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Holding yards, Darwin race course<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Racecourse Grandstand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Racecourse Grandstand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Judge’s box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bike Race<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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No change given here<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Notes:<\/h3>