{"id":2356,"date":"2023-08-18T15:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-08-18T05:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wepidgeon.com\/pidgeonpost\/?p=2356"},"modified":"2023-08-17T10:10:32","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T00:10:32","slug":"war-letters-nw-australia-18-aug-1943-darwin-still-mooning-about-the-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wepidgeon.com\/pidgeonpost\/?p=2356","title":{"rendered":"War Letters – NW Australia: 18 Aug 1943, Darwin; It’s fun to stay at the YMCA"},"content":{"rendered":"

W.E. Pidgeon
\nDPR Unit
\nAPO Darwin<\/p>\n

Wednesday
\n[18 Aug 1943]<\/p>\n

Darling,<\/p>\n

Am just sneaking the use of one of the lad\u2019s typewriter while he\u2019s out on a job.\u00a0 Came to after a spot of spine-bashing to find the place empty.\u00a0 Have done nothing at all today except sit around on my arse and be bored \u2013 time I had a bit of a rest of sorts.\u00a0 The boys are on their way back so off with the machine and up with the pen.<\/p>\n

Sitting around is soul destroying \u2013 I can\u2019t settle down to working in this mess as there are absolutely blink-all in the way of facilities for such a comfort loving craftsman (?) such as myself.\u00a0 The moment of 5.20pm finds me sunning in the same spot as I occupied yesterday and pursuing the delightful occupation of considering your dear charms & graces.\u00a0 Sweet, what?<\/p>\n

This is by far the most pleasant time of day \u2013 the sun seems stationary & shines with mellow warmth \u2013 the breeze, soft and sensuous, slides round every limb.\u00a0 I wish it were a little fiercer \u2013 this colour I\u2019m after is anything but permanent \u2013 damn me if it doesn\u2019t appear to wash off under the shower.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s only red dust impregnated in the skin.\u00a0 In any case it is a highly impermanent pigment.<\/p>\n

At dawn this week am off on the plane trip I spoke of.\u00a0 I\u2019m supposed to be one of the crew \u2013 heh! heh!\u00a0 You won\u2019t get any mail from me until I return from the island.\u00a0 I will be 2 or 4 days there \u2013 other than the planes there is no mail contact.\u00a0 So don\u2019t worry if you don\u2019t hear from me for a while.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m getting a bit sick of the unsatisfying contact letters afford.\u00a0 I don\u2019t feel like writing to any length.\u00a0 The novelty of things has gone \u2013 and I\u2019m just anxious to get home \u2013 all very similar to the counting of days before vacation, only I\u2019m in reverse.<\/p>\n

Hours later.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m still mooning about the house \u2013 gawd help me there\u2019s nothing to damned well read in blasted place.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been through all the magazines more times than the covers can stand up to.\u00a0 I can\u2019t be bothered with newspapers a week old.\u00a0 The books (what there are of them) are dull \u2013 I\u2019d ever write one if I wasn\u2019t so languid \u2013 It\u2019s a wonderfully lazy joint.\u00a0 Haven\u2019t seen anyone sitting down to a good solid think since I left the zero regions.\u00a0 If & when I go away again something long & heavy in the way of literature will accompany me.<\/p>\n

Cheerful, breezy, letter, yes?\u00a0 Voted today \u2013 i.e. 3 days before election day.\u00a0 An enormous amount of work is involved in army polling.\u00a0 Every vote has to be sealed up in an envelope with the soldiers name, address & army no. on it \u2013 posted down, unsealed, counted, etc.\u00a0 Probably take longer in this election to get final figures than is usually the case.\u00a0 I hope you didn\u2019t give Old Billy your approval.1<\/a><\/sup>The 1943 election<\/a> was won by the Australian Labor party lead by John Curtin with 49 seats, a gain of 17 seats. They defeated the coalition of the United Australia Party and the Country Party who won 19 seats, losing 18. Interestingly, the coalition was lead by Arthur Fadden<\/a> who was the leader of the Country Party, the minor partner to the United Australia Party, lead by Billy Hughes<\/a> (a former Labor Prime Minister) who had taken over in 1941 after Robert Menzies<\/a> resigned. Following the Coalition’s crushing defeat, Fadden handed the leadership of the Opposition back to Menzies who had resumed leadership of the UAP.<\/span><\/p>\n

Later again \u2013 have been out for a walk round the town & called into the YMCA2<\/a><\/sup>The YMCA was situated at the Inter-church club, corner of Smith and Peel streets.<\/span> \u2013 quite a decent place 3 full sized billiard tables \u2013 piano \u2013 books & all the what have yous. Borrowed 2 books \u2013 may keep me quiet for a while.<\/p>\n

\"\"
YMCA facilities, Inter-Church Club, cnr Smith and Peel streets, August 18, 1943<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Still restless \u2013 have suggested some supper.\u00a0 Approval has been expressed. We shall sit down to a frugal snack of cold boiled eggs, tomatoes, sliced tongues and hock.<\/p>\n

That operation was efficiently taken care of \u2013 we are all now in advanced stage of pre-spine bashing somnolence \u2013 the brains of many have already gone to sleep.\u00a0 Mine included.\u00a0 Will retire to my cot in which I sleep with only a sheet & the old man Fred.<\/p>\n

Lots of love darling \u2013 hope to get a letter tomorrow \u2013 seems a bloody long time since one arrived.<\/p>\n

And so to bed<\/p>\n

Bill.<\/p>\n

Enclosed find some local blooms of Bougainvilleas \u2013 press them to your heart.<\/p>\n

[Then all crossed out.]<\/p>\n

Would you please write out a cheque for 28\/- payable to Hugh Dash & put this accompanying letter with it & mail it to Hugh Dash, c\/o \u201cCourier Mail\u201d, Queen St, Brisbane.\u00a0 I tried to send it direct from here but there are no postage notes available until Sunday on which date I will be away.<\/span><\/p>\n

Skip it!<\/p>\n

Love to my
\nDarling.<\/p>\n

\"\"
YMCA facilities, Darwin; 18 Aug 1943<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
YMCA facilities, Darwin; 18 Aug 1943<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
It’s fun to stay at the YMCA, Darwin, 18 Aug 1943<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n