![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wepidgeon.com\/pidgeonpost\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/AWW-1943-Nov-20-p9e.jpg\" "\\"AWW")
<\/p>\nW.E.Pidgeon
\nC\/O DPR
\nAPO Darwin<\/p>\n
Sat. morning
\n[31 Jul 1943]<\/p>\n
Darling,<\/p>\n
I wish you were here to smother me.\u00a0 I\u2019m not so damn hot this, for others, gay & cheerful morning.\u00a0 Some wild men from the hospital fixed me up last night.\u00a0 My dearest wish is that they suffer with me.<\/p>\n
After being about the hospital grounds for three days I was invited to attend their formal mess.\u00a0 On these occasions there is supposed to be a little ceremony attached to the business of eating.\u00a0 In this case it was pretty free the only formality being the smart (but not from me) standing to attention & drinking the King\u2019s health.\u00a0 The port was passed \u2013 somehow or other \u2013 due either to the shortage of decanters or the shape of the table \u2013 the grog was passed the wrong way round.\u00a0 Previous to going over the beer ration arrived & rather than pass it by I downed the bottle with great expediency (you wouldn\u2019t know him).\u00a0 Vic Bitter it were & booful cold.\u00a0 Had a coupla gins before dinner, then the port & back to gin after the meal.\u00a0 Managed to do myself up fairly nicely with 3 majors.\u00a0 I repeat, I am not so hot.\u00a0 Hangovers in hot weather are not recommended.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Am going back to the home town today.\u00a0 It will be a hellova treat to get some clean clothes & a spot of spine-bashing.\u00a0 (Why lying down on bed is called spine-bashing is beyond me.) Darling, I love you.\u00a0 Our old friends from Admiralty House are due up here any tick of the clock.\u00a0 I will not be calling on them.\u00a0 May leave my card though.\u00a0 I don\u2019t seem to be getting through the work very rapidly.\u00a0 Hope to start on the air force next week.\u00a0 Miss you a lot.\u00a0 Am working diligently when hangovers are not on deck.\u00a0 It is bloody hot work standing at an easel during the day.\u00a0 I should imagine I have lost quite a bit of weight what with the sweating & lousy sleeping.<\/p>\n
Big wedding on at Darwin this afternoon.\u00a0 One of the doctors going off with a sister.<\/p>\n
Am looking forward to your letters.\u00a0 Quite an event to return to Correspondents\u2019 mess & receive my mail.\u00a0 Forgive me, dear, not writing more at the moment.\u00a0 I really am very faint.\u00a0 The old blood pressure wouldn\u2019t squash a fly. \u2013 Plenty of love to you darling from little Willie.<\/p>\n
Love to Mum & Dad.\u00a0 Hope they got my telegram on the right day.1<\/a><\/sup>Jess’s father, George Alexander Graham celebrated his 79th birthday on Sunday, August 1, 1943<\/span><\/p>\n W.E.Pidgeon C\/O DPR APO Darwin Sat. morning [31 Jul 1943] Darling, I wish you were here to smother me.\u00a0 I\u2019m not so damn hot this, for others, gay & cheerful morning.\u00a0 Some wild men from the hospital fixed me up last night.\u00a0 My dearest wish is that they suffer with me. After being about the … <\/p>\nNotes:<\/h3>
Jess’s father, George Alexander Graham celebrated his 79th birthday on Sunday, August 1, 1943 \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"