{"id":3298,"date":"2024-01-29T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2024-01-28T23:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wepidgeon.com\/pidgeonpost\/?p=3298"},"modified":"2024-01-17T13:17:08","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T02:17:08","slug":"war-letters-new-guinea-29-jan-1944-finschhafen-field-hospital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wepidgeon.com\/pidgeonpost\/?p=3298","title":{"rendered":"War Letters – New Guinea: 29 Jan 1944, Finschhafen; Scarlet Beach, Field hospital"},"content":{"rendered":"

W.E. Pidgeon
\nC\/O PR Unit
\nN. G. Force
\nMoresby<\/p>\n

Sat 29th<\/sup> [Jan 1944]<\/p>\n

Dear Jesso,<\/p>\n

Have just returned to our Canvas Palace after an arty evening under the stars, vines, clouds and fire flies listening to highbrow music as dispensed by some amiable sergeant for the benefit of the boys.\u00a0 It was very pleasant \u2013 cool too, for a change.\u00a0 We\u2019re not asleep I bent my wandering brain to appreciation of the note.<\/p>\n

\"12\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We returned with the help of fireflies to where Hodgkinson promptly lies down \u201cdreaming my love of thee,\u201d The bastard\u2019s bats!<\/p>\n

Am moving out tomorrow on my way to the upper end of Ramu Valley.\u00a0 Should be able to get the best of possible stuff up there.\u00a0 Seems a year since I left home \u2013 all recollections of the lawn mowing week are vague and almost remote. I\u2019ve packed so much into my popping eyes in the last fortnight.\u00a0 Roy will be staying on down here completing his magnus opus.\u00a0 I shall probably meet Dargie1<\/a><\/sup>Captain William Dargie. (2024, January 16). Retrieved from https:\/\/www.awm.gov.au\/collection\/P65046<\/span> up there.\u00a0 Which reminds me I saw a par. in \u201cGuinea Gold\u201d (the soldiers\u2019 paper) that there has been a wonderful stink about the Archibald Prize award.\u00a0 Nothing like a lively bout between artists.2<\/a><\/sup>The 1944 prize was awarded to William Dobell with a portrait of Joshua Smith which was being challenged in court as not a portrait but a caricature. The award to Dobell was eventually upheld. Wep made a famous cartoon<\/a> of the court scene during the trial.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Casualty Clearing Station at Heldsbach Mission near Scarlet Beach in the Finshhafen area, New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Went over to a field hospital3<\/a><\/sup>Believed to be the 2\/3rd Casualty Clearing Station situated at the Heldsbach Mission about 1 mile from Scarlet Beach<\/span> today but didn\u2019t get much out of it \u2013 most of those places are all the same.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Dental examination at a Field Hospital near Scarlet Beach in the Finschhafen area, New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Managed to make a note of the dental corner.\u00a0 A picture of a soldier getting his teeth drilled may strike a sympathetic chord in the Weekly\u2019s readers.\u00a0 Undoubtedly the most momentous occasion of the day was the decent shower I had up there.\u00a0 It was the first time I have had a proper wash since arriving in this area \u2013 Boy!\u00a0 Was it good. \u2013 For \u00bd hour anyway.\u00a0 After that I was as sweaty as ever.<\/p>\n

I may be able to settle down to a better letter when I have this Tower of Babble.\u00a0 In the other areas I shall probably be alone.<\/p>\n

Will write you in a couple of days \u2013 all my love darling.<\/p>\n

Not too much hops, mark you and feet up.\u00a0 Regards to all More love from Willie<\/p>\n

(written on side)<\/i><\/p>\n

Enclosed petals look like hibiscus but are off a tree nothing like.\u00a0 It was apricot colour when I picked it.\u00a0 There\u2019s a brilliant blue butterfly floating round dis \u2018ere camp.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Medical inspection tent, near Finschhafen, New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Medical Inspection, Finschhafen, New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Casualty Clearing Station at Heldsbach Mission near Scarlet Beach in the Finshhafen area, New Guinea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n\"\"<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Casualty Clearing Station at Heldsbach Mission near Scarlet Beach in the Finshhafen area, New Guinea<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Notes:<\/h3>