Sister of Bruce Sanders.

                                                NX27395.

SGT. B Sanders.

H.Q. COY.

2/3 Aust. Pioneer Bn.

A.I.F. In Australia.

20 Apr. 43.

Dear Mum & Dad,

          Just settling in & was very pleased to complete the trip which was very interesting & through grand country. I hope I shall be allowed to tell you about it later.

          To-day, we walked about 10 mins to a creek & in we went to wash our clothes which we had worn since Sydney & they took some washing. I believe washing soap is hard to procure up here so perhaps  , in about three weeks’ time, if you could send some up, it would save some trouble. I have 6 cakes to carry on with, so am right for quite a while.

          There will be not much beer. They apparently intend  to make us fit so the paybook should build up for a change.

          I slept like a top last night. Cool. To-day is jolly warm but we can have a bath at night & so that is very good.

          Air-mail operates & so it is a change from the other side & a nice change.

I doubt if I will use my shoes here but I shall wait a week or two & see if any civilization shows up.

Another thing I could use is one pair of shorts. I shall give up underclothes now & cut down laundry.

Both the cakes were jolly nice & moist but the caramels in the Elastoplas tin were melted & it was all I could do to open the tin. They were certainly elastic.

The bed-boards we have are A.1.  A sheet of 3 ply braced & on legs. Bends nicely & is very comfy.

Well, this is just like Darwin days over again & plenty of work to do, so I’ll write later in the week

                                      Cheerio & Happy Days,

                                                                             Love,

                                                                                      Bruce.

How is Bet going? Sticking , I hope. Love to Vera & Marg.

P.S. please send my 303 inch Vickers Machine Guns books & if possible buy a pugaree 6 7/8  size. Keep it in case I lose this one

NX27395.

SGT. B Sanders.

H.Q. COY.

2/3 Aust. Pioneer Bn.

A.I.F. In Australia

30 Apr, 1943

          Dear Mum & Dad,

                   Pleased to receive your letter of 18^th inst. & no doubt you have two of mine  by now. I guess you have a fair idea where I am now & it is jolly pleasant now that we are settled in, though we find ourselves short of a few things, as I mentioned in my previous letter.

          The food is excellent & now that training is on in earnest, we can put it away. Poss and I have a large tin of fruit each evening & no trouble at all. I have been playing in a little jungle we have near here & gradually am getting into nick.

          Last night , we walked about a mile to the pictures. They have a couple of tent flies for a screen & the picture was “ Damaged Lives”. Do you remember it? A V.D. film about ten years old. We were somewhat disappointed.

          We had heard about the Harbour incident before we left but did not know whether it was authentic or not. They are cheeky and after the tales our instructor has passed on to us, we don’t like them at all & we are full of admiration for the New Guinea lads. They certainly earned their name. Some of the bludgers down there should hear his story,

          Tell Bet her song books are giving the platoon a lot of pleasure & I am using the belt now as long as trs are the wear for this undergrowth.

          If possible, I should like several small things, which you may be able to get.

          -A clip for my issue knife, similar to the one on a scout belt.

          -6 globes for my torch. 2.5 volts.

          -some sort of blade sharpener whichever you think best.

          -some B.M.I. jelly cut into squares for eating.

-         a watch-cover, leather.

That’s a fair list, I know, but I am not in the race of getting them here & I really need them.

I shall send Ted’s clothing coupons down in this envelope & would like a pair of pyjamas, please, no hurry to send them up, only select some material which washes easily as I am not overkeen on laundry work which occupies Sunday afternoon.

Please add 6 Hambags to the above list for dishrags, they are very handy.

I saw Bob the other night. We had a pot together, the only night beer has been on. They definitely mean us to get fit.

When addressing letters, make sure you put 2/3 very clearly & Pioneer also, then the letters will come O.K.

Did you get the street shot of Dad & I?

My creepers are nice for a spell at night especially as , in this week’s school,  we cross a river in the morning & evening & are consequently wet all day. I may send the shoes back later.

I have never seen so many leeches as are in this scrub, ’though I have not been a victim yet.

No word of Clyde yet. I shall write to him this week.

By the way, will you send Ted’s ration book to May after you have used the coupons & after this I shouldn’t want anything else for quite a while.

After such a long spell, we N.C.O.’s   have to buck in now & do some work. Quite a lot of study as we have all forgotten so much & there is a nice bayonet course being made so we shall need to be tough. It will do us good. I feel better already, ‘though I am somewhat weary.

For the present, I shall say goodnight & shall write later. Love to all &

          Love to you both,

                                      Bruce.

Happy Greetings for Mothers’ Day.

CENSORED BY C. BANKS.

Your 1^st May letter came today. Shall answer later.

NX27395.

SGT. B Sanders.

H.Q. COY.

2/3 Aust. Pioneer Bn.

A.I.F. In Australia

6 May, 43.

          Dear Dad & Mum,

                   Your letter of Anzac Day came yesterday. I thought you would have used Air-mail. It operates here & is , I think, a three-day

Service. The news sheet is an excellent idea.

          The Anzac Day crowd must have been terrific. We had a service but worked Easter Monday.

          Some of the nights are very cold, but all round, the weather is wonderful & the food is also, so we should become very fit, with training in full swing.

          I have had a week’s light duties because eof a boil on the bridge of my nose. It is just about O.K. now & so I can get stuck into work again. It was quite a flare & you can imagine what a sight I was, hardly able to see out of my eyes & copping all the cracks from the gang. The Doc. Says it is most likely the effects of rich food on leave & since.

          If I am not troubling you too much I should like the pyjamas here. They are  jolly nice. No more shorts are being issued so I had better reserve a couple at home in case I ever want to wear them.

          Poss & I & several other N.C.O.s have got to learn Morse at night so we shall be kept busy with that & the preparation of the next day’s lessons. Earning our money again. The smartening up is doing us the world of good for we were all a little downhearted , as you can imagine, after such a good leave & seeing so many bludgers. Now , however, the lads, in general, are putting their best into the job, realising that we will need to be well trained to beat the Jap. It is great to see them trying. This morning, we were doing a stalk & by George, they moved well.

          This evening there was an excellent Comfort’s Issue. Soap ( both kinds), pkt biscuits, 2P.K.s , 1 oz tobacco, boot polish to each man. The tobacco is very restricted. I am more than ever pleased at being a non-smoker.

          Writing paper & envelopes are scarce. Hard to understand the lack of preparation in that respect.

          Just as well I took that exercise paper from Betty’s books. It is very useful as there are a lot of reports & orders going in  & the Army doesn’t supply paper.

          The country is bonzer for trng . heavily wooded  with a creek through it & this morning, three big kangaroos hopped by about 200  yds from our squad. Quite a lot of wallabies about too & kookaburras galore.

          I should like to know something about timbers in their tree state as I am told that Black Beech, Kauri, Maple & other good woods are in abundance here. There are certainly some good sticks.

           One of our chaps is taking a correspondence course through the Army Educational Scheme & I am considering it but I really do not think I could do it & the training. However I shall think about it. Mr Roads thought it would be a good idea but after all, one job must be properly done.

          I’ve jus thought of a book I left in that batch “ Learning Morse Code”. If you can fit it in a parcel it may help us.

          Bob is O.K. I saw him to-night walking through our lines.

          Believe it or not , the white kitbag still has a faint twang about it. What a cat! I don’t use it now so it doesn’t matter.

          And now, I can feel the air cooling. Its about 9 p.m. so I shall turn in. a nice big march tom-morrow. I hope you are both well. I am gradually getting rid of my laziness.

          Greetings to Vera, Bet & Marg.

          Goodnight.

                             Lots of Love,

                                                          Bruce.

CENSORED BY C.M. BANKS.

NX27395.

SGT. B Sanders.

H.Q. COY.

2/3 Aust. Pioneer Bn.

A.I.F. In Australia

10 May 1943.

          Dear Mum & Dad,

                   Monday night & we’ve just finished a little Morse Code practice which is jolly fascinating game. Only our time seems so filled up with training.

          It is raining now & I shall hop into bed soon. Grand weather for sleeping. Had a shot to-day but did not do so well. Hope to improve next week.

          Some chaps have received parcels so I guess yours will son be here. Your 1^st May letter is the latest I have received.

          Wasn’t “ Mrs Miniver” a lovely show. I enjoyed it very much. There are pictures on for us to-morrow night so we hope to be able to walk over.

          Glad you were able to get a pugaree, it does not matter whether it is  grey or white , anything but an ordinary hatband.

          Our lads, who are a big lot, are very playful. They throw each other around & have some terrific tussles which is getting them into good nick. To-day, I thoughtlessly walked into a crack on the head from a rifle, just a bump. They play hard & it is doing us good.

          We also experimented with tying a man to a tree with no rope just by twisting his legs & it is quite effective also.

          Yesterday, Mother’s Day, we had church parade & then Poss and I  went about 6 miles away to a Rodeo run by the locals. It was well worth the trouble of walking about 4 miles & getting a lift in a cocky’s truck. We were lucky enough to get a lift right home after an enjoyable show.

          Brian Hughes “ B” Coy C.S.M. – won the Open Buckjump, rode very well & the steer watching was jolly good to watch.

          Soft drinks were 2/- a bottle. Quite a shock. Thank goodness the sandwiches were only 6d each.

          Our mess opened yesterday & the meals are definitely “ out of the box’. Something wonderful. To-night we had a baked dinner & then a beautiful pie with peaches.

          The building is of rough timber, a thatched roof & table tops of box boards, but its great to have the crockery.

          Poss and I slipped down the creek after parade this afternoon & did some of our washing. Quite a problem here & I’d like to keep ahead of it. We still put away a tin of peaches each evening. Have colossal appetites. Reveille is at 0630 & we have to tumble straight out. A bit nippy too. There are a lot of wallabies & kangaroos about but I have only seen two snakes & one of those was dead. The birds are very pretty but I do not know them.

          Now, for to-night, Cheerio & happy days. I hope all are well.

                             Love,

                                      Bruce.

11 May. Posting to-night. Some parcels arriving daily so should get one soon. Just now, it is raining heavily & has been spasmodically all day.

Cheerio,

                                                          Bruce.

CENSORED BY C.M. BANKS.

NX27395.

SGT. B Sanders.

H.Q. COY.

2/3 Aust. Pioneer Bn.

A.I.F. In Australia

16 May. 43.

          Dear Dad & Mum,

                    In answer to yours posted the 10^th inst. Thank you. The newspaper extract is jolly welcome. To-night we are quiet as Poss, my co- Sgt has had word that his father’s condition is critical. We are wondering just what is what & hoping that he will be able to get leave. It is a nasty position for anyone, so far away.

          Bob was up to see me last night & very concerned about Margaret as his last letter seemed to show that she was far from well. I do hope she is O.K. please give her my special good wishes & hopes that she is alright.

          To-day we had a game of League after Church Pde. ( We had out first game last Wednesday) I, of course, don’t know much about the game but have a jolly good time. It is great fun & to-day I was on the wing most of the time, a bit too fast for me & I am so light in comparison with the others. I hope to have a go at scrum-half to-morrow, our sports morning.

          The ground which has been loaned by a local farmer is A.1. & I wear my rubber-soled creepers, in lieu of football boots. They are quite good for speed.

          Poss & I still go down to the creek each afternoon to wash our sox & have a bath. It is good-o. the football shorts are jolly handy. I hope the elastic survives. I am using a woollen singlet as a jersey as I do not us them for ordinary wear.

          Glad to hear of the pleasant evening at Grandma’s. I have not written yet, to be honest. All are jolly busy on little fiddly things & preparation for the next day & actually we have very little spare time.

          I wonder what will happen to Clyde. I guess his present routine becomes a little monotonous but its just luck, the way jobs pan out.

          The letters are coming in fairly regularly now & I think, if you get the Sunday letters in on Sunday night or early Monday morning then they should arrive on Wednesday which is very good.

          So far, no parcels have arrived but they should be here soon as some chaps have received quite a lot.

The weather is bonzer here for training , nice & nippy, not too hot in the day & plus the glorious food ( we have our mess near) its  A.1. we have electric light in the mess for 2 hrs. each night & that is very good also.

I had my last tooth out last Wednesday, didn’t hurt a bit & now have to go back in a week to start on a re-model of my plates. Alan Downer from the Methodist is orderly at the Dental Unit. I will be very pleased to get them fixed, the lump  on my bottom gum is gradually going down & I have to wait  till it is down  before the dentist will fix the plate.

          I had a crack at the 30 yd. Range again yesterday & was able to knock up 43 out of 50. The last shoot I had only scored 30. Not so good. Generally our Pln. did very well & had an excellent average.

          Some chaps are taking course in Army Educational Schemes but I felt it would be too much for me as I am going all day now with odd jobs, so I shall not do anything yet.

          After these games of rugger & a couple of marches, I am feeling jolly fit & have got rid of my leave laziness. And now, I guess I had better close & take our mail up for censoring. I hope you are both well. Also Vera & Bet & Margaret. My love to all.

                   Goodnight,

                                      Lots of Love,

                                                                   Bruce.

Isn’t Tunisia a grand show. Good old 8^th Army & N.Z.s    They deserve the best.

CENSORED BY C.M. BANKS.

NX27395.

SGT. B Sanders.

H.Q. COY.

2/3 Aust. Pioneer Bn.

A.I.F. In Australia.

19 May. 43.

Dear Betty.

Well , my lass, how are you. I haven’t heard from you since I left. I guess you must be very busy at the new position.

I am doing quite well & am feeling very fit now, have had a couple of games of football & plenty of marches, all of which does us good.

Fortunately, our camp is becoming nicely settled & we have electric light in some of the places including our mess so it is good-o for letter-writing. The darts players are hard at it , also.

You hear me speak of Poss Hegerty. Well, I’m sorry to say he received word last Sunday that his father was in a critical condition & so far has been unable to get leave or find out anything. He has gone in to ring up to-night, so I hope he gets good news, it is a nasty position.

          Bob was down last night & told me how ill Margaret was. I do hope she is improving & shall post this letter with one for her. It should please her shouldn’t it?

To-day the shorts & pad arrived & the text-books & the other parcel with the blade sharpener , clip & watch cover, all of which are very welcome & very good.

There were two more Vickers books which must still be there, so would you please look them up as I could use them. Envelopes  are still scarce, cannot get them through the canteen yet.

May send a few sweets & jellies which came to-day.

And while I think about it, if you can procure a brown pencil and a red one, they would come in handy on mapwork, which is good fun if one can finish it off properly.

We’ve got this washing down to a fine art now. We go down to the creek each free afternoon, after parade & do  a couple of articles, use a scrubbing brush, it gets them clean. those slacks of mine are nearly white now. They look nice but they do get dirty.

You’ve no idea how funny these dart players are. I have a terrific laugh as they bung on their antics.

The other night several of us went out on a “patrol”  & had  to cross a river by a flying fox, one of those boxes which hang from a cable. It was a peculiar feeling suspended over the rapids in moonlight.

You should see the kangaroos & wallabies. There are some big ones here & we are continually surprising them & they go like the wind. There are some beautiful butterflies also. We saw a lovely big blue one to-day. The Lt. Offered 5/- for it but it did not come within reach.

And now, Bet, I think I shall slip into bed as I didn’t have much sleep on Monday night & I sleep well in this lovely cool weather.

Love to Dad & Mum. I hope they are both well, all the best to yourself & keep smiling.

                             Cheerio,

                                      Love,

                                                          Bruce.        

NX27395.

SGT. B Sanders.

H.Q. COY.

2/3 Aust. Pioneer Bn.

A.I.F. In Australia

23 May 43.

Dear Dad & Mum,

                   Sunday night & we have just said cheerio to Poss ( Sgt. Hegerty) who is off on his way to Sydney. His father is dying and his sister is ill so I , sincerely hope he finds things better when he reaches home at Maroubra. I gave him your address so he may be able to get out to see you. He is from my platoon and sleeps next to me here.

The pyjamas arrived last night & razor blades & I thank you. Now I am just about right for everything & the sharpener is very effective. This week I have not had any letters other than one from May. I hope the mail is going down O.K.

I have to leave my bottom plate out for a fortnight. Dental treatment is hard to get. I think I should have paid a civilian dentist to remedy the plates. It is not inconveniencing me very much however, except for talking. I have trouble with “s” s.

We had a quiet day, to-day & a good rest & read. The weather is very pleasant & training , not over arduous as yet.

Things are very quiet, the old routine to work.

The news from Tunisia is certainly inspiring, good old 8^th Army & I think we can hope that soon Germany will crack. However we had better not become too cocky.

          Now there is little to say so I shall sign off. I hope Margaret is improving. Give her my love.

          Love to you both,

                                      Bruce.

          Love to Vera & Bet.